Goals the key as Miltown see off Grange
Milltown's Conor Sheerin charges beyond the Grange players. Photo: James Lawlor.
Milltown picked up win number two in Group C of the National Electrical Intermediate Football Championship. Despite the nine-point triumph, they were tested by a Grange side looking to back up an opening round win over Nurney.
Two Milltown goals in a three minute spell just before half time was the platform for the win. The second win now assures Milltown a place in the quarter-final while Grange will want to defeat Ballyteague to avoid a bottom four assignment.
Alan Dignam and Paddy Donohue shot Milltown into a two-point lead inside three minutes. The influential figure of Conall Bergin responded for Grange with points in the eighth and tenth minutes as last years junior champions showed their position at Intermediate level was fully deserved.
Scoring chances were few and far between as defences were on top.
A 16th-minute free for a foul on Fionn Bergin saw Brian Cullen step to land a massive two-pointer. From the restart, Conall Bergin picked up a loose ball 50-metres out before cooly landing his third point. Grange were deservedly four ahead as Milltown struggled to find their rhythm.
Paddy Donohue ended an 18-minute drought for Milltown with a point from a tight angle, and the closing five minutes of the half saw Milltown regain control and a three-point deficit quickly turned into a three-point lead.
A long Conor Sheerin shot for a point was well taken by the excellent Joe Dunne and he fired into the corner past Timmy Doyle.
Grange had lost their way briefly and Joe Dunne and Conor Sheerin resumed control. Sheerin broke forward two minutes before the break and with goals at his mercy he forced a great save from Timmy Doyle but Paddy Donohue was on hand to flick home the rebound.
Milltown led 2-3 to 0-6 at the break.
They were totally dominant on the change of ends, hitting five scores without reply inside 12 minutes. Conor Sheerin started the ball rolling with a simple 25-metre free before the game-winning score arrived on 34. Liam Kelly broke from his own half-back line before playing a one/two with Ronan O’Shea that put him through on goal and for the second game in a row he goaled.
Ben Curran, Conor Sheerin and a Paddy Donohue free left it 3-7 to 0-6 in favour of the men in red and green.
It took 13 minutes for Conall Bergin to ad to Grange’s tally but it didn’t help improve the situation as Paddy Donohue pointed with the aid of the post a minute later.
As both sides made changes Grange tried to finish strongly and three points in a row put an element of respect that their efforts deserved. Cillian Bergin, Thomas Cullen and substitute Aaron Phelan all on target.
Like the closing minutes of the opening half it was Milltown who landed two of the closing three scores Paddy Donohue kicked a good two pointer free and on the stroke of full time he added his seventh point. A 63rd minute free from Conall Bergin brought Milltown to 11 points but Milltown had done enough for the 3-11 to 0-11 win.
Milltown will want to improve on their opening quarter display if they are to harbour hopes of going deep in the competition. They faced similar problems against Ballyteague in round one.
Grange are trying to build on last years junior win and at times they showed glimpses of their credentials. They still have a chance of advancing to the knockout stages.
Omar Dunne; Jamie Cross, Cian Buckley, Sean Muroh; Kevin Byrne, Colin O'Shea, Liam Kelly 1-0; Conor Sheerin 0-2 (1f), Joe Dunne 1-0; Ben Curran 0-1, Alan Dignam 0-1, Hugh Hamilton; Ben Heuston, Ronan O'Shea, Paddy Donohue 1-7 (tpf, 2f).
Alan Jacob for Heuston (38), Niall Finnegan for Byrne (53), Sam O'Hara for Hamilton (58), Karl Downey for Curran (60).
Timmy Doyle; Gavin Ivory, Lewis Gannon, Keith Holligan; Paul Huntingdon, Dylan Costigan, Brian Cullen 0-2 (tpf); Keith McGloin, Conall Bergin 0-5 (1f); Cillian Bergin 0-1, Lee Doyle, Fionn Bergin 0-1 (1f); Nathan Doyle, Nicky Bowens, Tomas Cullen 0-1.
James Gannon for Bowens (HT), Johnny Lawlor for Costigan (49), Aaron Phelan 0-1 for L Doyle (52), Conor McMahon for T Doyle (53), Luke Thornton for N Doyle (56).
Lee Moore.
