Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship first round: Teemore Shamrocks 0-4 Liatroim Fontenoys 3-6
Liatroim secured their place in the Ulster IFC quarter final with a 3-6 to 0-4 win over Teemore in Brewster Park.
The Down champions dictated the scoring in the first half to go in with a 2-4 to 0-0 half-time lead, and although Teemore brought greater drive after the break, Liatroim never looked troubled as they eased through.
The pace and movement of Liatroim caused all sorts of problems for the Shamrocks, especially in the first half.
Conor McCrickard in particular was a thorn in the side for the Fermanagh champions with the full-forward involved in everything good about the Mournemen.
Liatroim landed the first score of the game through Robbie O’Hare although both sides were guilty of wayward shooting over the next period, Teemore hitting eight wides in all in the first half.
PJ Davison doubled the away side’s advantage with a good point from the right before they then swooped for the first goal of the game. Liam Middleton, Ruairi McCrickard and Conor McCrickard were all involved in the build up before Eoin McCrickard slotted to the net.
And it got even better for Liatroim as Conor McCrickard rattled over a point before the full forward bagged his side’s second goal in the 23rd minute, tucking to the net after an interchange of passes cut open the Teemore defence.
With Pearse Og McCrickard then tagging on a further point Liatroim put themselves in firm control by the interval as they pushed into a ten point lead, 2-4 to 0-0.
Teemore did bring a greater intensity to their play early in the second half and they almost got in for a goal within the opening minute as Eoin McManus’ quick free put Sean McNally in but his effort was blocked while Oisin Murphy’s follow up hit a defender before the danger was cleared.
Eoin McManus though did get the Shamrocks off the mark with two frees and when he added a fine point from play in the 37th minute the home side may haver had thoughts of a comeback.
There was to be no further scoring though until the 55th minute as Liatroim put the game to bed with their third goal of the contest as substitute Michael McAleenan fired to the net after great play by Conor McCrickard on the right-hand side.
McCrickard knocked over another point soon after while McManus clipped over a late free for Teemore but it was Liatroim who deservedly sealed their spot in the last eight.
Teemore: J Maguire; R McNally, P Doherty, D McManus; C McManus, D Lee, R Mcaffrey; J McCaffrey, A McManus; R Maguire, E McManus (0-4, 03 frees), O Murphy; C McNally, S McNally, A Lee
Subs: Doherty for A Lee, J Quinlan for R Maguire, N Clarke for Doherty, N McAdam for C McNally
Liatroim: E Cotter; S Og O’Rourke, G McAnulty, M Owens; D Morgan, R McCrickard, C McElroy; L Middleton, E O’Hare; PJ Davidson (0-1), P Og McCrickard (0-2), R O’Hare (0-1); C McAnulty, C McCrickard (2-2), E McCrickard (1-0)
Subs: O Clarke for E McCrickard, M McAleenan for O’Hare, C Kelly-McEvoy for Morgan, C Owens for M Owens, D O’Higgins for Middleton