Despite a late surge in the last ten minutes, Intermediates bow out of Leinster.
Co. Intermediate Champions, Shelmaliers travelled to Laois to face their counterparts Graiguecullen (who had played Senior last year) on Sunday afternoon 4th November.
Shels got off to a dream start when Tommy Barron made a long run and gave an accurate pass to Derek Walsh who fisted it into the back of the net in the first minute of the game. Graiguecullen got the next two points before Alan Griffith pointed, after good work by Aidan Murphy and Cathal Gaule. The home team got two more points whilst Derek Walsh converted a free, and during this passage of play, the full back line were called on to make the save of the day. Another point from Graiguecullen before Shels goaled for the 2nd time after Adrian Veale put in a brilliant pass to Colin Redmond, who took his score with aplomb. Despite our forwards being very closely marked, it seemed the Shels were forging ahead at this stage on the edge of half time. Then disaster struck, first the home team pointed and then added a goal just as the half time whistle went to leave a score line of 2-2 to 1-7 in favour of Graiguecullen.
Shels worked hard in the 2nd half and with points from Tommy Barron, Barry O’Connor and two Derek Walsh frees, and despite a late surge from the Shels, Graiguecullen scoring three points, had done enough in the first half to finish the match, victors, on a scoreline of 2-6 to 2-10.
Shels back line were solid on the day, the half back line supported them well and gave good supply to the forwards, the forwards while being closely marked, tried hard and it was a good all round team effort.
Best on the day for the Shels were Brian Malone (Captain), Colm Tynan, Alan Griffith, Colin Redmond, Cathal Gaule, Derek Walsh, and Eoin Doyle
Team
1 David Shiggins, 2 Marc Walsh 3 Colm Tynan 4 Cathal Gaule 5 Emmet O’Leary 6 David Walsh 7 Tommy Barron 8 Brian Malone 9 Clive Lawlor 10 Alan Griffith 11 Aidan Murphy 12 Colin Redmond 13 Derek Walsh 14 Adrian Veale 15 Terry Gainfort.
Subs used Barry O’Connor, Eoin Doyle, Ciaran O’Shaughnessy, Brian O’Shaughnessy and Joe Kelly.
Management: Tom Tynan, Dermot Keane, John Nolan, Mick Smith.