Shels senior footballers met Duffry Rovers in Taghmon for their final group match in a must win game. Duffry Rovers were first off the mark with a pointed free inside the first minute. Craig McCabe levelled the sides with a superb ’45 before Shels lost influential midfielder Stephen Banville with a hamstring injury. Glen Murphy was introduced and went centre forward with Alan Griffith falling back into mid field. Duffry went a point ahead but Captain Aidan Murphy did well to pull level again. The game entered a lean period then with no scores for the next 14 minutes before Shels mounted a charge and picked off points courtesy of Ciaran O’Shaughnessy, Aidan Murphy, Craig McCabe and Feargal Hynes. Just on full time Duffry pointed a free. Full back Eoin Doyle had a great block on a goal attempt with Stephen Corrigan getting a great clearance to remove any danger. Half time score 0-06- to 0-03. Shels had the breeze in the second half and Craig McCabe immediately added a point for Shels. Disaster then as referee John Carton awarded a penalty to Duffry but Shels supporters breathed a sigh of relief as goal keeper Graham Lawlor-Ryan dealt with it superbly and Andre O’Brien dealt with the rebound immediately. Shels pushed on and amassed 4 more points before Duffy first pointed and then had a shot on target for goal. Yet again net minder Graham Lawlor-Ryan dealt with the shot expertly and Duffry must have wondered what more could they do to get back in the game. Shels gathered pace again and were in a scoring boom. Several fresh legs were introduced at this stage and Shels pushed on to finish ten ahead. Final score 0-17 to 0-07.
Amongst those to shine were brothers Graham-Lawlor-Ryan and Clive Lawlor-Ryan also Craig McCabe, Alan Griffith, Feargal Hynes and Tommy Barron.
Team: Graham Lawlor-Ryan, Andre O’Brien, Eoin Doyle, Stephen Corrigan, Tommy Barron, Clive Lawlor (0-1), Aidan Cash, Stephen Banville, AJ Lehane (0-2), Brian Doyle, Alan Griffith, Ciaran O’Shaughnessy (0-1), Feargal Hynes (0-3), Aidan Murphy (C) (0-3), Craig McCabe (0-6,2F).
Subs introduced: Glen Murphy, Darren Malone, Barry O’Connor, Colin Redmond, Derek Walsh (0-1).
Shels now meet St. Annes in the quarter final.