Div 4 Co. League

Churchill 0-7 Firies 0-7

Churchill played their final Co. League game against Firies last Sunday in Churchill.

This was a game the home team needed to win to secure their Division 4 status for another year. In the end, a draw has meant that Churchill will play Castlegregory (who didn’t have to kick a ball) to see who makes the dreaded drop to Division 5, while Firies are safe in Division 4.

The folly of playing football in mid-November was apparent, with howling wind and driving rain making good football impossible.

To their credit, both teams made the most of the inclement conditions and served up a mildly entertaining game, where scores were at a premium. Churchill played with the aid of the gale force wind in the first half, but made hard work of taking their scores.

Conor Daly (3 points) and Ivan Parker (2 points) were to the fore in doing their best to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Mike O’Brien was also on the scoresheet in the first half for Churchill.

Firies looked dangerous when they attacked, and but for a great save from Paul O’Sullivan after 8 minutes, they could have taken the lead. However, they did manage 3 first half points including two from their full forward Mike Daly.

Half Time: Churchill 0-6 St. Senans 0-3

A three point lead was unlikely to be enough for Churchill as they faced into the teeth of the gale. Indeed, Firies were level by the 10th minute of the second half, as they kicked 3 great points, including 1 from Daly and another from Sean Burke. Firies then took the lead in the 18th minute, but this was to be their last score.

Churchill owned the ball from this to the end of the match, but found it very difficult to make any progress into the wind and against a massed defence.

The one opening Churchill found resulted in a great fisted point from Mikey Brennan after 20 minutes. Churchill tried to get the winner that would have secured their status for another year, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result.

Full Time: Churchill 0-7  Firies 0-7

Churchill: Paul O’Sullivan, Mitchell Holland, Peadar Stack, Shane Crowley, Cathal Rogers, Garrett Walsh, Matt Finnerty, Mikey Brennan (0-1), Jack O’Connell, Des McCarthy, Ivan Parker(0-2), JJ Prior, Brian Hill, Conor Daly (0-3), Mike O’Brien (0-1)

Subs used: Oisin O’Brien

Firies: Billy O’Rourke Padraig O’Mahony, John O’Mahony, Josh Flynn, Stephen Foley, James O’Donoghue, Pat Brown, Sean Burke (0-1), Niall McCarthy, Colm O’Shea, Jack Sherwood, Ed Kerrisk, Mike Daly (0-4, 0-1 free), Connal Murphy