Match Reports Intermediate Loser Group Round Two 

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Michael O’Brien (Roscommon Herald) at Tulsk

In a game that could have went either way, the scoring ability of Damien Garvey at centre forward ensured that St. Croans continue to make headway through the losers’ group after they survived the efforts from a gallant Strokestown side in Tulsk on Sunday evening.

Given that this was obviously Strokestown’s second team, and having lost a couple of players to the senior ranks, they weren’t expected to make huge inroads this year. But while they have lost their two games and now face a relegation battle, Strokestown have been very unlucky considering their game against St. Dominics was played over 35 minutes a side and on Sunday evening they exited the championship after a one point defeat.

St. Croans were marginally the better side in this contest and had that little bit extra balance in their team but they were made to work very hard for their victory and it will no doubt stand to them in the next round.

While Strokestown were forced to line out with a number of defenders, St. Croans were missing several players such as Peter Mahon and Martin Towey to name but two.

The challenges from both sides in this contest were tough but fair as all 30 players went at it hammer and tongs from the throw in.

St. Croans’ forwards looked to have the beating of their opponents in the first-half but all too often they got their wires crossed when delivering the ball as the intentions of players and the runs they made weren’t read.

Strokestown stuck with their opponents in the first-half without ever looking like taking the lead.

Mattie Colum, Martin Fallon and Rory O’Connor battled well while Raymond Hynes, Eamon Towey, Lorcan Maughan and Damien Garvey were the chief players for the Ballintubber side.

With the game taking the pattern of score by score from each side, St. Croans almost found the net late in the half with Gerry McDonnell and Tommy Egan playing a neat one two with the latter firing his shot over the bar. Damien Garvey put his side one point to the good at the break punishing a poor clearance.

St. Croans extended their lead early in the second-half through Damien Garvey followed by a magnificent effort by Lorcan Maughan. Strokestown were beginning to lose their grip on the game but Rory O’Connor converted two frees to bring them back to within a point. Disaster then struck for Strokestown however with Damien Garvey rattling the net, during which many eyes had been on an injured player as play was waved on. But less than a minute later Strokestown responded with goalkeeper Vincent Egan failing to hold onto a Richard Dolan delivery with Johnny Dolan, who had been switched from centre back to the full forward line, on hand to complete the move.

But everytime St. Croans needed a score to settle themselves Damien Garvey always came up trumps and he restored a two point advantage for his side on 42 minutes before the hard working Padraig Finn extended their lead to three points on 50 minutes.

Strokestown came agonisingly close two minutes later to levelling matters up when Thomas Hanley set up Rory O’Connor who forced a great save from Vincent Egan who managed to deflect the ball over the bar. But a Strokestown goal was most definitely going to come sooner rather than later and less than a minute later they led the game by a point after a Mattie Colum ball in was gathered by Cormac Dolan who bore down on goal before unleashing a cracking shot to the net.

But St. Croans must be credited for the character they showed in the final few minutes. Time and time again they were able to respond to Strokestown scores and this time it was no different as Gerry Mockler and Enda Morgan combined to set up Damien Garvey for an equalising point. Less than a minute later Lorcan Maughan sent over the second of his two excellent points from play to give his side a one point advantage.

Strokestown threw everything at St. Croans in the final few minutes and re-introduced Johnny Dolan to the action. Try as they might they couldn’t manage to get through for that all important point.

St. Croans advance and should be a much better team in their next outing. Strokestown now head into a relegation battle but they shouldn’t encounter too many problems in avoiding the drop.

St. Croans: V. Egan; G. Cunnane, R. Hynes, A. Kelly; G. Leetch, E. Towey, T. Mockler; L. Maughan (0-3, 1 free), G. Mockler; P. Finn, D. Garvey (1-6), R. Mugan; T. Egan (0-1), E. Morgan, G. McDonnell. Subs: B. Mullen for Cunnane (h-t, inj.), P. Kelly for Egan (42mins).

Strokestown: J. McHugh; A. Kelly, K. Reilly, M. Dowd; T. Hanley, J. Dolan (1-0), M. Fallon; M. Fallon, R. Dolan; I. Campbell, M. Colum (0-1), C. Dowd; C. Dolan (1-0), R. O’Connor (0-5, 3 frees), D. Caslin. Subs: B. Flanagan for J. Dolan (42mins, inj.), J. Dolan for Flanagan (58mins).

Wides: St. Croans - 8; Strokestown - 5.

Booked: St. Croans - A. Kelly, D. Garvey, G. McDonnell; Strokestown - D. Caslin.

Ref: V. Hardiman.