Clann na nGael take the points

Clann na nGael picked up a valuable brace of SHC points when they out-gunned Gaeil Cholmcille as the intermediate champions of the last two years vied for supremacy in this basement battle at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Each team collected four yellow cards as referee Gerry O"Brien kept a tight rein and also issued a straight red card to Gaeil Cholmcille"s Colin Tormay with two minutes remaining. The first-half was a particularly drab affair although the tempo increased close to the interval. The teams were level five times before Clann na nGael edged ahead with a fine Trevor Matthews point for a 1-6 to 1-5 interval lead. Daithi Geraghty posed the main threat in attack for Clann na nGael and he claimed 1-2 in that opening half with Gary Mangan, Brian McGovern and Paddy Geraghty accounting for the other points. Tormay claimed three of the Kells points with Robert Flanagan and Tom Shine also on the mark. Denis O"Neill got the credit for the goal when his lofted centre deceived the Clann na nGael defence. Both teams improved their performances after the resumption and shared 10 points in an entertaining 30 minutes which suggests that they will each find some improvement. There was a point every five minutes in the third-quarter with Clann na nGaerl substitute Barry Doherty, who had a good game, and Daithi Geraghty on target while Shine kept his side in contention with a well-taken effort from play. The scoring rate increased for the remainder and Clann na nGael should be thankful that full-back Pat Shore produced a solid performance which was crucial in disrupting some promising Gaeil Cholmcille attacks. Two more Shine points and one from Darren Tormay tied the scores at 1-9 apiece as Daithi Geraghty kept Clann na nGael going and he restored their advantage with a good point from play before Paddy Geraghty gave them a two-point cushion with two minutes remaining. Colin Tormay"s red card broke the momentum for the Kells side although Shine almost snatched victory with a rising shot which flashed over the black spot on the stroke of full-time. Clann na nGael - V Doyle; G Woods, P Shore, A McCormack; D O"Shea, G Mangan (0-1, '65"), M Mullen; J Shaw, D Heeney; B McGovern (0-1), G Breathnach, B Higgins; P Geraghty (0-2), D Geraghty (1-5, three frees), T Matthews (0-1). Subs - B Doherty (0-1) for Breathnach 18 mins; P Daly for McCormack 25m. Gaeil Cholmcille - C Ferguson; P Tormay, M Foley, K Reilly; S Reddy, B Smith, C Keegan; D O"Neill (1-0), B Tormay; T Shine (0-4, one free, one '65"), L Newman, C Tormay (0-3); C Roche, R Flanagan (0-1), D Tormay (0-1). Referee - Gerry O"Brien (Wolfe Tones).