Termon 1-9
Burt 0-10
Termon defeated Burt to win the Intermediate B Championship title at O’Donnell Park.
Termon and Burt played each other on the opening day of the championship at The Burn Road, where two goals in the opening three minutes by Daire Mc Daid sent Termon on their way to a ten point victory.
After that impressive win Termon have gone unbeaten while Naomh Columba regrouped to also remain unbeaten on their way to this final. However both teams have had their struggles in remaining unbeaten, winning several of their games by narrow margins, in some cases having to produce strong finishes to get over the winning line.
The playing surface at O Donnell Park was in excellent condition as always, but a morning of heavy rain meant it would be slippery underfoot and perhaps an advantage for forwards Aaron Doherty and Jack Alcorn, who exchanged excellent long range points in the third minute. Then Alcorn and Enda McCormick added another two for Termon in the sixth and they led 0-03 to 0-01.
Kevin McGettigan from play and Ryan McFadden from a mark doubled that lead in the fifteenth minute. Jack Alcorn added his third in the nineteen minute, Aaron Doherty converted Naomh Columba’s second from a free but Enda McCormick from a free, Daire McDaid and James McSharry from play had Termon seven points ahead, 0-09 to 0-02.
Naomh Columba needed to respond quickly and they did with a fine Eric Carr point from play and Aaron Doherty’s third from a free left Termon five ahead at half-time, 0-09 to 0-05. James McSharry opened the second-half scoring in the first minute and Patrick Fegan quickly followed and the lead was out to seven again, 0-11 to 0-04. Full-back Pauric Ward came forward to kick a fine point and Aaron Doherty added his fourth point to bring it back to a five-point game and still hope for Glen.
However Enda McCormick landed a 45 and sub Cian McMenamin tapped over just after coming on, seven in it again and victory within sight for Termon. Declan McGuire and Eric Carr added Maomh Columba points, Jamie Grant got his second for Termon and it ended at 0-14 to 0-08 to Termon and the Intermediate Championship heading for the Burn Road and Termon heading back to Senior Championship football in 2025.
Termon : Emmet McGuire, Cormac Gallagher, Ricky Gallagher, Cormac Brady, Patrick Fegan (0-01), Conor Cassidy, Jamie Grant (0-02), Bobby McGettigan, Ryan McFadden (0-01), John James Sweeney, Kevin McGettigan ( 0-01), James McSharry (0-02), Daire McDaid ( 0-01), Enda McCormick ( 0-02), Jack Alcorn (0-03). Subs: Ciaran Cassidy, Conor Black, Cian McMenamin (0-01), Anthony Grant, Aaron Reid.
Naomh Columba: Shane O Gara, Barry Carr, Pauric Ward (0-01), Paul O Hare, Stephen Callaghan, Eric Carr (0-02), Pauric Hegarty, Padraig Byrne, Declan McGuire (0-01), Darragh Cunningham, Aaron Doherty (0-04) Ryan McNern, Shane Callaghan, Christopher Byrne, Ronan O Hare. Subs used: Lanty Molloy, Kevin McNern, Micheal Callaghan
Referee ; Anthony McCallig ( Naomh Ultan).
REACTION
Speaking to Charlie Collins, Termon’s Joint Captain Daniel Conaghan was relieved but delighted that the team was able to raise their game enough to hold off the Burt comeback and regain the title: