Third Level Gaelic Football Championship 2007

CORN NA MAC LEINN 7th February, 2007

Garnerville Gaels (Belfast) 0-5 GMIT Letterfrack 1-14

This first round championship match was played at a cold Enniskillen on Wednesday 7th February. GMIT entered the match on the back of a disappointing league campaign last Autumn and without the services of some regular players due to injuries and withdrawals. The recent expansion in 3rd Level Colleges football to include smaller Colleges has offered the Letterfrack a more reasonable range of opposition. Garnerville Gaels represent the PSNI in gaelic games and this team, drawn from their current trainees, entered this championship match on the back of a successful league campaign prior to Christmas. The game got off to a lively start with GMIT having to work hard to cope with the physically bigger Garnerville team. A combination of passes down the centre culminated in Letterfrack’s centre-half back, Lorcan Heverin, kicking the opening score. Shortly afterwards, centre fielder, Colm Maye kicked a point into the wind from a 45 to settle the nerves of the Letterfrack players. Garnerville began to settle and use their strength to win possession particularly from kick-outs and high balls. They opened their scoring following a high ball to their full forward line. The game proceeded into its most competitive period as the Letterfrack players had to work hard and move the ball in an effort to cope with the hard hitting brand of football used by the Ulstermen. The teams traded points before a decisive score from Letterfrack’s full forward, Richard Flanagan, who used his strength to field a high ball, turn and rifle a great left foot finish to the net. Following this the Letterfrack players were in free flow, creating two good goal chances before Garnerville responded with two points in quick succession to bring them back into the game. Brian Callinan added a point for Letterfrack with Garnerville adding another point to leave the score at 0-4 to 1-4 at half-time and the game there for the taking for either side. The second half started as competitively as the first had ended with Letterfrack’s full-back line into the action straight away. Liam McElroy settled the Letterfrack team before a tour de force by centre fielder, Colm Maye, who hit four points in succession, three from play, to put some daylight between the teams. The superior fitness of the Letterfrack players began to tell at this stage as points from Shane Griffin and one from Mayo hurler and corner-back, Adrian Brennan widened the gap. Garnerville responded with a point from play before two further points from Colm Maye and one from substitute Brian McManamon wrapped the score. Letterfrack advance to the next round to play the Dublin College, Mater Dei Institute in Kiltoom (Athlone) on Wednesday 14th February

Team: GMIT Letterfrack: David Sloyan (Charlestown), Adrian Brennan (Ballyhaunis), Ciaran Kelly (St.Aidens, Roscommon), Pauric Cassidy (Shamrock Gaels, Sligo), Paul Flynn, (Castlebar Mitchells), Lorcan Heverin (Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Galway), David Greene (Killygarry, Cavan), Sean Sweeney (Shrule-Glencorrib, Mayo), Colm Maye (Charlestow, Mayo), Liam McElroy (Faughs, Monaghan), Brian Callinan (Kilmurray-Ibrickane, Clare), David Guinan (Birr), Shane Griffin (Kilnamona, Clare), Richard Flanagan (Shannon Gaels, Clare), Jonathan Moran (Beale, Kerry). Subs: Brian McManamon (Burrishoole, Mayo), Sean Dunleavy (Raheens, Kildare), Donal Conheady (Clooney, Clare).