Murphy stars as Grange progress to IFC final following epic semi-final
John Murphy scored ten points for Grange in their win over St Patricks Photo: Pat Ahern
It took extra time to decide who went forward to meet Ballon in this Intermediate Football Championship semi-final replay at Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday. Veteran, John Murphy, was the hero scoring ten points which included two vital two-pointers.
St Patricks got off to a lightning start with Jack O’Neill flashing over a two-pointer from play. Minutes later, a passing movement opened up the Grange defence at the tunnel end of the ground and Jack Kennedy fisted home at the far post after Eoghan Cleary passed across the square. When Kennedy converted a free, the lead was out to six points.
They had chances to extend their advantage but Grange hung on and John Murphy opened their account with a free. The same player pulled the strings for his side and his two-point free gave Grange all the momentum. Another point from play by Murphy saw St Patricks go into the dressing room leading 1-6 to 0-6.
The Tullow side led by five points in the third quarter but they couldn’t put their rivals away. Grange hung in there and Murphy’s late free had the sides level at 0-14 to 1-11 at the end of normal time.
Grange took the lead for the first time of the game in extra-time when Henry Hegarty raised a white flag. At the change of ends, Grange led 0-16 to 1-12.
Eoghan Cunnane and Kennedy raised white flags but Grange had points from Cillian Murphy, Darragh Burrows and a punched Aidan Burrows point put two between them.
St Patricks came back with a Kennedy free but when they didn’t get possession from the kick-out the final whistle brought unbridled joy for Grange.
J Murphy 0-10 (2-2pf, 4fs), H Hegarty, C Murphy, Darragh Burrows 0-2 each, J Byrne, A Burrows, N Pender 0-1 each.
J Kennedy 1-9 (1-2pf, 4fs), J O’Neill 0-2 (1-2p), E Cunnane, C Healy, P Doyle, B Byrne (f) 0-1 each.
Louis Kilcoyne; Vijay Eghraveba, Conor Walsh, Diarmaid Burrow; John Doyle, Henry Hegarty, Tom Dillon; Cillian Murphy, Patrick Hickey; Aidan Burrows, Darragh Burrows, James Hickey; Ned Pender, John Murphy, Shane Cormican. Subs: Shane Byrne for Walsh (h/t), Jack Byrne for Cormican (46), Matthew Bird for A Burrows (53), Davie Moran for Doyle (59), Doyle for Diarmaid Burrows (70).
Gerry McGill; Eoghan Cleary, Niall Sherry, Niall Gahan; Will Doran, Dylan Gorman Comerford, Lee Kavanagh; Craig Staunton, Cathal Healy; Padraig Murphy, Cian Doran, Eoghan Cunnane; Brian Byrne, Jack Kennedy, Jack O’Neill. Subs: Paddy Doyle for Gorman Comerford (13), Adam Cleary for Staunton (46), Stephen Metcalfe for O’Neill (53), Dylan Hanley for Byrne (63), Jamie Ansbro for Kavanagh (70), Ronan Healy for Doran (72), Byrne for Cunnane (76).
Paud O’Dwyer (Palatine).
