Sensational Saul seal final berth

16 September 2020

SAUL produced a dominant display against Liatroim at St Patrick’s Park in Newcastle on Saturday to book their place in the Intermediate Championship final for the first time since 1964.

Their opponents in Sunday’s final will be Drumgath, who defeated Annaclone in the other semi-final.

Saul were given the perfect start when Rory Mullen scored a goal inside the opening minute. It was a sign of what was to come. Saul were to bag a total of five goals in the game.

Liatroim’s goalkeeper Eoin Cotter received a black card for a harsh challenge, and it was Saul captain Rory Mullen who took the penalty that just went shy of the left post.

With Liatroim down to 14 players, it was Saul’s chance to get further ahead though and James Mahoney got a point from play in the third minute.

Liatroim’s captain Pearse Og McCrickard has got to be one of the best kickers in the county. He landed seven points, his first coming in the fourth minute.

Saul got their second goal through Callum Mahoney in the fifth minute and it was a scramble to get the ball into the net. Liatroim’s PJ Davidson scored a point in response.

Saul’s management team were not taking any chances following the yellow card for Jamie Morgan, with Callum Laverty coming on to replace him before the first water break.

Ruairi O’Hare and Cathail Arnold got a point each for Saul and Pearse Og McCrickard claimed a futher two scores for Liatroim, both from frees.

Liatroim hit the ground running after the water break through Pearse Og McCrickard’s free. However, the wind was behind Saul and Ruairi O’Hare got their third goal of the game. Lorcan Harney made a great catch and turned to score a point from play. James Mahoney followed it up in the 25th minute with another point.

Callum Fitzsimons got a yellow card following the linesman’s call to the referee and was replaced at half-time by Sean Higgins.

Pearse Og McCrickard pulled a point back, but that was cancelled out by free from Cathail Arnold, who was showing why his presence in the middle of the field is needed.

Liatroim made a substitution just before half-time, Cahal Owens coming on for Stephen O’Higgins.

Liatroim’s Ruairi McCrickard landed the ball over the bar from a corner kick just as the half-time was blown. Even so, Saul were very much in charge going into the interval with the score at 3-6 to 0-7.

In the second period it was Liatroim’s Ruairi McCrickard who got the scoring restarted, but Saul responded in the fifth minute through Ciaran Harney, who made a strong surge up the right hand side of the field.

Saul continued to push forward and it paid off with Ruairi O’Hare scoring his second point of the game.

Saul brought on Declan McComsikey for Aodhan Harney. Liatroim also made changes with Aidan O’Hare, Kieran Doyle and William McCartan coming on for Donough O’Higgins, Miceal McCartan and Sean Og O’Rourke.

Liatroim closed the gap with Conor McCrickard scoring two points in a row, the second from a free.

Saul made a change with Callum Mahoney making way for Ronan Connor just before the second water break and made another substitution following the break with Philly Traynor coming on for Mark McGrady. Liatroim replaced Mark Owens with Sean Duggan.

Saul started to sit deep in their own half and given the style of possession football Liatroim play, this worked to their advantage. Conor McCrickard scored a point from a free and added a further two points to his tally.

It took Saul another eight minutes to respond with a deflected point off Rory Mullen’s knee which went over the bar.

Saul pushed forward and were rewarded with goals from Ronan Connor and Ruari O’Hare to finish the game with his second goal of the game in the final touch.

Saul 5-9

Liatroim 0-16

PARADOR LODGE IFC SEMI-FINAL

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