Lisbellaw 2-11 Swatragh 2-16
Two clinically executed goals in the space of four minutes were the key scores as a sharper Swatragh side had too much power for a game but outgunned Lisbellaw in the Ulster Intermediate Championship in Brewster Park.
The excellent PJ O’Connell grabbed the first and late starter Mick McCormack landed the second to put his side into a 2-05 to 0-06 lead by the 22nd minute.
It was a lead the hard-working Derry side were never to lose and gave them momentum to move on to a convincing win.
Lisbellaw had the ball in the net in the 63rd minute from towering centre forward J P McGarry-but it barely put a gloss on matters.
Their talisman John Duffy had a penalty ten minutes from time, but he uncharacteristically failed to rise the sliotar and his effort from the ground flew past the post.
But there was no doubting Swatragh’s superiority as O’Connell and centre-back James Friel had commanding displays and were well supported by the pacey Sean Martin Quinn, Paul Cunning and excellent keeper Niall McQuillan.
Swatragh opened the scoring when lively wing forward Sean Martin sped through the ‘Law defence and arrowed over a fine point for the visitors.
Their cultured centre forward Paul Cunning doubled that lead as Lisbellaw looked under early pressure.
A Caolan Duffy free got them off the mark in the 9th minute and that set the scene for a cracking encounter.
Lisbellaw put on a bit of a spurt and hit two points in the space of 90 seconds from veteran JP McGarry and Sean Corrigan.
Swatragh’s James Friel tied matters from a free- but the ‘Law hit back with an intricate move of the match that ended with John Duffy hammering over a fine point to put the Ernesiders into a 0-04 to 0-03 lead.
Swatragh hit three wides from scorable chances before O’Connell levelled matters only for Caolan Duffy to edge the ‘Law into a 0-06 to 0-05 lead.
And then Swatragh struck for a crucial goal in the 17th minute when O’Connell found himself in space deep inside the ‘Law defence and he rifled the sliotar to the roof of the net.
O’Connell turned provider four minutes later when he flicked the sliotar across the ‘Law square and McCormack scooped the ball to the net from six yards.
O’Connell and Sean Martin Quinn added points and Caolan Duffy (0-02) responded for the ‘Law as Swaragh led by 2-07 to 0-08 at the break.
Paul Cunning and Caolan Duffy swapped points on the resumption with Sean Martin Quinn and James Friel exchanging points with Adam McShea.
Friel and Duffy exchanged frees and O’Connell put the winners into a 2-13 to 0-11 lead by the 48th minute.
Lisbellaw moved John Paul McGarry into full forward for the second half and made his presence felt.
But Duffy’s missed penalty ended their hopes of a comeback although the ‘Law kept battling to the very end.
However, Swatragh were deadly accurate on the counter-attack. Four minutes of extra time were played in which McGarry goaled, but it was too little too late.
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