Another evening of heartbreak and "what might have beens" for Clonmore as our Intermediates tamely bowed out of the Championship. Once again, we are left with that empty feeling of knowing we are out of the Championship after losing a game we were good enough to win. We practically owned the ball in the first half but just couldn't buy a score, kicking 8 wides and only scoring 4 points from Con Murphy (3, 1"45") and a Gavin Byrne free. At the other end, Fenagh were far more economical with Sean Murphy drawing fouls with his driving runs from midfield and big full forward James Kinsella converting the frees. Then they punished mistakes in the Clonmore backline to score the softest of soft goals on the stroke of half-time to put them 1-3 to 0-4 ahead at the break. It must have been very de-flating tor the Clonmore lads to find themselves behind at half-time after completely dominating the half.

Two Gavin Byrne points brought the score to 1-4 to 0-6 on 40 minutes and we dared to hope. But again our hopes were dashed by a brilliant goal from Sean Murphy who was unstoppable when running through the centre of our defence and he sent a rocket of a shot to the top corner of the net to make it 2-4 to 0-6. Another lucky goal by Fenagh on 46 minutes ended the game as a contest as a shot for a point hit the post and dropped kindly into the hands of an incoming Fenagh forward with only Collie McGrath to beat. 

Chances came and went for Clonmore and the lads tried hard but we made too many mistakes all over the field, kicked too many wides and couldn't penetrate their defence for a goal. While we undoubtedly had the better footballers, we seemed to lack the physicality and passion needed to win the dogfight that is a Championship Quarter Final.

Team: Collie McGrath, Paul Hogan, Ronan Doyle, Anthony Byrne, Kevin McCarney, Shane Murphy, Enda McGrath, Gavin Byrne (0-3, 2f), David Mulvany, David McCarney, Con Murphy (0-4, 1"45"), Paddy Gahan, Shane McGrath, Niall Humphries, Pauric Lawlor (0-1), Subs: Jordan Kane for Paddy Gahan (HT), Alan Humphries for Niall (50mins), Dale McNamara for Pauric (55 mins).

PHOTO: Insets: Pauric Lawlor, Andrew Byrne, Paddy Gahan, Anthony Byrne, Alan Humphries, Niall Humphries, Enda McGrath, Daniel Quigley, Shane Murphy.Back Row: Shane McGrath, Gavin Byrne, PJ Byrne, David Mulvany, Ronan Doyle, Con Murphy, Paul Byrne, John Kelly, Willie Byrne. Front: David McCarney, Bobby Rooney, Kevin McCarney, Enda McGrath, Paddy Byrne, Colin McGrath, Dale McNamara, Jordan Kane, Paul Hogan.