St Dominic's title hopes ended in hard fought semi final

St. Dominic's intermediate championship hopes ended last Sunday evening when, after a tough encounter at Tulsk, Lord Edward's GAA grounds, Strokestown emerged two-point victors. The result means that Strokestown, as well as claiming a berth in the intermediate final, are automatically promoted back to senior grade as their opponents in the final, St. Brigid's - who overcame St. Ronan's in the other semi-final cannot be promoted owing to the fact that already have a team at that grade. For the same reason, 'the Town' will also represent Roscommon in this year's Connacht intermediate championship. Having suffered relegation from senior grade in 2009, Strokestown have looked impressive at intermediate level and, at the start of the year, would have been most people's favourites to bounce straight back up. Playing Division One football all year would also have done their cause no harm' In qualifying for the semi-finals, Strokestown had encountered little resistance, easily overcoming Fuerty, Kilglass Gaels and Tulsk, Lord Edward's, but here they faced their toughest test against St. Dominic's - another team tipped by many to challenge for the intermediate crown. And they didn't disappoint, pushing Strokestown all the way in this robust encounter. In the end, however, Strokestown's class shone through with St. Dominic's proving far too reliant on county midfielder Michael Finneran for inspiration. It was Dominic's who started the game the brighter and, right from the throw-in, Ultan Kelly was released down the right wing. Kelly then found full-forward Conor Fallon and he fired over the game's opening score with just thirty seconds on the clock. Strokestown were back on level terms just two minutes later when Pearse McGinley hit a superb equaliser from an extremely acute angle. Finneran put Dominic's back in front on six minutes but, unfortunately for the Knockcroghery side, that was to be the last time they would hold the lead as Strokestown's superior scoring power began to shine through. By the 16th minute, Strokestown had equalised, taken the lead and then stretched that lead out to four with John Rogers, Conor Silke and Mattie Colum all getting their names on the score-sheet. Dominic's dominant spell Tomas Gilleran then pulled one back for Dominic's. Thereafter, the Knockcroghery side had an extended spell of dominance where they were able to claw themselves back into contention and, just before half-time, the match was level pegging. Tom Gately, Paul Dolan and Conor Fallon were the scorers for Dominic's during this spell. An injury-time free from John Rogers put Strokestown back in front but, before referee Declan Hunt had a chance to blow the half-time whistle, Conor Fallon had levelled up the scores with a converted free - the last kick of the half. Upon the resumption, Strokestown stepped it up a gear once again with talisman John Rogers now spearheading the attack. By the 45th minute the county forward had registered a further three points to restore his side's three-point advantage. It took 17 minutes of second-half play for Dominic's to find their shooting boots but when they finally did it was full-forward Paddy Dolan who found the range with a fine effort from the left touchline. The Doms were now well on top but crucially they could not convert this into scores. With eight minutes to go, Paddy Brogan put three between the sides once again and when Conor Silke made it a four-point deficit with five to play, it looked all over for St. Dominic's. In a final frantic few minutes, Doms threw everything they had in an ultimately futile effort to salvage their season. As the game ticked over into time added-on, the deficit was reduced to three. A late, late free gave Doms a brief glimmer of hope. A goal was needed but Fallon's drilled effort flew the wrong side of the crossbar and with that went St. Dominic's championship hopes. SCORERS - Strokestown: John Rogers (0-7, 5 frees), Conor Silke (0-3), Mattie Colum (0-1), Pearse McGinley (0-1), Paddy Brogan (0-1). St. Dominic's: Conor Fallon (0-4, 3 frees), Tom Gately (0-2), Paul Dolan (0-2, 2 frees), Declan Dowling (0-1). STROKESTOWN: John McHugh; Johnny Dolan, John Hagan, Paul McLoughlin; Niall Brogan, Daniel Rogers, Ruari Molloy; Ronan Owens, Mattie Colum; John Rogers, David Parker, Pearse McGinley; Colin Compton, Paddy Brogan, Conor Silke. SUBS: Kenny Bosquette for D. Parker (HT), Seamus Collins for P. McGinley (HT), Rory O'Connor for S. Collins (59'), Emmett Collins for J. Hagan (60'). ST. DOMINIC'S: Aidan O'Beirne; Andy Grady, Anthony Naughton, David Corcoran; Tom Gately, Aidan Weir, Liam Murray; Michael Finneran, Adrian Brennan; Niall Naughton, Tomas Gilleran, Paul Dolan; Ultan Kelly, Conor Fallon, Niall Byrne. SUBS: Daniel Byrne for A. Grady (21'), Seamus McKeown for U. Kelly (42'), Barry Mugan for N. Naughton (46'), Declan Dowling for T. Gilleran (49'), Eamon Carney for A. Brennan (60'). REFEREE: Declan Hunt.