Caltra 2 -8

St Michael’s 0-14

By Mike Rafferty at Tuam Stadium

WHEN Enda Murray strolled forward to get his first score of the Intermediate Football Championship at Tuam Stadium on Saturday, his point was enough to rescue Caltra and leave the destination of the county title in the balance as it will take a reply on Saturday to see who goes up to the senior grade next season.

This was a final in which St Michael’s always appeared to have a solid grip on as they build up an early lead, but when Mikey Mulryan struck the second Caltra goal on 50 minutes, there was a shift in the balance of play and from there to the end, the sides were level on three occasions as matters swung one way and then the other before the long final whistle.

The club post mortems will probably make St Michael’s feel guilty for throwing away a worthy advantage in both halves, but at the same time credit them for coming from behind twice in the latter stages when the game was really in the balance.

From Caltra’s point of view, they were outplayed in the opening half, before the old-fashioned and often scorned delivery into the edge of the square set up the first of their goals and left just a point between the sides at the break. Having fallen in arrears again on the resumption, Caltra’s second goal changed the course of the game as the fourth quarter produced an edge of your seat finale as the teams chased the holy grail of a position back in senior football.

It was the City side who started off in the most assertive manner. St Michael’s dominated possession in a slow build up manner and notched the opening three points of the game – Gary Higgins slotted over two frees after Dave Cunnane was fouled on both occasions and he followed those up with a converted 45 on 12 minutes.

By this stage, Caltra had hardly crossed into the St Michael’s half, but in two quick breakaways almost snatched goals. After a turnover, a long ball in by Alan Naughton went over the heads of everyone and goalkeeper Stephen Daly was lucky to react with a leg block to keep the ball out.

Moments later a superb catch and run by Oisin Butler set up Shaun Keane, but he failed to hit the target. Butler and Owen Naughton were involved in the build up as Eoin Ó Ceallaigh got them off the mark on 12 minutes, before St Michael’s were to add the next three scores.

Pictured: Mikey Mulryan of Caltra taking on Eoin Kerin and Stephen Kerr of St Michael’s at Tuam Stadium.