Match Overview
Clifden produced a powerful second-half performance to secure victory in the Intermediate football championship relegation final at Spiddal, defeating St Gabriel’s 2-12 to 0-13. The Connemara side flipped the script after the break, turning possession into points and goals and sending St Gabriel’s down to the Junior grade. The result underlined Clifden’s ability to rise to the big occasion, with a balanced attack and meticulous finishing carrying them to the win.
First Half – A Tightly Contested Exchange
The opening half was a study in momentum shifts, with unlikely leads changing hands and both sides matching dishfuls of effort. St Gabriel’s made the brighter start, as Chris Donnellan struck over a two-pointer and Fiachra Garvey created for James Egan, who added another point. Clifden steadied the ship as Paddy Keaney anchored the midfield, and Ger Gibbons began to exert control with his long-range frees. A trademark moment arrived when Emmet Moran teed up Conal Joyce for a low shot past Patrick Downey on nine minutes, giving Clifden a 1-2 to 0-3 edge.
The visitors from the city side, aided by Declan Cronin, David Malone and Donal Mannion, found their footing and kept pace as Egan added two more frees. Malone, too, answered from placed balls, leaving the scoreboard level at 1-5 to 0-8 at the break, with a Kearney point in response to which Clifden could only muster a late reply through Gibbons and Coneys. The stage was set for a decisive second half, where accuracy at the vital moments would prove decisive.
Turning Point – A Commanding Second Half
Clifden came out stronger after the restart, and a sustained run of possession yielded 1-4 without reply in a decisive period. The goal-scoring surge, started by a Gibbons free and finished by Conal Joyce, put Clifden ahead by seven points, a lead they would not relinquish. The rhythm set by the midfield duo of Keaney and relentless pressure from the forwards fed a chorus of scores that stretched beyond St Gabriel’s reach. Ger Gibbons continued to be the anchor for Clifden, his frees keeping the scoreboard moving and extending the cushion when it mattered most.
Key Contributors
Several Clifden players stepped up on the day to shoulder the responsibility. Ruairi King, Colm Coneys and Conal Joyce were central to the foray that shaped the game’s outcome, combining with Moran’s supporting play to create goal chances and convert them with composure. The accuracy of Gibbons’ frees proved crucial, ensuring Clifden never allowed St Gabriel’s to mount a sustained threat after the interval. The home side’s defense stood firm as the game wore on, repelling wave after wave of Gabriel’s attacks.
St Gabriel’s Perspective
St Gabriel’s, who had reached the Intermediate quarter-finals the previous year, began with intent and intermittently tested Clifden. Chris Donnellan’s early free and James Egan’s scores showed quality, but as the match progressed, they were unable to sustain the momentum they had on the opening exchanges. The sending-off window with Mannion’s departure did not yield a comeback, and Clifden’s relentless second-half display left St Gabriel’s with a difficult path to the Junior grade.
Aftermath and Implications
With the win, Clifden cemented their status among the stronger sides in the Intermediate championship as they now look to build on this momentum. For St Gabriel’s, relegation to the Junior grade marks a disappointing turn after last season’s quarter-final run, but the experience gained this season should inform their preparations for a strong push back at the appropriate level. The mood in Spiddal was one of relief for Clifden and cautious optimism for their supporters as they sent a warning to rivals about their potential under pressure.
Conclusion
A dominant second half, led by consistent frees from Ger Gibbons and a sharp attacking unit, carried Clifden to a well-deserved win. The team’s ability to convert chances through well-timed scoring bursts made the crucial difference and secured a memorable victory in a campaign that tested them to their limits.
