Clifden secure Intermediate championship relegation final triumph
Clifden produced a commanding second half to overpower St Gabriel’s in the Intermediate football championship relegation final in Spiddal, sealing a 2-12 to 0-13 victory that consigns St Gabriel’s to the Junior grade. The win marks a turning point for the Connemara club and sets Clifden on a more positive trajectory after a tied, hard-fought opening period.
First half: a close affair with momentum shifts
The opening 30 minutes were a keen contest, with both sides trading scores and neither able to establish a clear edge. St Gabriel’s began confidently, with Chris Donnellan striking the game’s only two-pointer and Fiachra Garvey linking with James Egan to keep the scoreboard ticking. Clifden responded through the accurate free-taking of Ger Gibbons and a well-worked goal that arrived on nine minutes when Emmet Moran’s hand pass found Conal Joyce, who finished low past Patrick Downey. That goal put Clifden 1-2 to 0-3 ahead, prompting St Gabriel’s to rally.
Declan Cronin, David Malone and Donal Mannion helped drive St Gabriel’s forward, and Sean Collins’s fielding laid the groundwork for Sean Leonard’s score. Egan added a pair of frees, with Malone and Egan swapping points from placed balls as St Gabriel’s edged ahead by the interval, 1-5 to 0-8. Clifden’s response late in the half consisted of another Gibbons free and a Colm Coneys score, keeping the tie intact at the break, with the teams level and the sense that the next 30 minutes would decide everything.
Second half: Clifden’s surge and tactical discipline
The turning point of the match arrived in the third quarter as Clifden dominated possession and put together a 1-4 burst without reply. Ger Gibbons continued to provide a steady source of scores from frees, while forward trio Ruairi King, Colm Coneys and Conal Joyce caused persistent trouble for St Gabriel’s defense. The late first-half energy carried into the second period, and Clifden pressed home their advantage as they opened a seven-point gap that proved decisive.
St Gabriel’s battled to stay in touch, but Clifden’s forward line was clinical, finishing opportunities and keeping the scoreboard ticking in a way that signified the game’s momentum had shifted decisively. The defence, marshalled by midfielders and interchanges, held firm to protect the lead as St Gabriel’s attempts to claw back were thwarted by disciplined Irish football and accurate frees from Gibbons.
Key contributors and match implications
Clifden’s win featured notable contributions across the forward line. Ruairi King and Conal Joyce were central to the attack, with Coneys adding a second-half boost that, alongside Gibbons’ unerring free-taking, pushed Clifden over the line. For St Gabriel’s, the early prowess of Donnellan and Egan offered hope, but their challenge waned as Clifden’s second-half intensity grew.
The result not only delivers a relegation final victory for Clifden but also marks a demotion for St Gabriel’s to the Junior grade, altering the composition of next season’s Intermediate fixtures and providing Clifden with a platform to rebuild with renewed confidence. The sense on the field afterward was one of relief and satisfaction for Clifden’s squad and management, with several players acknowledged for their perseverance and attacking quality throughout the match.
Final thoughts
Clifden’s second-half surge demonstrates how a sharp focus on ball retention and finishing efficiency can turn tight games in knockout football. Ger Gibbons’ reliability from placed balls, coupled with the finishing flair of Joyce and Coneys, was pivotal in carving out the seven-point lead that St Gabriel’s could not recover from. As Clifden celebrate, they will be hoping to build on this performance and translate it into continued success in future campaigns, while St Gabriel’s face the challenge of regrouping from relegation.
Note: The game featured notable performances from Clifden’s forward line and highlighted the importance of clinical finishing and strategic adaptation in important championship matches.
