Faughanvale start with win as Doire Trasna stall in Intermediate Championship

Faughanvale 1-14, Doire Trasna 0-07

While never as emphatic as the scoreline suggests, Faughanvale were comfortable winners in a Group B opener that never really got off the ground at John McLaughlin Park on Sunday.

Joe Gray's team were only behind once in a match that failed to spark, St. Mary's greater fitness and mobility eventually getting them over the line with plenty to spare after Trasna failed to build on an excellent start to the second half that had the Pearses back to within two points. Shane McElhinney's superbly worked late goal provided a gloss that Trasna didn't deserve but there was never any doubt about the winners after 'Vale had weathered that early second half storm.

Both sides showed plenty of signs of rustiness after the long lay-off but 'Vale always carried the greater attacking threat with Michael Sweeney, Kyle McGuinness and Cathal O'Kane provided a platform for 'Vale to feed the twin threats of Paddy O'Kane and Kevin Martin. Michael McLaughlin at full forward may have been the focal point of the home attack but it was the St Mary's runners and movement that proved the difference.

Ironically, Trasna defence was their strong point. They looked solid throughout but that security came at a price to their attacking threat. Eoghan Carlin's team let themselves down with the speed of transition any time possession was won. Too many lateral passes and not enough quick ball constantly allowed Vale to funnel back inside their own '45 and regroup, ready to spring their own counter-attacking trap.

It meant a frustrating afternoon for the Pearses whose kick-out policy never quite worked as they hoped. That, coupled with a deep defensive set-up and too many men retaining the ball for too long, played straight into 'Vale hands and the home side prospered. Both sides though have plenty of scope for improvement.

They game-plan appeared similar for both; sit deep in numbers, win possession and hit on the counter but 'Vale looked more comfortable with a style they have employed to good effect over the recent past.

Paddy O'Kane hit the game's opening two scores, one a free, in an ominous opening but Trasna rallied. Using Micheal McNaught as a target man, the Pearses were looking to Colin Murray, Eoghan Quigg, Caolan McConnell and former Ardmore man, Dee McGee, to knit play together. It was working too when McNaught called an attacking mark before quickly off-loading to Murray who surged forward to open the Trasna account.

One minute later it was McNaught, set up by Paul Quigley, who levelled before a lovely Murray had the visitors in front for the first time.

Credit to 'Vale though, they regrouped and got tight, starving the likes of Murray and Quigg of possession, a move which blunted much of the Trasna threat. Two Kevin Martin scores, one a free, one a lovely effort from long range swung the tide again and when another O'Kane free left it 0-5 to 0-3 by the 20th minute, 'Vale were taking a stranglehold.

O'Kane (free) and Martin again, following lovely work by Shane McElhinney, stretched the home advantage to 0-7 to 0-3 before a Murray free broke the sequence. It was 'Vale who were finishing the half stronger though as Martin and an excellent '45 from Eoin McElhinney left it 0-9 to 0-4 at the interval.

Trasna replaced keeper Durkan with former Doire Colmcille man, Aodhan Campbell, at the break but problems with the kick-out persisted even if the opening minutes suggested they had finally found top gear.

A Micheal McNaught free was followed by a lovely solo effort from McGee before Eoghan Quigg hit a huge score to bring the deficit back to 0-9 to 9-7. Crucially Trasna let other chances slip and that would be as close as they'd get.

Under pressure, 'Vale broke to score through Eoin McElhinney and once composed again, they turned the screw. Micheal McLaughlin and O'Kane extended the advantage before a brilliant solo run and point from Conor McGuinness left it 0-13 to 0-7.

Substitute Aaron Cassidy got in on the act with his first of the afternoon before the McElhinney brothers provided the late coup de gras, Eoin's beautiful pass finding Shane in acres of space on the right and the latter providing the finish the move deserved.

That goal was window dressing on a performance 'Vale will need to improve on in a group complicated by Lissan's decision not to field against Drumsurn. Joe Gray won't be fooled. Any championship win is welcomed but this had the look of blowing away the cobwebs rather than setting out a championship stalls.

There were positives for Trasna who will hope to have Conlodgh Deeney and Micheal Philson back for the remaining games but the worry seems to be if you blunt Colin Murray you remove much of the attacking threat. The Waterside men had been hindered by injuries in the build up and that showed at times with Quigg often forced to come too deep. However, if they can marry their early defensive showing with a more balance attacking display, the Pearses may yet have plenty to say in this group.

Faughanvale scorers: Shane McElhinney (1-0), Paddy O'Kane (0-5, 3f), Kevin Martin (0-4, 1f, 1m), Eoin McElhinney (0-2, 1 forty-five), Micheal McLaughlin (0-1), Conor McGuinness (0-1), Aaron Cassidy (0-1)

Doire Trasna scorers: Colin Murray (0-3, 1f), Micheal McNaught (0-2, 1f), Damian McGee (0-1), Eoghan Quigg (0-1)

Faughanvale: Daryl Moore, Sean Butcher, Gordon Fahey, Shane McElhinney, Kyle McGuinness, Michael Sweeney, Mark Creane, Eoin McElhinney, Jordan Curran, Cathal O'Kane, James Moore, Conor McGuinness, Paddy O'Kane, Micheal McLaughlin, Kevin Martin.

(Subs) Dermot McCrossan for D Mallet (inj), 13mins; Aidan Campbell for L Durkan, HT; Dee Starrett for D McCrossan, 45mins.

Wides: 4/2

Doire Trasna: Luke Durkan, Shane Lyttle, Tomas McCrossan, Conall Guille, Daryl Mallet, Ciaran McGowan, Sean McNaught, Caolan Doyle, Paul Quigley, Colin Murray, Sean Fleming, Damian McGee, Micheal McNaught, Eoghan Quigg, Caolan McConnell.

(Subs) Aaron Cassidy for M McLaughlin, 48mins; Brian Watson for C O'Kane, 59mins; Mark Logue for J Curran, 60mins;

Wides: 1/5

Referee: Harry Tohill