St Michaels 1-12 Drumconrath 1-10 Drumconrath despite having a troublesome year with many retirements and injuries showed real battling qualities' and no little skill as their young team with four Championship debutants refused to give in easily to a strong St Michaels outfit. St Michaels opened the scoring but Drumconrath through the accurate left foot of Alan Byrne kept in the hunt and the sides where level 4 times in the opening quarter. Byrne with 3 points and Jamie Myles were the Drumconrath scorers. A St Michaels goal on 17 minutes and some taught the flood gates would open as backed by the strong breeze it was feared the Kilbeg men would pull away. Not so as Drums notched the next 2 points from frees from Byrne and Leighton Irwin and although Mikes responded well with 2 points of their own Drumconrath style of play and battling qualities' resulted in another point from the excellent Stephan Crosby. A late St Michaels point left it 1-7 to 0-7 at the break. With Terry Skelly Jamie Myles and Christopher Tighe lending great support to Crosby Druconrath opened well in the 2nd half with Byrne pointing from play. St Michaels opened their second half account in the 37th minute and it was noticeable the strong breeze died considerably at this stage. A good sweeping move by Drumconrath resulting in some neat passing as the St Michael rear guard was cut open with Kevin Dardis netting from close range to level the game again. Try as they might Drumconrath just could not get their noses in front as once again the Mikes took the lead. Myles again leveled he game but 2 St Michaels points pushed them 2 ahead again as by this stage the Calvary had arrived in the shape of the heavily strapped Daithi Regan who used his experience to game some easy frees. A Byrne free in the 56 minute gave Drumconrath hope but 2 missed chances again seen them unable to grasp the chance to lead. A late Regan point left St Michaels safe but very relived to gain the 2 points and their Championship hopes still intact for the time being. Thomas Dardis played very well in goal as he deputized for the injured Sean Kane while minors Patrick Dunne and Oran Finnegan ably assisted the excellent Stephan Crosby and the hard working Damien Glass. Terry Skelly led his team well from midfield and was central all things good for Drums while Alan Byrne gave a man of the match display seeing of numerous Michaels markers as Jamie Myles used his pace to good effect while 1st time IFC starters Kevin Dardis and Larry Fay can be happy with their efforts. Drumconrath - Thomas Dardis; Patrick Dunne, Peter Tighe, John Lynch; Oran Finnegan, Stephan Crosby (0-1), Damien Glass; Terry Skelly, Leighton Irwin (0-1); Alan Byrne (0-6), Jamie Myles (0-2), Christopher Tighe; Kevin Dardis (1-0), Larry Fay, Ollie McMahon. Sub Conor Martin for Lynch Tweet

Most Read Stories