O'CONNELLS 1-11

CLAN NA GAEL 0-8

O'Connells secured a return to Senior Football after an absence of just one season when they defeated Clan na Gael to claim the Intermediate title at Dunleer on Sunday afternoon.

The Bellingham side suffered the disappointment of losing their top flight status when they were defeated by St Patrick's in a play-off at the end of last season. However, that pain was wiped away with an impressive display that saw them deservedly win the Seamus Flood Cup for the second time in five years.

For the Clans it was another painful afternoon as they lost out in the Intermediate decider for the fourth time since 2011. Following on their excellent display in the semi-final victory over Mattock Rangers, the Clans went into the game with high expectations but just couldn't repeat that level of performance as the O'Connells controlled this game for much of the hour.

The O'Connells have been a model of consistency in this year's championship and again on Sunday they stuck to their task in impressive fashion and from the early stages had the upper hand against a Clans side who just couldn't get into their stride.

The Bellingham side's big players stood up to be counted when it mattered most and were driven on by Man of the Match Jackie Agnew and Niall Conlon, while substitute Sean Connolly produced the decisive goal just before the break to send his team in with a commanding seven point lead.

They then had the composure in the second half to keep the Clans at bay and a comeback never really looked on, ensuring that O'Connells captain Stuart Reynolds was able to get his hands on the trophy.

The winners made their intentions clear from the opening exchanges and after two minutes they took the lead through Dean Stanfield. A free from Billy Smith cancelled out that score and he produced a second equaliser on eight minutes after Conlon had kicked the first of his five points.

A fine score from Conall McKeever had the Clans ahead for the only time in the game but any suggestion that the Dundalk men would kick on from there was soon dispelled as the O'Connells moved up a gear.

Robert Quigley (2) and Conlon had their side two clear before Sean Connolly fired in the only goal of the game on 25 minutes to put his side 1-5 to 0-3 in front. The gap was out to seven at the short whistle as Quigley and Conlon added further points.

The changed things around at the break and introduced both Leo Martin and Stephen Coleman and it certainly had an effect as Mark Newell and Coleman pointed to reduce the gap.

There may have been thoughts of a comeback at that stage but the O'Connells reacted in impressive fashion with two Conlon scores to restore the seven point advantage at 1-9 to 0-5 at the end of the third quarter.

The determination of the Bellingham men meant that they never looked in any real danger for the remainder of the game and although the Clans scored three of the last five points, there was no denying the O'Connells their victory.

O'CONNELLS: Stuart Reynolds, James Clerkin, Keith Woods, Jason Carroll; Emmet Byrne, Salem Rifaie, Stuart Osborne; Dean Stanfield 0-1, Sean Cairns; Paul McKeever, Jackie Agnew 0-2, Dean Corrigan; Robert Quigley 0-3, Niall Conlon, Conor McGuill. Subs: Sean Connolly 1-0 for D Corrigan.

CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smyth; Ian Carr, Paul Crewe, Donal Boyle; Kevin Carroll, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Micheal McDonald; Conor Noonan, Billy Smith 0-4; Conall McKeever 0-1, JJ Quigley, Mark Newell 0-1; Paul Gore, Ray McCabe, Mark McGeown 0-1. Subs: Leo Martin for JJ Quigley, Stephen Coleman 0-1 for R McCabe, Robbie Curran for C Noonan, JJ Quigley for K Carroll, Drew Duffy for M Newell.

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