Stalemate once again as replay ends in a draw

Date Published: {J}

St James’ 2-8Carna/Caiseal 1-11(AET)

Dara Bradleyat Pearse Stadium

After more than 140 minutes of action, another stalemate. City club St James’ and Carna/Caiseal couldn’t be separated in the Claregalway Hotel intermediate championship semi-final replay at Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening and must do battle again in a second replay this coming weekend.

On balance, a third chance at reaching the final against An Spidéal will be welcomed by both camps and a draw was probably the fairest outcome although the Connemara men will once again be scratching their heads wondering how they didn’t emerge with the spoils.

For the second week in a row, and despite making most of the running, Seán Ó Nia’s and Seán Ó Cualáin’s charges needed a late levelling point, this time in the second period of extra-time.

The sides were tied 1-2 to 0-5 at the interval but Carna/Caiseal opened up a five points lead 10 minutes into the second half thanks to an opportunistic fisted goal from Stiofáin Ó Cuirrín and points from Micheál Ó Cathasaigh and Seósamh Ó Cathasaigh and it looked like the Gaeltacht club, at 1-7 to 1-2 could close out the match comfortably.

St James’ refused to be beaten though and an absolute towering second-half display from county star Paul Conroy dragged the Mervue/Renmore outfit back into the match.

Conroy, who had been somewhat subdued in the opening half, was immense in the second – he fielded four kick-outs cleanly during the second 30 minutes, which kept his team on the front foot and he also landed three points from placed balls, including a pressure free with the last kick of normal time to force extra-time.

St James’ other county star, corner forward Eoin Concannon, who was also a little off the pace in the opening half, settled in the second despite having a heavily bandaged knee, and contributed two points from play as St James’ scored 0-5 without reply in the last 20 minutes of normal time to leave it 1-7 apiece at full-time.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.