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Friel hails super Urris
performance
13.05.09
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Urris...2-15 St Naul's...1-7 by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent URRIS FOOTBALL manager John Friel has hailed the performance of his team in the second leg of their Intermediate Football Championship preliminary round tie in Mountcharles on Saturday when they defeated Division 2 side St Naul’s by 2-15 to 1-7. Having lost the first leg in Straid a week earlier, Friel admitted that it was the do-or-die nature of the match that spurred on his side. “The team went down to Mountcharles in the right frame of mind. They knew that it was knock out from here on in and they put in a great performance, every single man did well.” |
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Six days earlier Urris had
struggled to deal with the attacking threat posed by St
Naul’s. They were blitzed in the first half, trailing by
13 points at one stage before narrowing the gap in the
second half but a succession of poor wides from Urris
and late scores from county star Stephen Griffin gave St
Naul’s a six point victory that flattered them somewhat. Saturday saw team captain Sean McDaid return to the Urris fold after illness. “Sean was still feeling the effects of his illness, but he came in and did a great job for us,” Friel said. “He’s got a good head for reading the game, and good hands. He keeps himself very fit and it was great to have him back.” Friel also paid tribute to centre half-back Mickey Grant who had “an outstanding game” and the midfield pairing of Liam Diver and Eddie Kelly |
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who dominated the sector
throughout. Despite conceding an early goal, Urris led their opponents by 1-9 to 1-2 at half-time and in a result that raised eyebrows across the county ran out comfortable 11-point winners. While travelling to the south Donegal venue, the Urris team would have heard former county star John Joe O’Shea on Highland Radio writing off their prospects of getting the result that would keep their championship alive. “I told the boys about it and we didn’t want for motivation,” Friel said. “Up front, the return of Ciaran Friel was a big bonus. He’s very mobile and caused the St Naul’s defence a lot of problems. He didn’t get on the scoreboard himself, but he linked well with the other forwards. But it was the overall team performance that was most pleasing. We brought in a couple of players, and have a few more waiting in the wings for next Sunday.” Urris will travel to Convoy for the play-off against St Naul’s on Sunday and the game has a 4pm throw-in. Friel appealed for support from the parish as the team tries to qualify for the first round proper where Na Rossa will provide the opposition. “St Naul’s are a good side, very dangerous in attack and in Stephen Griffin they have one of the best forwards in the country,” Friel said. “We’ll have to get back into the right frame of mind for the championship again this week.” While Saturday’s result is one of the club’s best in the championship in recent years, Friel knows that it will count for little should they fail to complete the job in Convoy next Sunday. “It’s still only the preliminary round,” he cautioned, “but we clicked on Saturday and if we can do it again we have every chance.” For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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