Bennettsbridge are Michael Lyng Intermediate league Champions 2015

Bennettsbridge are Michael Lyng Intermediate League Champions at the first time of asking after overcoming Tullaroan in John Locke Park on Saturday last.  Played in perfect conditions there was no room for excuses and so it was when at the end of the 60 minutes The Bridge had a five point advantage. The Bridge were first off the mark through our main marksman Nickey Cleere after just 2 minutes. Sean Morrissey doubled the scoring after 6 minutes before Tullaroan hit back and scored 4 on the bounce. Back came the Bridge and after 20  minutes they had hit 4 in a row themselves and lead 6 points to 4. Unlike last week the scores were spread around the field with 4 different players on the score card. Just when things were going along smoothly up popped county star Padraig Walsh and he crashed the ball to the net with just 3 minutes left in the half. After been in a comfortable position now it was all square with the Bridge having done most of the hurling. However in the final 2 minutes of the half we took charge again and hit 3 lovely scores through H O’Neill and a pair from L Blanchfield who was causing trouble whenever he got on the ball. The second half started with both sides trading points before our boys hit a brace through B Lannon and K Brennan following a goal from H O’Neill. Suddenly there was 8 points between the sides and things were going according to plan. After a few points were exchanged Kevin Blanchfield found himself in the clear and he made no mistake crashing the ball to the Tullaroan net.  Back came Tullaroan and they got the better of the exchanges and they hit 1-4 to a single point over the next 8 minutes. The margin was now just 4 points and with 7 minutes remaining all of a sudden Christy looked a little nervous. The defence tightened up however and conceded just a single point and with the forwards hitting 2 the celebrations began on the line as the final whistle sounded. It was the end of a very successful league campaign BUT the real business stars at the weekend in the shape of a Championship quarter final which will not be easy. The team will have to be in top form to progress and hopefully the support will be there to cheer them on. The team was E Cleere, C Wafer, J Moran, E Murphy, J Cleere, R Lennon(0-1), E Morrissey, D Wafer, K Blanchfield(1-1), B Lannon(0-2), N Cleere(0-6), S Morrissey(0-2), K Brennan(0-1), H O’Neill(1-3), L Blanchfield(0-4). There were no subs used during the game but plenty willing and able on the bench.