Valeo from Tuam won their first county interfirms title when defeating reigning champions Electrical Concepts Oughterard by 2-17 to 1-7 in ideal conditions in Corofin.
Valeo, who now play Roscommon’s Ericcson in the Connacht semi-final , were dominant throughout, with Aonghus Tierney pulling the strings around the centre and Derek Savage and Martin Newell in fine scoring form up front.
They were never troubled by an understrength Electrical Concept side that battled gamely throughout. Despite the best efforts of David Wallace, Paul Browne, and Cathal and Patrick Sweeney, they were second best against an excellent Valeo side.
Valeo started with a Martin Newell brace of points before landing their first goal when Aonghus Tierney’s long delivery found Barry Dever who crashed home from close range. Another Newell point left the Tuam side six clear inside the opening 10 minutes.
Electrical Concepts squandered a number of opportunities before Niall Walsh opened their account with a fine score. Niall Lee, with a free, reduced the arrears to four at the end of the opening quarter, but a powerful second quarter in which the winners scored 1-6 without reply paved the way for this success.
Valeo’s superior teamwork reaped rewards with the experienced Derek Savage at the end of most of their good work. He kicked two fine points before setting up Tierney for another score, while Newell and Mark McDonagh increased their advantage before both players combined again in the 26th minute when Newell palmed home from a McDonagh cross.
Another McDonagh effort left the Tuam side firmly in control before the Oughterard side rallied before half time. Paul Browne lifted the siege with a good score at the end of a move involving Cathal Sweeney and Niall Lee before Patrick Sweeney slotted home a goal in injury time to leave the half-time score 2-10 to 1-03.
Although Niall Lee opened the Oughterard’s side second-half account. Valeo replied with scores from John Cleary, Mark McDonagh and Newell and Savage to leave them in a commanding position as the match entered the final quarter. Paul Browne and Niall Lee fired over before Valeo replied with a brace from Savage. Browne with his third point of the evening pulled another back for Oughterard. Savage finished the scoring with an excellent long range effort with time running out.
Valeo: D Steede, S Cunningham, D O’Dea, P McVeigh, P Rowsome, L Garvey, D Reilly, A Tierney (0-2 ), Michael Newell, D Savage (0-6 ), J Cleary (0-1 ), Martin Newell (1-5 ), J Lynch, M McDonagh (0-3 ), B Dever (1-0 ) Subs: C Reilly, G Flynn, P Quinn, D Staunton.
Electrical Concepts: J Cearney, R. Lee, E Concannon, P Concannon, D Wallace, C Sweeney, M McDonagh, D Walsh, R Molloy, P Walsh, P Sweeney (1-0 ), P Browne (0-3 ), N Walsh (0-2 ), M Coady, N Lee (0-2 ), Subs: A Cearney, J Lawless
Referee: M. Ryder (Corofin )
