Medtronic senior footballers are back in the All Ireland Interfirms final after defeating Kingspan from Ulster in the semi final.
Medtronic produced a workmanlike display to qualify for their second All Ireland title, overcoming Kingspan by 1-14 to 1-7.
With Adrian Warde and Enda Mullarkey marshalling the defence and the strong midfield partnership of David Hogan and Martin Shaughnessy in control throughout around the centre, the forward division created plenty of opportunities.
The inside forward line duo of Cian Mimnagh and Colm O'Donovan caused the Ulster side all sorts of problems. while Kingspan relied on former Monaghan sharp shooter Tommy Freeman for the bulk of their scores.
Medtronic settled quickly and points from Colm O'Donovan and Cian Mimnagh had Medtronic four clear inside the opening 10 minutes. Ronan Conlon, after linking with Barry O'Donovan, fired over in the 13th minute before Tommy Freeman opened Kingspan’s account, and Michael Morgan punched over the bar when a Freeman effort dropped short to bring the margin down to three.
Although Conlon edged Medtronic four clear in the 21st minute, two Freeman frees halved that advantage with five minutes remaining. However Medtronic finished stronger with points from Enda Mullarkey and Colm O'Donovan for a 0-8 to 0-4 interval lead.
Kingspan came flying out of the traps with full forward Eoghan McMahon pointing in the opening minute, and they should have added to their score but Freeman's penalty flew over the bar.
Metronic replied with a Cian Mimnagh point and a Colm O'Donovan free before scores became hard to get as both sides battled for supremacy. Eventually Freeman and O’Donovan exchanged frees as the match entered the final quarter, and from there to the finish, Medtronic took control. A good move involving Ronan Conlon and Damien Joyce finished with Colm O'Donovan firing over his sixth point, Cian Mimnagh stretched the margin to six with 10 minutes remaining, before his goal sealed the deal.
Medtronic: K Murphy, D McHugh, K Dooher, A McHugh, G Cafferty, E Mullarkey, A Warde, D Hogan, M O’Shaughnessy, R Conlon(0-2 ), B O’Donovan, T Wynne, C O’Donovan(0-6, 2f ), C Mimnagh(1-5 1f ), D Joyce. Subs, S Casserly, S Donnellan, M McNamara, R Rogers, R McDermott.
