Forde focused as Moate survive and relegate Shandonagh

Moate All Whites 2-11, Shandonagh 0-16

A total of 1-6 combined with some fine individual moments from Robbie Forde helped Moate to maintain their senior status for 2025 while also relegating Shandonagh in the process by the smallest of margins in Rochfortbridge on Saturday evening.

In a game which had some fine scores, real attacking intent, and some physical hits, the injury to Cathal Craig in the 40th minute left a telling mark on the contest as the Shandonagh man required medical treatment and an ambulance after a collision.

Both sides started out brightly and had nine points on the board between them inside the opening quarter of play. Shandonagh were reliant on the pace and accuracy of Dáire Conway early doors and he hit the first and last of their opening four, both via good bursting through tackles to create space. In between those, Brian Kavanagh and Luke Tynan added further points as Moate tipped along with replies from Ronan Murray, Tobby Conteh, Billy Berry, and a Forde free. Conway hit another before Forde responded in kind to leave it 0-6 to 0-4.

In the final ten minutes of the half, both sides hit good scores as the physicality went up a notch also. Another two Forde frees were matched by Adam Treanor and Conway’s absolute stunning score to reduce the gap to two. The half-time score saw Liam O’Neill’s Moate charges lead 0-8 to 0-6 with much to ponder for both sides.

Conway was on the board almost immediately after the throw-in before that man again, Forde, cancelled it out. The full-forward then took control by scoring 1-1 in a minute. The goal was a piece of individual brilliance following a fine dummy.

Tom Molloy and Gareth Carr threw their weight onto the scoreboard for Kevin Hickey’s side to leave a goal in it, 1-9 to 0-9.

The game took a sombre turn moments later as Cathal Craig struggled to get up from a collision with Tobby Conteh. Medics on both sides soon realised the Shandonagh defender was in distress and an ambulance was called for. Both teams remained calm as the play was halted for over 20 minutes before Craig, in the safe hands of Moate and Shandonagh medics, and personnel from host club St Mary's Rochfortbridge, was brought to the ambulance with suspected rib damage.

Mickey Boyle entered the play and his first involvement was to score a fine point. Once again, Moate responded with a three-pointer as Sam Fannin gave Conor Craig no chance with his finish to the net.

After two more scores from Murray and Daragh Lowry, many teams would have folded trailing by that margin but Shandonagh saw this as a challenge to rise up to. Kavanagh (free) and a Ryan Donnelly mark were soon complemented by Kavanagh adding another.

With their tails up, Shandonagh went for a goal to take the lead. Daniel Scahill, however, found Andrew Gorman in no mood to allow the roaming defender in for goal. A bit of quick-thinking by Molloy found Adam Treanor to point before Kavanagh landed a 45. To continue his scoring rate, Kavanagh then scored another 45 with time ticking away.

Incredibly, there was now just one between them when Niall Ward awarded a free to Shandonagh. Kavanagh decided it was too far out and played a neat give and go but his effort was caught by the Moate defence and cleared.

The game, still operating at breakneck speed, fell into disarray in the last moments as cynical fouling and other dark arts entered as both sides fought intensely for survival. When the game eventually ended, the final whistle sparked a rush of celebrations for Moate.

Shandonagh, having worked so hard to maintain their senior status in recent years, fall back to intermediate grade, missing the chance to survive. On the balance of the game and the season as a whole, however, Shandonagh can have few complaints.

Man of the match: Robbie Forde (Moate All Whites). Without doubt, Forde was the standout player and gave a superb performance throughout.

Scorers – Moate: R Forde 1-6 (4f), S Fannin 1-0, R Murray 0-2, D Lowry 0-1, T Conteh 0-1, B Berry 0-1. Shandonagh: B Kavanagh 0-6 (3f, 1 45’), D Conway 0-4, A Treanor, G Carr, L Tynan, T Molloy, R Donnelly (m), M Boyle 0-1 each.

Moate All Whites: Richie Price; Tom Gorman, Andrew Gorman, Luke Whitney; Daragh Lowry, James Bracken, Sam Fannin; Cathal O’Brien, Harry Niall; Dylan Nulty, Billy Berry, Eoin Bracken; Tobby Conteh, Robbie Forde, Ronan Murray. Subs used: Conor Bracken for Nulty (40), Paul Gorman for A Gorman (60+7), Eoghan Curran for O’Brien (inj., 60+17), David Mullins for Berry (60+20).

Shandonagh: Conor Craig; Cathal Craig, Jack O’Brien, Ben Treanor; Adam Treanor, Daniel Scahill, Gareth Carr; Darren McWade, Caelum Faughnan; Luke Tynan, Tom Molloy, Dáire Conway; Jack Costello, Cormac Coyne, Brian Kavanagh. Subs used: Mickey Boyle for C Craig (inj., 40), Ryan Donnelly for Costello (60+5), Cormac Gordon for McWade (60+17).

Referee: Niall Ward (Garrycastle).