THERE was heartbreak for St Patricks in yesterday’s county intermediate football final at the Gaelic Grounds.

After a disastrous first half, the Rhebogue side kicked eight successive points to level the final with two minutes remaining. However, St. Pats’ attempt to join fellow city sides Claughaun and Monaleen in the senior ranks next year were destroyed when Ballysteen scored the two winning points in the fifth minute of injury time.

The new champions went 27 minutes of the second half without a score as Dermot Phelan, Pa Mullins and Eoin Hanrahan dragged St. Patrick’s to within minutes of promotion. In the end Maurice Carrig and Mike Neville were the heroes for the winners with their late, late show.

While the celebrations will continue for the coming days in the parish of Askeaton-Ballysteen, they represent Limerick in the Munster intermediate club championship next Sunday.

The provincial quarter-final tie takes place in Askeaton at 2.00pm with Clare champions Kilmihil providing the opposition.

“When you win the intermediate championship after a few years on the go it is hard to think about the provincial championship straight away,” said Ballysteen coach Joe Redington after yesterday’s 0-13 to 0-11 win.

“Hopefully they will take it seriously,” added the Milford man.

“It is an open championship – three years ago Pallasgreen had the opportunity to win it.

“Ballysteen will want to do the county proud, but it depends how they react during the week. I hope they want to have a go off it – I think they should,” said Redington.

Report courtesy of the Limerick Leader: http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/county-intermediate-final-heatbreak-for-st-patrick-s-1-2185824