JFC – Group B
Éire Óg 3-12 – Pearse’s 1-19
Goal specialists, Eire Og were beaten for the first time in this year’s JFC when they lost by the minimum to Pearses at Woodlands on Friday night.
The Og’s had scored 5 goals in each of their opening group wins over Laochra Loch lao and Wolfe Tonnes but despite adding another three against the North Belfast side, they would finish on the wrong side of the result for the first time.
Pearse’s survived a late flurry from the home side but managed to keep Eire Og at bay despite a late Lorcan McIlroy penalty which reduced the deficit to just the minimum but it proved too late for his side as they pushed for the equaliser at Woodlands.
Eire Og started the game on the front foot and Conall Smyth struck a brace of points to open up an early lead.
At this stage the hosts were controlling matters and looked well on their way to a third straight win after Stephen and Conor Erskine managed to link up inside the forward line with the latter thumping an effort into the top right corner to open up a five point lead.
Pearse’s had been second best and off the pace up to this point but Liam Deegan began to assert his influence on the game as he struck consecutive points for his side before providing them with a much needed two-pointer mid-way through the first period.
Sean Moreland and Thomas McFarlane raised white flags before Piarais Donaghy burst through the Éire Óg backline with a strong solo and a fine finish which resulted in Pearse’s hitting the front on the 21st minute of play.
The men in green were now calling the shots and threatened to move further ahead but Aidan Bannon’s effort was tipped wide of the post by Jamie King between the Éire Óg sticks.
Liam Deegan influence on the game was increasing as he struck another two-pointer and he followed this score up with a great score from play to give Pearse’s a half-time lead of six points.
The second half began just as the first had ended with Liam Deegan hitting an early double to extend his sides lead and it wasn’t looking good for the previously unbeaten group leaders.
They responded however and with the breeze now favouring them they replied after a long scoreless period of almost 24 minutes and James Connell’s effort dipped over the head of Pearse’s net-minder, Piaras Toolan, and finished in the net.
Lorcan McIlroy would follow this up with a fantastic two-pointer and the momentum was now with Éire Óg and Ronan Donnelly’s point on the 40th minute had the deficit down to three and we looked to have a game on our hands.
Pearse’s replied through their talisman Deegan again as he struck two frees before Sean Moreland broke clear and he fired an unstoppable shot to the net and the visitors had reassumed control.
McIlroy’s two-pointer for Eire Og with ten remaining set up a thrilling end to a game which was not over competitive up to this stage.
Conall Smyth kicked consecutive points for Éire Óg to reduce the gap to four with as many minutes remaining as they fought hard to salvage something from the game.
Pearses Thomas McFarlane looked to have settled the nerves of his side after he finished off a move which he started himself at midfield and used his pace to break clear and finish from close range.
Smyth replied for the home side and in the dying minutes Lorcan McIlroy was bundled over in the box with the award a penalty.
Up-stepped McIlroy who placed his effort low and beyond the keeper to close the gap to the minimum but that would be as close as they got with the Pearses defence repelling all that came their way in the dying seconds.
Pearse’s, who had lost earlier to Laochra Loch Lao, have now earned themselves a place in the semi-finals while Eire Og and Laochra now must negotiate the longer route to success through the quarter-finals but it is all still to play for.
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Éire Óg: J King; C Rice, J Devlin, B O’Malley; E Sheehy, C McKenna, K McKenna; C Erskine 1-0, P McNeils; S Erkine, R Donnelly 0-2, G Donnelly; C Smyth 0-6, L McIlroy 1-4 (1-0p, 2x2P), M Graham
Subs: A McKenna, C Carberry, J Connell 1-0, P Maxwell, J George, S McDonagh, M McClear
Pearse’s: P Toolan; D O’Neill, C O’Neill, A Bannon; L Gianetto, C Gillespie, A McCavana; R Bannon, T McFarlane 0-2; S Moreland 1-2, T Austin, P Murray; P Donaghy 0-1, L Deegan 0-14 (2x2p, 0-6f), C McCavana
Subs: M McAllister, N Gorman