Category / Junior Football Championship

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Late goals seal it for the Rovers

CASEMENT SC JFC Semi-Final

Glen Rovers 3-12 Gort na Mona 0-11

Late goals from Ciaran McKenna and Eoin Kinney sealed victory and a place in the Casement Social Club JHC final for Glen Rovers when they held off a spirited challenge from Gort na Mona in Armoy on Saturday.

The men from the Mona bye-pass had staged a strong second half comeback to close the gap to two with 28 minutes of the second half gone but Ciaran McKenna struck with the home sides second goal with time almost up and Kinney was on hand to return the sliotar to the net following a splendid save by Gort’s keeper, John Kelly, deep into in jury time.

John Kelly gets down to make an important save as Trevor |Linton threatens

It was visitors Gort na Mona who opened the scoring with a point from Declan Hughes in the second minute but Trevor Linton replied for Glen Rovers to level matters with four minutes gone.

Owen Kinney looked to have added a goal, a minute later when he finished a hanging delivery to the the Gort na Mona net but the score was ruled out for a square ball infringement.

It was to herald a sustained period of pressure for the home side however as they pushed up on the Gort na Mona defence, forcing turn overs and winning frees which full-forward, Turlach McBride gratefully accepted.

McBride hit three on the bounce by the 9th minute to move his side 0-4 to 0-1 ahead as the visitors struggled to get out of their own half and a great point from Thomas Burns from 70 meters and another converted McBride free had them five in front at the end of the opening quarter.

Turlach mcBride who was in fine scoring form for Armoy

Gort na Mona kept battling away and Neill Henry got their second point from a well struck free from 60 meters and further points from Patrick McCaffery and Darron ‘Diesel’ Boyd had it back to two by the 20th minute.

Turlach McBride stopped the rut with another converted free and then struck another from a ‘65’ following a smart save from John Kelly in the Gort na Mona goals and Trevor Linton added a great point from out near the left hand touchline with Dessie McClean replying for the visitors to leave it 0-9 to 0-5 at the halfway stage.

With the wind now behind them Glen Rovers were expected to push on in the second half but they were guilty of some poor misses  during the opening exchanges despite enjoying a lot of possession.

All seemed to be going to plan when McBride fired over in the 11th minute to opern the second half scoring and move his side five in front but Gort na Mona were beginning to win more possession with Neill Henry getting on top around mid-field.

Neill Henry who led the Gort na Mona comeback

The visitors replied with two in quick succession from Dessie McClean, the second an excellent effort as the Armoy scores dried up and two more from Neill Henry and McClean had it back to a single score by the 18th minute.

Glen Rovers looked in a bit of trouble but they made a decisive break and PJ McBride was on hand to finish to the net from close range after a great save from John Kelly to deny Owen Kinney’s original effort.

Back came the city men and another great point from the impressive Neill Henry had it back to two by the 25th minute and the home side were now defending as if their lives depended on it.

As Gort na Mona pushed forward again they were caught with a decisive break from the Glen Rovers and Ciaran McKenna’s goal with time almost up put a bit of daylight between the sides.

It seemed to knock the fight out of the Enright Park men and Turlach McBride followed with a fine point from distance and Trevor Linton added another before Owen Kinney’s goal deep in injury time put a somewhat flattering slant on the final score-line.

Thomas Burns breaks up a Gort na Mona attack

Glen Rovers went into this one as firm favourites and for long periods of the game they were the better side but the fact that had recorded only one point up to the 18th minute of the second half will be of some concern to the management.

They did produce the goods however when the chips were down with Turlach McBride, Trevor Linton, PJ McBride, Shane Devlin and Thomas Burns their outstanding performers on the day.

Glen Rovers will now meet St. Brigid’s Cloughmills, who defeted Lamh Dhearg in the other semi-final, in the final in two weeks-time and it promises to be an excellent final between keen rivals and deadly neighbours.

Glen Rovers: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Callum Coyles, 3 Shane Devlin, 4 Arthur Devlin, 5 Hugh O’Kane, 6 Thomas Burns, 7 Liam Dillon, 8 Ciaran McKenna, 9 PJ McBride, 10 Eoin O’Boyle, 11 Colin Lordan, 12 Eamonn McCaughan, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Turlach McBride, 15 Owen Kinney.

Subs: Conor Christie for Lordan, Joey mcFetridge for Eoin Boyle,

Gort na Mona: 1 John Kelly, 2 Conor Healey, 3 Christopher Devlin, 4 Connor Connolly, 5 David Dixon, 6 Padraig McHugh, 7 Nathan Gibson, 8 Gavin McKenna, 9 Aaron Hicks, 10 Darron Boyd, 11 Patrick McCaffery, 12 Declan Hughes, 13 Niall Healey, 14 Neill Henry, 15 Dessie McClean.

Subs: Manas Mullan, Brendan Cousins for Conor Healey,  Emmet Loughran for Gavin McKenna

Referee: Paul O’Neill (Creggan)

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by thesaffrongael

Double still on for Rasharkin

Graham Tarmac JFC Semi-Final

Rasharkin  2-13(19)  St Malachys  0-5(5)

St. Mary’s Rasharkin overcame the challenge of a fighting St. Malachy’s in terrible conditions at Dreen on Sunday to book their place in the Graham Tarmac Junior Football championship final and keep their hopes of the double alive.

On a heavy pitch, worsened by the downpour that fell in the hours leading up to the game and a Junior Camogie quarter-final, that preceded this encounter, both sides deserve tremendous credit for the fare they served up over the hour.

The visitors started this game as massive underdogs but managed to frustrate Rasharkin during the opening exchanges with their short passing game denying the opposition of possession.

Ryan Lynch fires home Rasharkin’s opening goal

The Market’s side actually took the lead when Ciaran Vernon pointed them ahead from a free in the 4th minute before Sean Turley in the Mal’s goal brought off a splendid save to deny Eammon McNeill what looked a certain goal.

Rasharkin equalised through Cathal Mooney and a Ryan Lynch goal in the 11th minute helped to settle those early jitters. Donagh Quigg added a good point but St. Malachy’s were moving the ball well and Vernon pointed his second free at the end of the opening quarter.

Slowly though the Dreen side were starting to exert control with Thomas McMullan and Ruairi O’Boyle driving them forward from mid-field and Ryan Lynch kicked his second point of the game with Shane Hasson adding another before Lynch made it three for the evening.

St. Malachy’s continued to battle and were rewarded when Cathal Jordan fired over a great score and David Casey added another to close the gap to four at the halfway stage and remind the league winners that they were still in a game.

Mal’s keeper, Sean Turley makes a splendid save to deny Eammon McNeill

Half time score: Rasharkin  1-5(8)  St Malachys  0-4(4)

With the wind and rain now in their favour St. Mary’s stepped up their game on the restart as Ryan Lynch pointed an early free from 40 meters and Eammon McNeill and Tiernan O’Boyle, with a great point, moved the home side 1-8 to 0-4 ahead by the 12th minute.

Lynch was in great form for the League winners and he punished another indiscretion to move his side 8 ahead at the end of the third quarter and another from Cormac McMullan saw the home side in total control.

St. Malachy’s hadn’t raised a flag but produced a well organised attack and looked in for a goal in the 19th minute with Gavin McManus just failing to get the vital touch and the danger was averted.

Ciaran Vernon finally opened their second half account with another pointed free in the 20th minute but the Rasharklin pressure was now incessant and Oisin Casey and Donagh Quigg replied at the other end before Thomas ‘Tucker’ McMullan got their second goal after playing a smart 1-2 with Eammon McNeill.

Oran McMullan concluded the scoring for St. Mary’s with a point as the game entered time added on and Rasharkin are now just one game away from a famous double as they look forward to a final meeting with O’Donnell’s in two weeks-time.

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Rasharkin: 1 – Andrew Hasson, 2 – Pearce Kelly, 3 – Emmet McFerran, 4 – Fergus Quigg, 5 – Cormac McMullan, 6 – Conor Hasson, 7 – Tiernan O’Boyle, 8 – Thomas McMullan, 9 – Ruairi OBoyle, 10 – Donagh Quigg, 11 – Cathal Mooney, 12 – Oran McMullan, 13 – Shane Hasson, 14 – Eammon McNeill, 15 – Ryan Lynch

St. Malachy’s: 1 Sean Turley, 2 Colin Connolly, 26 Caoimhin Corr, 4 Sean O’Neill, 5 David Casey, 6 Daniel Quinn, 7 Pearse Hanna, 8 Anthony Dobbin, 9 Ciaran Vernon, 10 Cathal Jordan, 12 Ronan Maneely, 13 Paul Carlisle, 15 Mark Connolly, 17 Fintan McBride, 18 Gavin McManus, 20 Thomas Rice

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

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by thesaffrongael

O’Donnell’s ‘rain’ supreme in dogged semi-final clash

Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship Semi-Final

Sunday 24th September

Report by Niall Kelly 

Cardinal O’Donnells 2-13    Éire Óg 1-13

For the second consecutive year, O’Donnell’s successfully navigated their way through a tough and testing semi-final meeting with familiar foes, Éire Óg, to progress to yet another Junior decider. The semi between the two last year was somewhat abrasive but this year’s duel was a much more pulsating and absorbing contest with inclement conditions playing a central role in a helter-skelter hour of football. Penalties, crunching tackles, fleet-footed soloing and a few scintillating scores made for a fantastic advertisement for Antrim Junior Football in a packed McCroary Park.

A theme that has been somewhat a constant in recent battles between these two, is the nip and tuck nature of their meetings with the teams drawing level on seven separate occasions throughout the game.  With five minutes remaining on the clock, the hosts had established a six-point lead though, thanks to majors from Richard McAvoy and PJ Meenan and looked to be cantering toward the finish line. In the end, they had to dig deep to secure the win after withstanding a late barrage of attack from the Derriaghy natives.

The teams couldn’t be separated in the first quarter as trying conditions coupled with a greasy surface made for a real ding-dong tussle to attain the ascendancy. Éire Óg talisman, Kevin Clarke opened the scoring for the visitors before O’Donnell’s replied through Marc McKenna and acquired the lead moments later as Ferghal McNerney added the gloss to a well-orchestrated move. The visitors though responded from the familiar prowess of Clarke.

Momentum continued to sway with a stiff, swirling breeze now exacerbating conditions further. PJ Meenan, who was a constant thorn in the side of the men in red and white, took matters into his own hands as he drove forty yards up the pitch, rampaging through the visitors rear-guard before curling over from an acute angle. Yet again though, that man Clarke was on hand to draw the sides level for a third time after being threaded through thanks to a pinpoint ball from Conor Erskine.

McKenna and Clarke once again traded scores before O’Donnell’s kicked on with a fine score from Meenan after another marauding run and a trademark Sean Pat Donnelly free from the deck to establish a bit of daylight between the two. With the half approaching its climax, it seemed as though O’Donnell’s had found their groove with a greater intensity and purpose to their attacking play but in what was a recurring theme of the game, back came Éire Óg.

Points from Conall Smyth and Daniel Campbell levelled proceedings as both teams now foraged to claim a slender lead at the short whistle. O’D’s number 12, Scott Thompson would be the man to step forward as he curled over from range from a tight angle despite losing his footing to leave the scores 0-07 to 0-06 in favour of the hosts at the interval.

The opening fifteen minutes of the second period mirrored the first as O’Donnell’s couldn’t quite shake off their opponents. Sean Pat Donnelly pointed early in the half from a placed ball before Éire Óg rallied once more. Two absolute stunning scores from full forward PJ Toal brought a deadlock to proceedings again and with their tails up, the visitors took the lead thanks to well-worked score from captain, Conor McKenna on the fortieth minute.  The hosts were in desperate need of a score to settle themselves back into the game and their wishes were granted through the trusty right boot of Marc McKenna before retaking the lead thanks to Richard McAvoy’s effort from range.

O’D’s were clicking nicely now and were dovetailing well in attack with the twin threat of McKenna and Meenan asking questions of their opponents. A black card for the visitors only served to further bolster the host’s charge with Donnelly pointing again before they dealt their opponents a hammer blow. A high press from the forward line helped turnover possession from the resulting kick-out and PJ Meenan’s quick thinking paved the way for Richard McAvoy to coolly slot home to the despairing Mark Hamill’s net to send the sea of umbrellas dotted across the fence into raptures.

However, Éire Óg’s resiliency simply wouldn’t waiver as they continued to search for penetrative avenues of attack. O’Donnell’s shot-stopper Conor Murphy was called into immediate action as he pulled off a stunning save to deny Clarke as the visitors had to settle for a point from PJ Toal.  The lead was extended to six with only ten minutes remaining as O’D’s flexed their muscles thanks to points from Thompson and Donnelly as it now looked as if the game was out of reach for the battling Ógs. Wrong.

With seven minutes left to play, the Derriaghy men were granted a lifeline with a penalty. PJ Toal assumed responsibility and his rasping drive arrowed to the roof of Murphy’s net and suddenly it was game on once more.

In what was a manic three minutes, O’Donnell’s were then granted a spot kick of their own as their talented attacking arsenal responded to the set-back in style. It seemed fitting that man of the match, PJ Meenan was to be the man to grab the crucial score as he blasted low to Hamill’s net to all but seal victory with the full-time whistle fast approaching.

However, a late rally from the men in red and white had a few home fans’ hearts pounding as they cut the gap to three deep into added time thanks to points from Toal (2) and Conall Smyth. A final ariel bombardment was launched as they frantically plundered for that elusive goal which just wouldn’t come as the O’D’s defence, marshalled well by Conor Walsh and Kevin Kennedy, dug their heels and stood strong.

An excellent game which the visitors can certainly take solace from. Their progression in the past few years has been evident and they will seek to use this game as yet another foundation to greater success down the line. For O’Donnell’s, their minds will now solely be fixed on going one better than last year and taking the Junior crown. Littered with an array of dynamic weaponry in their attack, they will feel quietly confident that they can do just that. A mouth-watering tussle against favourites Rasharkin awaits.

Teams:

O’Donnells:

C Murphy; K Loughran, S Smylie, J McKenna; G McKernan, C Walsh, K Kennedy; J Rafferty, F McNerney (0-01;) R McAvoy (1-01,) SP Donnelly (0-04,) S Thompson (0-02;) PJ Meenan (1-02,) C McKissock,  M McKenna (0-03)

Éire Óg:

M Hamill; D Murray, P Loughran, J Devine; C Rice, A McKnight, D Campbell (0-01;) C McKenna (0-01,) C Daykin; G Donnelly, S Erskine, C Smyth (0-02;) C Erskine, PJ Toal (1-05,) K Clarke (0-04)

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by thesaffrongael

Will Dunloy’s great run continue or will Casements end their semi-final duck

Championship Semi finals (Previews) 22nd, 23rd, 24th September)

The penultimate stages of the football championships occupies the week-end ahead with semi-final games in all of the grades, Senior, Intermediate, and Junior scheduled.

Dunsilly is the venue for both the senior semis, with the Cargin and St Enda’s venues hosting the intermediate semis and the junior games at Rasharkin and O’ Donnell’s.

Friday 22nd September

Northern Switchgear S F C (semi-final)

Dunsilly 1 (7.30pm)

The championship action gets under-way on Friday evening and a big crowd is expected at Dunsilly in an all South West encounter as Casement’s Portglenone meet Dunloy with the prize of a place in the 2023 county senior final as reward for the winner.

The Cuchullian’s endured a poor season in the league and were relegated from division 2 but have really turned it around in the championship and are one game away from a county final.

A win over St Gall’s at Milltown seemed to ignite the spark and although they lost to Creggan next time out, the Dunloy men made the pundits sit up and took notice when they came from off the pace to gain a win over Lamh Dhearg in the quarter final.

A superb victory over a fancied Hannahstown outfit, who had impressed with a win over Casement’s earlier in the competition, and Anthony McMullan, who is assisted in the managerial role by Ballinderry man, Stephen McGeehan, will look to the likes of Seaan Elliot, Conal Cunning, the Smith brothers and Nigel Elliot as they go into action at Dunsilly.

Casement’s have enjoyed a good season to date and have secured the division 1 league title for the first time and went on to defeat Creggan in the quarter-final of the championship.

That one proved to be a close encounter but a late goal for the Bannsider’s proved the key to open the way and a place in the semi-finals against the Cuchullian’s.

John McKeever will hope for another strong showing for his side with Niall McKeever again likely to partner Niall Delargy at mid-field while Jonny Convery and the Delargy brothers in defence and Paddy Kelly, Aiden Mc Aleese, Michael Hagen and Oisin Doherty will carry a strong attacking threat.

Casement’s will start as slight favourites and although the Cuchullian’s will be well prepared for action the Bannsider’s may just edge this one.

Sunday 24th September

Dunsilly 1 2.00pm

Erin’s Own Cargin v St Brigid’s

The action returns to Dunsilly on Sunday with the defending champions, Erin’s Own Cargin meeting city rivals St Brigid’s in a game which is certain to attract a big crowd to the Antrim venue.

The Cargin men are undefeated in the the group stages and the opening knock out games but they had to dig deep in the quarter final, which was a repeat of last year’s decider against Aghagallon, and it took a late Tome Shivers point to get them over the line.

Ronan Devlin will hope for a return to the starting fifteen for John Carron and Mark Kelly for this semi-final clash but Michael Mc Cann is not expected to be ready for this one.

The mid field general had surgery on a troublesome back injury and hasn’t figured this year after and it is likely to be a few more weeks before he can be considered for selection.

Ronan Devlin will look to the likes of Kevin O’ Boyle, Justin Crozier, James Laverty, Kevin Mc Shane, Jamie Gribbin, Pat Shivers, and the McCann brothers Paul, and Tomas to lead them to the decider.

St Brigid’s, like Cargin have yet to endure defeat in this year’s championship having passed the Aghagallon test before proving too strong for a good Rossa side and they will approach this one with confidence.

The Musgrave Park side have been boosted this year by the transfer of several players from Lavey and this has certainly added strength and depth to their squad and the Downey influence added to the Finnegan brothers, Reuben Carelton, Jack Dowling, Ronan Boyle, Paul King, and James Smith make them a formidable opponent.

 Cargin have a lot of experience at this stage of the championship and the Toome men may well advance to another decider but they could face a stiff test from an improving St. Brigid’s.

Saturday 23rd September

OB Construction I F C Semi Finals

Cargin 4.00pm

Patrick Sarsfields v Con Magees Glenravel

Con Magees are going well at present and have already won division 2 of the ACFL and will play their football in division 1 next season and are just two games away from a unique double.

Sarsfield’s have made steady progress over the past few seasons and lost to Saturday’s opponents at the same stage of the competition last year. They recorded a five point win to neighbours St Paul’s in the quarter-final but looked in a spot of trouble at one stage before finishing strongly with Kevin Mc Kernan helping himself to a few excellent scores as they ran out 1-13 to 1-08 winners.

Ironically Sarsfield’s are still in the running for a double of their own with their hurlers in the semi-final of the Intermediate Hurling championship. The McKernan’s, Gary Lennon Niall McAlea and Niall McKenna are just a few of the players involved in both codes and they have momentum going into Saturday’s semi-final.

Con Magees have had an excellent season and they will turn to Eoin and Catha Hinds Aiden O’ Donnell, Cormac Mc Keon, and Callum Higgins, Cormac McKeown and the superb Eamon Fyfe to see them through to a second consecutive final.

Much will depend on the lessons learned from last year’s semi-final and this may well be a close encounter but the Con Magee’s men are awarded the vote.

Hightown 4.00pm

All Saint’s Ballymena v St Teresa’s

St. Tewresa’s made a slow start in their quarter final against Aldergrove but grew in confidence as the game progressed before running out 2-12 to 1-13 winners.

The Glen road side went into this one as underdogs with Aldergrove well ahead of them as the league concluded and were given little chance by most of the pundits.

St Teresa’s gained in confidence as the second half progressed however with Philip Maguire leading by splendid example to run out winners by two points. Conor O’ Rawe, Anton Taylor, and Declan Gough were all in great form at McDonald/Doherty Park and long serving manager, Liam Mc Goldrick will have his side well motivated for Saturday’s semi-final against All Saints.

All Saints have enjoyed an indifferent 2023 but have run into a bit of form in the championship, despite being without county pair, Paddy McAleer and Conor Stewart.

Peter ‘Pizza’ McReynolds is another who is likely to miss out but their home win over Ardoyne should give them confidence going into this weekend’s meeting with St. Teresa’s at Hightown.

After a shaky start where they might have conceded a couple of early goals, they settled to win fairly comfortably in the end but there will have been a few aspects of their game that didn’t please Liam Bradley and his management team.

Connell Lennon, James and Benny McDonnell,  Cal O’ Brien, Emmett Killough, Luke O’ Rawe, Sean McVeigh and Ronan McKillop are just some of the players that can swing it All Saints way but they should be wary of a rejuvenated St. Teresa’s.

League form would suggest an All Saints win in this one but, as we have seen on several fronts this year, league form counts for little when it comes to the championship and the Ballymena side will have to be at their best if they are to advance to the final.

Graham Tarmac J F C (semi finals)

Mc Crory Pk 3.00pm

Cardinal O’ Donnell’s v Eire Og

Eire Og have enjoyed a descent league campaign but will start as underdogs as they take on League runners-up, O’Donnell’s at MacRory Park. The South Belfast side recorded a good win over Wolfe Tones but that victory was made easier by the dismissal of two of the Wolfe Tones side.

James Toal, Conor Darkin, Dermot Murray and Gavin Donnelly were in top form in that quarter-final victory and will carry Eire Og’s hopes into Saturday’s semi-final.

O’ Donnell’s finished second in the league to Rasharkin and were the only side to record a win over St. Mary’s this year and will start as firm favourites and they should gain the verdict to book a place in the decider.

Dreen 3.00pm

JFC Semi-Final

St Mary’s Rasharkin v St Malachy’s

St. Mary’s go into this one with the league title already under their belts and anything other than a win here would be a major surprise. Under the management of Stephen Hardy, John McTaggart and Paul Baird they are chasing the league/championship double in what has been a great season for the men from Dreen.

Having impressed throughout the 2023 season they are now on the cusp of a place in the junior championship decider as they welcome South Belfast based St. Malachy’s to Dreen.

The current management will pin their hopes on Andrew Hasson, Donagh Quigg, Ruairi O’Boyle, Eamonn McNeill, Shane Hasson and Ryan Lynch to lead them through to this year’s decider.  

A late Ciaran Vernon point saw St. Malachy’s pip a fancied Laochra Loch Lao in the quarter-final and they will turn to players like Vernon, Anthony Dobbin, Stephen Carson and Shea Lynch to carry their challenge against Rasharklin.

Rasharkin will start this one as firm favourites and barring a major upset they should gain a place in the decider.

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by thesaffrongael

Flying start sends Eire Og on their way to the semis

Graham Tarmac Antrim JFC, quarter-final

Éire Óg 4-12 Wolfe Tone’s 2-8

Eire Og advanced to the semi-final of the Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship following this 10 point win over Wolfe Tones in a feisty quarter final at Woodlands on Friday night.

The Tones didn’t help their cause when they lost two players to Red cards in the period leading up to half time though by that stage they were already in trouble.

Eire Og got off to a flying start and struck with two goals in the opening minutes to put themselves in a strong position. Conor Erskine was hauled down as he raced in on goal with the referee pointing to the spot.

James Toal stepped up to take the spot kick and Danny McIvor got down to deny him but Conor McKenna was first to the rebound and returned it to the Wolfe Tonne’s net.

Wolfe Tonnes looked rattled and from the resulting kick out Conor Erskine intercepted and raced clear for a second goal and suddenly the hill facing the Greencastle side had become much steeper.

James Toal, who was to have a major impact on proceedings, added three points, his third a great effort from out on the left and it was hard to see how the new boys of Antrim football were going to get back into the game even at this early juncture.

They finally got off the mark however with Jack Parke opening their account and when Aodhán Moloney fired low past Hamill in the Eire Og goal, things were looking more promising.

Unfortunately they were unable to build on this cameo moment and it was Eire Og who came back strongly and James Toal, Gavin Donnelly and Niall Ward added points before Donnelly set up Caomhin Dyke with a tantalising pass across goal and Daykin gratefully palmed home in the 21st minute.

Tomas Austin and Conor Burrows replied with points for Wolfe Tone’s, but they received another severe blow when Gerard McDonnell, who was booked earlier, was shown a straight red and a minute later, Stephen McKee became the second Tone’s man to see Red.

As the second half got under way Eire Og sought to put matters to bed and James Toal kicked a couple of early points and Niall Ward followed with another to increase their lead.

Their opponents were still battling hard against the odds and Chris Dawson kicked an excellent point but Éire Óg responded in decisive fashion as Dermott Murray set up the lively Daykin who evade a couple of challenges before finishing to the net in the11th minute.  

It looked all over at this stage but to their credit, Wolfe Tonnes continued to fight against almost impossible odds and Dawson and Park converted frees at the other end.

The Greencastle side continued to press and Jason Parke gave them something to cheer about as he broke clear on the right to fire to the net.

It was too little, too late however as both sides exchanged scores in the closing stages and Conor McKenna finished with the games last score to give his side a healthy 10 point win.

Eire Og now face O’Donnell’s in their semi-final while St. Malachy’s, who defeated Laochra Loch Lao in the other quarter-final will face St. Mary’s Rasharkin.

Eire Og: M Hamill; K Ryan, A McKnight, J Devlin; C Rice, R Clarke, D Murray; C McKenna (1-1), C Daykin (2-0); G Donnelly (0-2), N Ward (0-2), C Erskine (1-0); S Erskine (0-1), J Toal (0-6, 3 frees), K Clarke.

Subs: E McNulty for K Ryan (HT), A McKenna for C Erskine (45), P Loughran for A McKnight (45), S McNamee for N Ward (53), O McMenamin for J Devlin (59).

Wolfe Tonnes: D McIvor; A McAllister, S McKee, N Brannagan; J Parke (1-4, 0-4 frees), D McGovern, C McDonnell; K Moloney, E McKee; M McCann, C Burrows (0-1), D Moloney; C Dawson (0-2, 1 free), A Moloney (1-0), T Austin (0-1).

Subs: P Walsh for N Brannigan (9), J Carberry for T Austin (54), M Smyth for E McKee (60)

Referee: Paddy Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

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