Paths to JFC Final

Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Final

Blackhill v Rockcorry, Sunday, 3.00, Clontibret

Paths to final:

Blackhill:

Blackhill 1-8 Seán McDermotts 0-10                                  

Blackhill started their run to a third consecutive JFC Final with a hard-earned win over Seán McDermotts in Clontibret. The teams were level at 0-4 each after a tough first half, before Blackhill took over in the third quarter, helped by a goal from sub Darren Woods. The Seáns rallied with four unanswered points in the final quarter to close the gap to the minimum, but Blackhill held on.

Blackhill: Michael Shevlin; Gerard McArdle, Ryan Craig, Dónal Courtney; Thomas Courtney, Hugh Byrne (0-2), Ryan Courtney; Éamon Byrne (Capt.), Anthony Courtney (0-1); Stephen Courtney, Ciarán Courtney, James Daly (0-1); Shane Courtney, Colin Woods (0-2f), Michael Geehan (0-2).

Subs: Darren Woods (1-0) for Stephen Courtney (H-T), Aaron Kenny for Craig (51 mins), Andrew Burns for Daly (53), Jason Finnegan for C Courtney (60).

Temporary sub: Aaron Kenny for D Courtney (29-H-T).

Blackhill 3-13 Killeevan 0-7

Blackhill cruised into the semi-finals after a strong second-half performance in difficult conditions in Scotstown. Killeevan trailed by just two points (0-6 to 0-4) at half-time, but with Jason Finnegan and subs Philip Donnelly and Darren Woods finding the net and Michael Geehan in livewire form, Blackhill dominated the second period.

Blackhill: Michael Shevlin; Gerard McArdle, Dónal Courtney, Shane Courtney; Ryan Courtney, Aaron Kenny (0-1), Thomas Courtney; Éamon Byrne (Capt.), Anthony Courtney; James Daly, Hugh Byrne (0-2), Jason Finnegan (1-1); Stephen Courtney, Colin Woods (0-3, 2f), Michael Geehan (0-5).

Subs: Philip Donnelly (1-0) for Stephen Courtney (H-T), Darren Woods (1-1) for Finnegan (41 mins), Ryan Craig for R Courtney (45), Dermot Daly for A Courtney (49), Andrew Burns for H Byrne (52).

Blackhill 3-12 Scotstown 2-9

Blackhill had six points to spare in their semi-final against Scotstown in Clontibret a fortnight ago. Blackhill raced into a 2-4 to 0-1 lead – the goals from Jason Finnegan and Darren Woods – and although Daniel McNally netted for Scotstown, it was 2-9 to 1-2 by the end of the first half. Scotstown were more competitive after the restart, but a Colin Woods goal helped Blackhill end any lingering doubts.

Blackhill: Michael Shevlin; Shane Courtney, Aaron Kenny, Gerard McArdle (0-1); Dónal Courtney, Hugh Byrne (0-4), Ryan Courtney; Dermot Daly (0-1f), Anthony Courtney; James Daly (0-1), Jason Finnegan (1-0), Darren Woods (1-2); Éamon Byrne (Capt., 0-1), Colin Woods (1-2, 0-2f), Michael Geehan.

Subs: Philip Donnelly for Finnegan (44 mins), Andrew Burns for J Daly (57), Thomas Courtney for D Woods (59).

Rockcorry:

Rockcorry 0-17 Scotstown 0-16

Rockcorry had to dig deep to edge out Scotstown in an entertaining Round 1A game at Smithborough. Rock trailed by 0-11 to 0-7 at half-time and Scotstown’s lead stretched to six after the restart, but with Mark McGuirk leading a list of nine scorers, the game eventually turned. Late points by Dwayne Rooney and Noel Carroll gave Rock a two-point lead and although Seán Mohan gave Scotstown hope with his sixth of the game, it wasn’t enough.

Rockcorry: Jamie Smith; Colin Quinn, Niall McKeown (Capt.), Conor McGeough; Stephen McGuirk, Noel Carroll (0-2), Johnny Reilly; Mark Daly (0-1), Mark Thornton (0-1); Martin Carroll (0-1), Paul McKeown (0-2), Lorcan Smyth; Mark McGuirk (0-5, 2f), Aaron McGorman (0-1), Dwayne Rooney (0-3).

Subs: Anthony Tate (0-1) for McGorman, Cathal Sheridan for Rooney.

Rockcorry 2-15 Aghabog 0-6

Rockcorry had 11 scorers as they powered past local rivals Aghabog at a rain-soaked Scotstown in Round 2A. Rock led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time and they totally dominated the second half against their 14-man opponents, with Noel Carroll and Colin Quinn grabbing the goals.

Rockcorry: Jamie Smith; Conor McGeough, Niall McKeown (Capt.), Colin Quinn (1-0); Johnny Reilly (0-1), Keith Daly, Stephen McGuirk (0-1); Mark Daly (0-4, 3f), Mark Thornton (0-2); Noel Carroll (1-1), Paul McKeown (0-1), Martin Carroll (0-1); Dwayne Rooney, Mark McGuirk (0-2, 1f), Lorcan Smyth (0-1).

Subs: Anthony Tate for Rooney (53 mins), Aaron McGorman (0-1f) for Reilly (55), Cathal Sheridan for Smyth (58), Garry Calvert for M McGuirk (60), Damien Matthews for P McKeown (61).

Rockcorry 2-14 Toome 1-7

Rockcorry eased into the final with a double-scores defeat of Toome in Clontibret. Helped by an early Lorcan Smyth goal, Rock led by 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval and they again played the second half with a numerical advantage. Frank Connolly gave Toome a glimmer of hope with his fourth goal of the championship, but Rock pushed on, with their full-forward line accounting for 1-9 and Martin Carroll getting their second goal.

Rockcorry: Jamie Smith; Conor McGeough, Niall McKeown (Capt.), Colin Quinn; Stephen McGuirk, Keith Daly, Johnny Reilly (0-1); Mark Daly (0-2, 1f), Mark Thornton; Martin Carroll (1-0), Paul McKeown (0-1), Noel Carroll (0-1); Lorcan Smyth (1-1), Fergal McGeough (0-3), Mark McGuirk (0-5).

Subs: Anthony Tate for M Carroll (57 mins), Dwayne Rooney for P McKeown, Aaron McGorman for M McGuirk (both 60).

Temporary sub: Anthony Tate for M Daly (22-24).