UNIVERSAL GRAPHICS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Clones 1-15, Aghabog 2-11.
A point by Cameron Dowds 2 minutes into stoppage time saw Clones snatch the narrowest of victories in a helter-skelter finish to this absorbing contest that was played in greasy conditions in St Oliver Plunkett Park, Emyvale, on Friday evening last. Early in the second-half when Aghabog scored their 2nd goal to open a 6 points lead, having led by 4 at the break, things looked bleak for Clones but they rallied strongly in the 3rd quarter with a goal by Colm Connolly throwing the game wide open, but even in the run-in to the final whistle it could have gone either way as the lead changed hands on a couple of occasions with just a point between the sides. When Aghabog look back on this game they will feel it was a match they could have won, while Clones, in any retrospective assessment, will probably count themselves fortunate to have got out of jail.
Teams and Scorers: Clones: Sarto Quigley, Eugene Holland, Ethan Audley 0-2, Luke Rehill, Dylan Hibbett, Patrick McKenna, Declan McQuaid, Fintan Kelly 0-1, Adrian Alford 0-3 (2f), Emmet McEntee, Colm Connolly 1-1, Darragh Holland, James McElwain 0-1, Cameron Dowds 0-1, Eoin McQuaid 0-5 (2f). Subs: Cian O’Connor 0-1 for D McQuaid, Evan Mulvanney for P McKenna.
Aghabog: Sean McBride, Martin Fox, Stephen McPhillips, Macarten Kierans 0-3, Patrick McCabe, Patrick O’Brien, Damien Smyth, Gary McBride, Dermot Smyth 0-3 (2f), Oisin Gleeson 0-2, Ciaran Logue, Cameron O’Leary, Sean O’Brien 1-3, Shane Kierans, Fergal O’Hanlon. Subs: Tyler O’Hanlon 1-0 for S Kierans. Referee: David Forde (Scotstown).
Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Round 3B
Éire Óg 3-16 Oram 1-12
Éire Óg completed the JFC semi-final line-up with a convincing win over Oram in Scotstown on Sunday. Having raced ahead in an opening quarter that produced a point per minute, Éire Óg saw the scores dry up between then and half-time as Oram stayed in touch, but they hit the net three times after the restart to secure their progression to the last four for the first time since 2012.
Éire Óg’s eight scorers included all six starting forwards, with Dermot Gleeson, Conor Leonard and Michael Tierney hitting a combined total of 2-12. Ryan McGuinness, Jason McDonald and goal-scorer Deaglán Crowe were best for Oram.
Éire Óg: J Morrow; C Toal, D McMahon, B Smith; C Carlisle, M McBride, S Monaghan; R Cassidy (Capt.), C McAree; R McAree (0-1f), C Leonard (1-2), O Treanor (0-1); F McMahon (0-2), M Tierney (0-6, 3f), D Gleeson (1-4, 0-2f).
Subs: F Sheridan for Monaghan (22 mins), T Monaghan for Treanor (48), C McGorman (1-0) for Cassidy (51), R Sherlock for F McMahon (60), D Toal for C Toal (60 + 4).
Oram: B Turker (0-1, ’45); L Keenan, C McGuinness, G Keenan; S McBride, D Forde (0-1), D Crowe (1-1); R Murphy (Capt.), J McDonald (0-2f); S Irwin, R McGuinness (0-5, 3f), D Lynch; J Mone, P Graham (0-1f), C McGeough.
Subs: N Bishop (0-1) for McBride, M Mone for Irwin (both H-T), A Keenan for Lynch (47), S Graham for J Mone (59).
Referee: C Murphy (Seán McDermotts).
By Mary McEneaney Sat 26th Aug