A strong final quarter, during which they outscored Killeevan by six points to two, saw Eire Og advance to the next round of the Junior football championship while consigning Killeevan to the exit door and being the first team to exit the championships in this fairly low-key and somewhat error riddled affair that was played in good conditions in Castleblayney on Friday evening last.
Both sides showed a degree of improvement over their initial outing the previous weekend but it was Eire Og’s greater degree of penetration that proved the difference, as they were able to create and take scoring chances that bit easier than their opponents. That said though they will need to improve substantially, particularly in the finishing stakes that saw them hit thirteen wides in all, eight in the first half and only registering a point from a penalty, if they are to be serious contenders. Eire Og got off to the better start and led by four points after nineteen minutes but by the halfway stage. Killeevan had fought back to parity and might well have been in front but for some poor finishing in the closing stages. Killeevan took the lead twice in the early stages of the second-half, but Eire Og then began to reassert their earlier superiority as they continued to completely dominate the midfield exchanges, winning almost every kick out and repeatedly carved open the Killeevan defence, but poor finishing and a couple a lucky let off’s for Killeevan kept the game interesting until Eire Og mounted their stronger finish to close the game out with three unanswered points in the final minutes.
Teams and Scorers: Eire Og: James Morrow, Stephen Kerr, Darach McCluskey, Darren McMahon, Corey McAree, Francis McMahon, Calvin Carlisle 0-1, Ronan Cassidy, (1-0 pen, 0-2f), Conor Leonard 1-1, Rigan McAree 0-1, Paul Monaghan, James Leonard, Kian McAree, Ryan Sherlock, Michael Tierney 0-2. Subs: Tommy Monaghan, 0-3 for K McAree, Fearghal Sheridan for R Sherlock, Conor Toal for C Carlisle, Andy McMahon for S McMahon, Christopher McGorman for M Tierney.
Killeevan: Richard Evans, Conal Smith, Finnian Smith, Ciaran Corr, Ciaran McGinn, Kevin McGinn 0-1, Alan Corley, Ryan Tierney, Ciaran Burns 0-3, Kieran Smith 0-2 (2f), Iain McConnon 0-2, Killian Mooney 0-1, Gerard Graham, John McGuirk, Eddie McGinn. Subs: Evan Quigley for E McGinn, Nigel Quigley for K Smith, Shane Corr for C Smith, Noel Smith for J McGuirk. Referee: Sean McDonnell (Killanny).
By Mary McEneaney Sun 18th Aug
