Carlow IFC & JFC Round 3 wrap up
After the final round of games the picture is now much clearer for the knockout stages.
Grange had already guaranteed themselves a semi final spot before yesterday’s clash with Eire Og but that didn’t stop them from chasing the game for a result late on. John Murphy’s goal brought them back to three points but Eire Og had done enough and held out for a deserved 0-15 to 1-9 win. Eire Og will face St Mullins in the Relegation Final in a few weeks.
The other game in this group saw a massive 4-17 to 1-7 win for St Patricks over Ballinabranna. The winners actually trailed by six or seven points at one stage but once they found their groove there was no stopping them. This means it’s St Patricks v Naomh Eoin in the Quarter Final’s and Ballinabranna face Fenagh.
Over in the other group Jake Nolan bagged 4-2 as Kildavin/Clonegal emphatically beat Fenagh 4-13 to 0-12 to top the group and move directly to the Semi final. See report HERE.
On Friday Naomh Eoin thumped St Mullins. See report HERE.
Intermediate Quarter Final Fixtures:
Saturday 14th Sept – Netwatch Cullen Park – St Patricks v Naomh Eoin – 17:30
Sunday 15th Sept – Netwatch Cullen Park – Fenagh v Ballinabranna – 14:45
In the Junior A Championship Leighlinbridge booked their Semi Final spot after a hard fought 0-15 to 1-9 win over Fighting Cocks in Group 2.
With both teams missing some vital players through injury it promised to be close and so it proved. The Cocks now meet O Hanrahans in the Quarter final this Friday.
The early exchanges were even with Fiach O’Toole and Lee Conran impressing for Leighlin while Ruairi Nevin kept the Cocks ticking over with well struck frees. With 10 minutes to go to half time the Leighlin defence failed to clear their lines and corner forward, Glen O Rourke slid the ball to the net. Swopped frees between Nevin and Aidan Lillis had the sides level at the break, 1-5 to 0-8.
The early part of the second period saw scores shared with the Cocks often the leaders with impressive sub, the ageless, Matty Dowling, contributing two quality points. However in the last quarter Leighlin finally got on top and scores from Lillis, O Toole and Charlie Nolan saw them over the line.
Fighting Cocks will be happier of the two with a much improved performance after their drubbing by Ballon while Leighlin will worry about their defence after concession of a number of scorable frees and a sloppy goal.
Leighlinbridge – Cian Kavanagh, Jonathan Stringer, Billy Lennon-O Brien, P J Haughney, Alfie Barcoe, Cathal Brennan, Joey Byrne, Liam Brennan, Conor De Lacey, Robert O Byrne (0-1), Darren O Keeffe (0-1), Fiach O Toole (0-3), Aidan Lillis (0-7), Charlie Nolan (0-1), Lee Conran (0-2). Subs-Kacper Gniedzekjko, Cian Brennan & Val Fleming.
Fighting Cocks – Darragh Byrne, Conor Ruane, Eoin O’Byrne, Matthew English-Hayden, Alex Gordon, James Hickey, Cathal Gorman, Jack McDonald, Billy Molloy, Dylan Townsend, Liam Sheppard, D J Sinnott, Cian O’Byrne, Ruairi Nevin (0-7), Glen O Rourke (1-0). Subs: Emmet Moran, Matty Dowling (0-2), Trevor Watchorn & Jason Kelly.
Ref -Lar Murphy (Castledermot).
Ballon 1-15, Tinryland 0-4
Both teams were matched on their physicality however the majority of possession was in Ballon’s favour. Ballon’s fast hands and nippy forwards put them ahead of the opposition. Ballon were unlucky to miss a few goal chances including a penalty on the half time whistle.
Ballon soon realised their only option was to keep the points ticking over, however, eventually a rebounded save from the excellent Tinryland keeper was put in net by Michael O’Leary.
Ballon Scorers: Liam Brennan (0-3), Peter Zerafa (0-5), Shane Duffy (0-1), Evan Corr (0-2), Jim Nolan (0-1), Brendan Fanning (0-1), Conor Bolger (0-1), Callum Crawford (0-1) & Michael O’Leary (1-0).
In Group 1 the game between table toppers and guaranteed Semi Finalist’s Kilbride and Relegation play off facing Palatine has been moved to Tuesday night.
In the Carlow town derby O’Hanrahans got three goals in quick succession to give Asca a mountain to climb with the first half ending with a scoreline of 0-6 to 4-06.
The second half provided no let up from O’Hanrahan’s and it finished 7-10 to 0-9 in their favour.
O’Hanrahan’s: Aaron Power, Thato Rammusi, Fergal Donohoe, Ciaran Jones, Jason Kenny, Milo Feehan, Lazzy Meaney, Owen O’Gorman (0-02), Ray Walker, Blake Holmes, John Ryan (1-00), Alan Owens (0-01), Joe Doran (3-01), Danny Thompson (1-04 2f), Keelan Lacey (2-02). – Subs: Tom Roche, Adam Quigley, Ciaran Timmons, Keenan Geoghean, Conaill Ferris.
Asca: Willie Long, Andre Carvalho, Stephen Fennell, Mark O’Brien(0-01), Evan McAteer, Diarmuid Long, Brian Hosey, Bryan Jackson, Leo Hurley(0-01), Dylan Reams, Ben Doorley(0-04), Conor O’Brien, Kiernan Noonan(0-01), Conor Byrne, James Ingram(0-02) – Subs: Ben Deacon for Brian Hosey, Stephen Bayley for Andre Carvalho
Junior A Quarter Final Fixtures
Fri 13th Sept – Netwatch Cullen Park
Askea v Ballon 7pm
O’Hanrahans v Fighting Cocks 8:30pm
In the Junior B Championship Ballinabranna’s third draw of the campaign gave them the Quarter Final spot. Their opponent’s on the day Kildavin/Clonegal are in the semi finals. Old Leighlin also grabbed a Quarter final spot after their 0-9 all draw with Fenagh who lose out on progression from Group 2.
In Group 1 table toppers Rathvilly thumped Naomh Eoin.
Junior B Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Saturday 14th Sept – Training Centre Fenagh
Eire Og v Old Leighlin – 14:30 – Pitch 1
Ballinabranna v Clonmore – 14:45 – Pitch 2
In Junior C there were wins for MLR, Palatine and Ballon the past week.
Junior C Football Championship Round 4 fixtures
Wednesday 11th Sept – First named team at home with 7.30pm starts unless otherwise stated.
Ballon v St Patricks
Bagenalstown Gaels v O’Hanrahans
Grange v Palatine ( Palatine Pitch ) 8pm
Footnote: Thanks to Sharon O’Brien, Eva Kealy, Mick Byrne and all other PRO’s and photographers who helped compile this piece. Please email any reports to [email protected] by 7am Monday morning for inclusion.
