O'Brien brings the fame but Quigley wins the game as Fighting Cocks ensure Semi Final berth

Carlow JFC (A) Group 1 - Round 2

Fighting Cocks 1-10

Leighlinbridge 0-11

The Tullow Tank at Full Forward may well have been the target man for the winners, but it was Alan Quigley who emerged as the deadly assassin in this hotly contested encounter in Ballinaboley on Thursday night.

It was a perfect setting. A fine evening. Pitch looking well. Two teams who wouldn't stand back from each other. And a referee who will always let it on!

The home side cleaned up on kickouts in the opening 10 minutes or so but despite this they couldn't take their chances and it did come back to haunt them in the end.

Leighlin only led by a point in this period with scores coming from Darren O'Keeffe, Lee Conran and Aidan Lillis, while Sean O'Brien on the pivot and Alan Quigley were on target for the winners.

It was tit for tat in many respects for the remainder of the half, but the crucial moment came just before half time when Alan Quigley netted after a swift team move through the Leighlinbridge defence.

Leighlin did have a chance minutes before hand when Aidan Lillis was bearing down on goal but despite having his run halted, it was a case of up you get lad and get on with it.

Last score of the half came from a Darragh Byrne 45 and it meant a 1-7 to 0-6 half time lead for the away side.

The All Blacks came roaring into it at the start of the second half and it took an Alan Quigley point in the 44th minute to stem the tide after Shane Farrell, Aidan Lillis (2) and Geoffrey Doran had helped bring them back level initially.

On a different night we may well have had a few red cards, but common sense prevailed on the night and both sides got on with proceedings without hitting the deck trying to encourage dismissals.

In fairness to Mr Moran he never suffered fools gladly and the old school approach was enjoyable for this writer even if at times possibly frustrating for the players and management teams!

One great moment off the ball saw Liam Brennan and Sean O'Brien exchange a few pleasantries. From the subsequent ball in around the house it was Brennan who rose highest to gather and win himself a free. It should've lifted Leighlinbridge but it didn't and in the end all they could manage was one more score in the last quarter via Shane Farrell just before the call of time.

The Fighting Cocks were steely and did well to regain control of the game in the last quarter. A Quigley brace was sandwiched by a Billy Nolan point and although they missed a goal chance it was still enough.

Leighlin did have a goal chance of their own before the end but the men in green and gold weren't taking no for an answer and it was snuffed out.

A slight disagreement broke out just after this phase of play but when all settled down the whistle went, players shook hands and it was The Cocks who went home safe in the knowledge that they now march on to the Semi's regardless of next week's tie with Tinryland who face a relegation play off after losing to O'Hanrahans.

Elsewhere in the other group Ballon beat Palatine by 1-13 to 1-7.

Fighting Cocks: Darragh Byrne (0-1 '45); Sean McGrath, Eoin O'Byrne, Jason Kelly; Tom Eustace, Gary Nolan, James Hickey; Aaron Bolger, Trevor Watchorn; Alan Quigley (1-6, 3f), Billy Molloy, Glenn O'Rourke; Mattie Dowling (0-1f), Sean O'Brien (0-1), Billy Nolan (0-1).

Subs: Dylan Townsend, Jack McDonald, Matthew English Hayden, Cian O'Byrne

Leighlinbridge: Cian Kavanagh; Cathal Brennan, Billy Lennon O'Brien, Jonny Stringer; PJ Haughney, Ciaran Casey, Geoffrey Doran (0-1); Liam Brennan, Robert O'Byrne; Aedan Byrne, Darren O'Keeffe (0-1), Fiach O'Toole; Lee Conran (0-2), Shane Farrell (0-2), Aidan Lillis (0-5, 2f).

Subs: Joey Byrne, Charlie Nolan, Pakie Fleming, Shane O'Reilly

Referee: Pat Moran