Cushinstown in the last four

R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 1-12 NAOMH EANNA 1-8

RATHGAROGUE-CUSHINSTOWN marched on to the last four of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship after a hard-earned quarter-final victory over Naomh Éanna in Hollymount on Saturday.

After a tightly-contested opening half, the eventual winners looked to be in the driving seat when they went five points clear going into the final quarter.

But, a Gearóid Cullen goal put their opponents right back into it and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown needed to stand up to the challenge.

They were well up for it however, and with a stubborn attitude, they finished out the game strongly for a well-deserved four-point win.

There was little separating the sides early on, as Naomh Eanna levelled the game midway through the opening half after their opponents had given themselves a three-point lead.

The Codys, Matthew and Tadhg, and the Bolgers, Ollie and Daire, were all in form for the winners, with Michael Molloy and Dara McDonald accurate for the Gorey side.

Scores were traded twice more before Matthew and Tadhg Cody put the New Ross District side two up at the break.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown looked to be sitting pretty midway through the half as they went five in front after a slow quarter, with Bernard Furlong, Aaron Ryan and Tadhg Cody finding the range while Naomh Éanna had barely moved the ball into their opposition’s half.

But, with their next attack, they won a free 20 metres out and with the defence a little slow in organising themselves, Gearóid Cullen took full opportunity to capitalise with a sublime strike to the top corner of the net.

Michael Molloy added a minor shortly afterwards and suddenly the Gorey town side were only one point behind.

However, when the question was asked, last year’s beaten finalists had the answer, and after increasing their lead to two they put an excellent passing move together which resulted in Tadhg Cody hitting the net from close range, a score that sealed the win and set them up with a semi-final spot.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Jonathan Kelly; Ricky McGrath, Peadar Cody, Patrick Murphy; Ollie Bolger (0-2), Brian O’Neill, Jason Dunne; Danny Martin Carroll (0-1 free), Matthew Cody (0-1); Luke O’Connor (0-1), Daire Bolger (0-2 frees), Tadhg Cody (1-3); Aaron Ryan (0-1), Bernard Furlong (0-1), Eoin Porter. Sub. - Eric Cummins for Porter (19).

Naomh Éanna: Kenneth Byrne; Nathan Byrne, Tom Stafford, Evan O’Dwyer (0-1); Darragh Cullen, Simon Doran, Seán Delaney; Darragh Hughes, Michael Molloy; Michael Bernie (0-1), Michael Molloy (0-3, 2 frees), Dara McDonald (0-2); Gearóid Cullen (1-1 frees), Niall Kirwan, John O’Brien. Subs. - John Doyle for N. Byrne, black card (35), Ryan Higgins for Kirwan (39), Paul Timmins for O’Brien (39), Kevin Harrington for Bernie (44).

Referee: liers). Mick Lanigan (Shelma-