Monageer see off Stars
MONAGEER-BOOLAVOGUE booked a quarter-final clash with Blackwater in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship after keeping Starlights at arm’s length in Group A in Monamolin on Sunday.
The victors, who are a lively outsider for this title, kicked several fantastic points, particularly in the second-half when Matthew Dunne and Cathal Walsh seemed to be in a personal battle to pick off the classiest score.
On the other hand, the Starlights seconds finish fifth in the table, joining their thirds in exiting their respective championships in the space of less than 48 hours. With their Seniors facing a relegation final the weekend after next, it hasn’t been a good big ball season for the Bellefield boys.
They didn’t manage a score in the first quarter as two Walsh efforts helped Monageer-Boolavogue into a 0-4 to nil lead. However, trailing 6-2 entering the final minute of the half, Nick Doyle popped over a nice point that was soon followed by a fisted, closerange goal from Pa O’Rourke.
Somehow only level at the change-around, Monageer-Boolavogue didn’t waste any time moving ahead in the third quarter. Dunne registered a brace, while Mick Sweeney fired over his third point, easing them 0-10 to 1-3 clear.
With points flying over from all angles and distances, Monageer-Boolavogue moved eight ahead in the 53rd minute. However, Graham Donohoe’s tidy finish gave the scoreboard a more respectable look. Interestingly, Cathal Walsh rounded out the afternoon with the contest’s only dead-ball score in the final minute.
Monageer-Boolavogue’s fixture with Blackwater in the last eight promises to be a tough, close-run thing between two sides who have enough in their armoury to potentially knock out perennial favourites Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, somewhere down the line.
Monageer-Boolavogue: Seán McCabe; Morgan Gahan, Chris Daly (capt.), John Darcy; Paddy Breen, Brian O’Loughlin, Niall O’Reilly; Seán Roche, Conal Nolan; James Gahan, Cathal Walsh (0-5, 1 free), Mick Sweeney (0-3); James Sweeney (0-3), Matthew Dunne (0-5), Damien Fenlon (0-1). Subs. - Ian Hawkins for J. Gahan (38), Stephen Leacy for Fenlon (54).
Starlights: Gary Murphy; Ronan Kirwan, Dan O’Brien, Ryan Hadley; Michael Farrell, Declan Ruth, Wayne Breen (capt.); Nick Doyle (0-2), Richie Farrell; Conor Ronan, Cillian Lett, Dayle Donohoe (0-2); Barry Nolan, Ed Tobin, Pa O’Rourke (1-1). Subs. - Joe Cullen (0-1) for M. Farrell (42), John Ryan for Doyle (42), Graham Donohoe (1-0) for O’Rourke (45), Declan Courtney for Ruth (55), Joe Carley for Tobin (57).
Referee: Ger Lynch (Blackwater).