Eire Og go up through gears to topple Kiltegan

Eir Og ran riot through the Kiltegan defence.

Sam Thompson hit another point from an acute angle as Daniel Wood and Darren Hayden were involved in everything as Eire Og went up another gear.

Anthony Furlong had Kiltegan’s first chance of a score in the 13th minute but pulled his effort just wide. Kiltegan suffered a hammer blow when they lost centre-half back Ronan Byrne with a cut forehead a minute later.

Justin O’Brien kicked a long range point as the seasiders moved the ball at pace from defence to attack. Daniel Keane pointed before Sam Thompson added two more points to leave the score 1-07 to nil after 29 minutes played.

In the 30th minute Steven Coogan pointed a free for Kiltegan’s first score.

John O’Toole won the resultant kick out and sent the ball into the danger zone where Mike Foley won possession and fired to the back of Lorcan Treanor’s net. Lo and behold, didn’t lightning strike twice as Steven Farrell won possession from the kick out and put the ball back into Steven Coogan who rifled the ball to the back of the net as the half-time whistle sounded with the score now reading Eire Og 1-07 to 2-01 for Kiltegan.

The Eire Og management had some strong words for their troops during the break.

Liam Keogh pointed on the restart as Kiltegan started to get more into the game.

Sam Thompson had another goal bound shot brilliantly saved and parried over the bar by Fergal Harmon in the Kiltegan goal.

Anthony Furlong pointed for the west side but Eire Og found another gear and dominated the remainder of the match with some clinical football.

Leon Browne fisted a point before Daniel Wood burst through the Kiltegan defence and hit a rocket of a goal after great play by Jamie McDonald.

Matt Maguire, who covered every blade of grass in Arklow, hit a monster of a goal to end the game as a contest.

Kiltegan rallied a bit but registered a couple of wides before Mike Foley pointed and Anthony a Furlong pointed a free. Eire Og closed out the game with a point from Daniel Wood.

Eire Og now go on to play Aughrim for a spot in the Keating Trophy final and barring a huge upset in that game, Kiltegan shall keep their Senior status.

Scorers - Eire Og: Sam Thompson 1-04, Daniel Wood 1-01, Matt Maguire 1-01, Craig Smullen 0-01, Justin O Brien 0-01, Leon Browne 0-01, Daniel Keane 0-01.

Kiltegan: Steven Coogan 1-01, Mike Foley 1-01, Anthony Furlong 0-02, Liam Keogh 0-01.

Eire Og: Lorcan Treanor; Liam McGuire, Pat Egan, Matt Maguire; John Deeney, Darren Hayden, Leon Browne; Justin O’Brien, Anto Byrne; Jamie McDonald, Danny Wood, Dan Keane; Craig Smullen, Dominic Reilly, Sam Thompson. Subs: Declan O’Malley.

Kiltegan: Fergal Harmon; Jamie Daly, Blaine Harmon, Padraig Farrell; Cathal Fitzgerald, Ronan Byrne, John Farrell; Steven Farrell, John O’Toole; Liam Keogh, Geoffrey Birmingham, MikeFoley; Steven Coogan, Anthony Furlong, Derek Daly. Subs: John Keogh, Luke Byrne, Shane O’Keefe.

Ref: Pat Dunne (Hollywood).