Donard-The Glen back in final four after win over Fergal Ogs

DONARD-THE GLEN FERGAL ÓGS 2-14 0-05

DONARD-THE GLEN advanced to the semi-final of the Junior ‘C’ football championship for the fourth consecutive year running by defeating Fergal Ógs in Roundwood on Saturday evening last.

The west side put in a sensational whirlwind second half demolition job to blitz the east coast side who never got going in the second period.

Mark Doyle got the first chance of a score from a 45 but midfielder Pat Flynn fielded the ball in the square and cleared to safety for the Glen men.

Cormac Kelly landed a longrange point for the Bray side after a great build up play by Ronan Twohig in the fourth minute. Eddie Flynn fisted over the equalising point after a trademark penetrating run by Larry Daly.

Brendan Coyne missed a sitter of a goal for Donard as he failed to connect with the ball to let Fergal Ógs off the hook moments later.

Up the other end the industrious wing back Ronan Twohig was unfortunate to see his shot deflect of the post and wide.

Steve O’Doherty pulled two frees wide for Donard as neither side settled in the early exchanges.

Again, Coyne with a bicycle shot took the paint of the wrong side of the post. Steve O’Doherty pointed with a long-range effort in the 20th minute in this low scoring opening half.

Goalkeeper David Dixon fouled the ball on his way out and, like an incident many moons ago in an All-Ireland final where Dublin’s Paddy Cullen was blown for the same foul and the ever alert Kerryman Mikey Sheehy lobbed Cullen with a quick free to score a goal.

However, this time, the alert Donard man, Rory Toomey, went with a low daisy-cutter that was cleared off the line to safety.

The hits were flying in thick and fast at this stage of the game from both sides.

Cameron Griffin levelled matters with a point after more great build up play by Ronan Twohig and David Melican.

Larry Daly was lucky to escape with only a warning after remonstrating with the linesman over a line ball call as a black card is the official ruling.

Mark Doyle added a sweet right footed point from an acute angle for Fergal Ógs going into closing minutes of the half.

Cormac Kelly increased the lead with another point as Ógs were making better use of their chances after good play by Paul O’Brien.

Steve O’Doherty pointed in additional time to leave the half-time score reading Fergal Ógs 0-04 to 0-03 for Donard-The Glen.

A rousing half-time team talk from an animated Donard manager Paddy Toomey which mainly consisted of phrases like “hit them ‘effin up’, and ‘let them know where you’re from’, rallied his troops into battle mode for the second period.

Larry Daly levelled the game in the opening attack as the Fergal Ógs goals became a target-zone, like in the Glen of Imaal Military firing range.

Colm O’Neill laid of a sublime pass to Rory Toomey who pointed to put Donard in front.

Paul Melia and Arron Kane were defending like lions for Fergal Ógs, breaking down wave after wave of Donard pressure. O’Doherty landed three more points with the latter a smashing point from a 45 out on the sideline as the Donard intensity went into overdrive.

Fergal Ógs won a free up the field and this was pointed by Gavin Harris for what would be their only score of the second period.

Gerry Daly broke down a couple of Fergal Ógs attacks at this stage. Midfieder Pat Flynn back from injury, added two long range points in quick succession for the west brigade. Fergal Ógs were killing themselves with their kick-outs.

Usual corner-forward Jerome Kelly landed into Roundwood late as his flight from Guatemala was late arriving into Dublin Airport but he was launched into the fray immediately for Donard.

Kelly, with his first touch, put through the on running Joe Whyte who split the posts.

Fergal Ógs battled away with good performances from Ronan Twohig, Phelim Kelly and Steven Jenkins but they could not live with this juggernaut of a Donard machine.

Full-forward Gavin Harris escaped with a warning after a reckless leg swing, more out of frustration than anything else, on Larry Daly.

Eddie Flynn put the game to bed with a powerful shot that shook Dixon’s net.

Pat Flynn sent a long range shot into the danger zone where seemingly Steve O’Doherty got a slight touch on it for a goal. One for the dubious goal’s committee, to call on.

Joe Whyte and Larry Daly each pointed to close out the game. Donard march onto meet Tinahely in the semi-final where Donard, owe them one.

The winners to battle it out with Kilcoole or Ashford in the final.

Scorers - Donard-The Glen: Steve O’Doherty 1-04, Eddie Flynn 1-02, Lawrence Daly 0-02, Pat Flynn 0-02, Rory Toomey 0-02, Joseph Whyte 0-02.

Fergal Og’s: Cormac Kelly 0-02, Cameron Griffen 0-01, Mark Doyle 0-01, Gavin Harris 0-01.

Enda Walshe; Gavin Walshe, Brendan Daly, Steve Pierce; Joseph Whyte, Micheal Daly, Gerard Daly; Rory Toomey, Pat Flynn; Lawrence Daly, Steve O’Doherty, Dean Mann; Brendan Coyne, Eddie Flynn, Colm O’Neill. Subs: Jerome Kelly, Clifford Grace, Stan Whyte.

David Dixon; Stephen Jenkins, Paul Melia, Robert Wasson; Arron Kane, Patrick Mullen, Ronan Twohig; Paul O’Brien, Mark Doyle; Phelim Kelly, Cormac Kelly, David Carroll; Cameron Griffen, Gavin Harris, David Melican. Subs: Niall Clarke, John Doran, Jason Sommers.

Pat Dunne (Hollywood)