Jocks survive searching exam from Kilkerley
Noamh Mairtin Kilkerley Emmets 3-11 1-9
ensure that the O’Connells had their noses in front at the interval.
The Joes were possibly feeling a hint of dejá vu at the break as they were wasteful in front of the posts with those seven wides and two kicked short akin to the 10 wides kicked in the first half against the O’Raghallaighs a fortnight earlier.
Niall Conlon (free) and Salem Rafaie stretched Paul Gallagher’s side’s lead to a goal with the latter’s point coming from good set up play by first half substitute Sean Connolly who replaced Paul McKeever.
Apart from Conlon, the O’Connells’ forwards failed to replicate their exploits against the O’Raghallaighs.
Shane McQuillan was introduced as a first half blood sub and his impact along with others helped the Joes to win a myriad of breaking ball on kick-outs, winning six from 12 on the O’Connells’ kickouts.
Alan McKenna (0-2) came to the fore in that second half, while Peter Brennan, Alan Quigley (free) and Conall Smyth had the Joes ahead at 1-6 to 0-10.
They then kicked for hoem quite impressively, out-scoring their neighbours by 0-6 to 0-2 in the last quarter to ultimately seal their place in the quarter finals.
Alan Quigley was excellent in this period hitting 0-4 with the accurate Smyth and Oisin McGuinness also chipping in.
Frees from Conlon and Robert Quigley kept them honest but in the end the Joes held on for victory.
The O’Connells also lost James Clerkin to a red card as he picked up a late blcak to go with a yellow card picked up in the first half.
ST JOSEPH’S: Seamus Quigley; Conor Neary, Stefan Potts, Craig Doherty 0-1; Alan McKenna 0-2, Alan Lynch, Liam O’Leary; Tomas Smyth, Killian Staunton; Jack Mulligan 0-2, Daire Smyth, Oisin McGuinness 0-1; Alan Quigley 0-5 (3f), Peter Brennan 0-1, Conall Smyth 0-4 (1f). Subs: Shane McQuilan for Oisin McGuiness (blood sub) (21), Oisin McGuinness for Peter Brennan (46), Aidan Kieran for Jack Mulligan (52).
O’CONNELLS: Stuart Reynolds; Jason Carroll, Conor Byrne, James Clerkin; Emmett Byrne, Salem Rifaie 0-1, Conor McGill; Sean Cairns, Conor Kiernan; Jackie Agnew 0-1, Paul McKeever, Stuart Osbourne 0-1; Dean Stanfield, Robert Quigley 0-3 2f, Niall Conlon 1-4 (2f). Subs: Sean Connolly for Paul McKeever (28), Stefan O’Hanrahan for Conor Byrne (52), Mícheal Cairns for Robert Quigley (60).
REFEREE: Paul Finnegan. A SECOND-HALF goal from the evergreen JP Rooney set Naomh Mairtin on their way to a 3-11 to 1-9 victory over a plucky Kilkerley Emmets side on Sunday evening.
Emmets were actually leading at that point as an upset looked a distinct possibility, but Rooney had other ideas.
The former Louth hitman was only on the field a matter of moments when he collected a long ball from Michael Fanning to drive the ball to the net to completely turn the tide in the Jocks’ favour.
That proved to be the catalyst for a late scoring spree from the Monasterboice side as following Rooney’s intervention they proceeded to outscore Kilkerley by 1-4 to 0-1 in the final quarter.
Eoghan Callaghan, Wayne Campbell and Sam Mulroy were to the fore as the Jocks who were given a stern test of their mettle by Kilkerley, and they passed it with flying colours.
It was a tit-for-tat in the opening half with both sides taking the game to each other. There was an incredible start to the tie as both sides traded goals in the opening two minutes.
Tadgh McEnaney who caused immense havoc for Jocks corner back Shane Campbell, who was substituted at half time, raised the first green flag with a wonderful finish straight from the throw-in.
90 seconds later, the Mairtins were awarded a penalty when Alan McGeough fouled Sam Mulroy who dusted himself down to expertly cancel out McEnaney’s major.
McEnaney converted a free before setting up Rian Hand to score from distance to give Kilkerley a two-point lead.
The Mairtins battled back and by the 17th minute the sides were level at 1-3 apiece. Gavin Mooney, Wayne Campbell and Conor Healy found their range with Healy’s score emanating from a superb turnover by Callaghan whose shoulder challenge led to a retrieval of possession before Healy duly converted the first of his two points in that opening half.
The game was firmly in the balance at 1-5 apiece at half time with Mulroy (free) and Healy scoring for the Jocks while James Fegan and the lively Daniel McKeown kept spectators intrigued at the break.
Conor Whelan almost grabbed another goal for Naomh Mairtin but his shot was blocked and scrambled to safety in a most enjoyable first half.
Lennon and McEnaney continued to be accurate from placed balls either side of a Callaghan score from play for Monasterboice and Kilkerley were 1-7 to 1-6 ahead minutes after the restart.
By the 38th minute they were 1-8 to 1-6 ahead thanks to an exquisite effort with the outside of his left boot from distance by Sean McElroy. The upset was on.
Jim Farrell sprung JP Rooney and Brian McQuillan from the bench and both made an instant impact, especially Rooney, who netted with his first touch of the size five.
McQuillan was also excellent scoring a point and winning a breaking ball from the kickout which led to Rooney’s goal.
Shane Lennon registered Kilkerley’s final score of the game as the Mairtins took over winning seven out of the final 10 kick-outs contested with Callaghan, Wayne Campbell and Gavin Mooney excelling.
Callaghan who touched the ball 26 times over the hour combined with Conor Healy to set up Mulroy for his second goal to round off an eight-point victory for the Jocks who advance to face the O’Connells in the quarter-finals.
Kilkerley are headed for another relegation play-off.
NAOMH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Paul Berrill Adam Winters, Shane Campbell; Thomas Sullivan, Michael Fanning, John Clutterbuck; Wayne Campbell 0-3, Gavin Mooney 0-1; Stephen Campbell, Eoghan Callaghan 0-1, Conor Healy 0-2; Conor Whelan, Sam Mulroy 2-3 (2f, 1 pen), Conor Morgan. Subs: Alan Downey for Shane Campbell (HT), JP Rooney 1-1 for Conor Morgan (43), Brian McQuillan 0-1 for Conor Whelan (43), Padraig McDonagh for Stephen Campbell (53), Francis McCullough for John Clutterbuck (57), Eoin Wright for Paul Berrill (60)
KILKERLY EMMETS: Cillian Quigley; Cormac Bellew, Alan McGeough, Fintan Clarke; Andy McGill, Sean McElroy 0-1, Neil Mullholland; James Fegan 0-1, Ciaran Bellew; Rian Hand 0-1, Sean Hand, Daniel McKeown 0-1; Tadgh McEneaney 1-2 (2f), Shane Lennon 0-3 (3f), Ciaran Clarke. Subs: Ciaran McGlynn for Sean McElroy (43), Ronan Mullholland for Sean Hand (48), Killian Kampes for Rian Hand (57), Conal McEneaney for James Fegan (57).
REFEREE: Jonathan Conlon.