Pearses send out statement as Éire Óg and Ballinameen return to finals
Pádraig Pearses midfielder, Conor Ryan, and his team-mates were too good for St. Faithleach's in Kiltoom on Saturday evening. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
Pádraig Pearses sent out an emphatic statement about their championship credentials as the defending champions steamrolled St. Faithleach’s, 5-20 to 1-14, in Kiltoom to set up a county final meeting against St. Brigid’s or Clann na nGael.
An unanswered 2-11 either side of half time saw Pearses at their brilliant best as goals from Conor Ryan and Jack Tumulty turned the game on its head after Faithleach’s had done well to be level, 0-5 apiece, after 17 minutes.
The one-way traffic continued in the second half as Eoin Colleran bagged two goals to bring his tally to 2-4 for the evening, while Declan Kenny coolly slotted home a 54th minute penalty.
Diarmuid Murtagh kicked a couple of two-point frees in the second half, while substitute Michael Dunne also raised an orange flag, but not even Connell Kennelly’s consolation goal could take the bleak look off the scoreboard from a Faithleach’s perspective.
In the intermediate football championship, Éire Óg are back in their third final in four seasons after getting the better of St. Michael’s, 1-14 to 1-7, in Enfield.
An early Conor Cox two-pointer from play set the tone, but St. Michael’s were right back in it when Fiachra Henry lashed the ball to the net.
Both sides missed further goal chances, but Cox landed four more points, including a two-point free, to leave his side 0-9 to 1-2 ahead at the break.
Robert Gillespie cut the deficit to three points at the start of the second half, but Éire Óg were always able to keep the scoreboard ticking over, as Colm Lavin kicked a ’45 and Jason Doory added two points from play.
In the 47th minute, Ronan Cahill’s speculative shot ended up in the net, which also led to St. Michael’s goalkeeper Shane O’Dowd being shown a red card by referee Paddy Neilan.
The excellent Enda Crawley split the posts, as did Doory for his fifth point of the game as Brendan Greene’s side ran out comfortable winners.
Ballinameen are back in the Junior A Football Championship final after Dessie Carlos’ late two-point free procured a 0-12 to 1-7 victory against 14-man St. Aidan’s at Davonna Park, Ballinameen.
The home side won the game against the wind on the back of a resilient defensive display.
John Why goaled for Aidan’s, but a red card for Tommy Morris before the break left the visitors with a mountain to climb.
St. Aidan’s dug in and were three points in front entering the final ten minutes, but Dylan Casey and Carlos brought Ballinameen level before Carlos repeated his heroics against Clann na nGael in the quarter-final to break St. Aidan’s hearts.
