Seniors Back in Co. Final

Post date: Sep 29, 2014 7:51:41 PM

Rhode and Edenderry will meet in the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior football final for the first time since 2001, following their victories over Clara and Gracefield, respectively in the semi-finals played in front of 2,962 supporters at O’Connor Pk, Tullamore today.

Edenderry 0-13

Gracefield 0-9

Edenderry qualified for their first final since 2011, when they had a four point victory over Gracefiled in the opening semi-final. Edenderry got off to the better start and three opening points fom top scorer Sean Doyle gave them an advantage they never subsequently lost, despite a spirted effort from Gracefield. By the 18^th minute Edenderry had edged 0-6 to 0-2 in front and could have been further ahead but for some missed goal opportunities. The closing stage of the half saw Gracefield slowly get to grips with the game and points from Padraig Duffy (2) and Ciaran Kiely, with just one in reply from Mark Young of Edenderry, left the half time score 0-7 to 0-5 in favour of The Reds.

Inside two minutes of the restart Niall Smith had the deficit down to the minimum. At the other end Sean Doyle saw his goal bound shot superbly deflected over the bar by Jonathan Knight, the Gracefield goalkeeper. Padraig Duffy again reduced the margin to one, before Doyle saw another goal effort come back of the crossbar. When Doyle slotted over two frees to leave it 0-10 to 0-7 after 40 minutes, it looked like Edenderry might pull away. However, Gracefiled who were bidding to reach their first final since 2004 were not going down without a fight and points from Jack Walsh and Stephen Flanagan left the minimum between them again with 17 minutes left on the clock. However, that was to be Gracefield last score and points from Doyle (free), Oran Lawton and Daniel Nolan gave Edenderry a deserved four point victory 0-13 to 0-9

Scorers:

Edenderry: Sean Doyle 0-8 (0-3f), Mark Young 0-2, Derek Kelly 0-1, Oran Lawton 0-1, Daniel Nolan 0-1

Gracefield: Padraig Duffy 0-4 (0-2f), Niall Smith 0-1, Jack Walsh 0-1, Jamie Evans 0-1, Stephen Flanagan 0-1, Ciaran Kiely 0-1

Edenderry: Brian Quinlan, Colm Byrne, Sean Marshall, Sean Pender, David Hanlon, Stephen Guing, Stuart Cullen, Richie Dalton (capt), Derek Kelly, Ciaran Hurley, Mark Young, Adam Mahon, Sean Doyle, Aaron McDonnell, Keith McGuinness. Subs: Oran Lawton for R Dalton (inj), Basil Malone for Mark Young, Daniel Nolan for Ciaran Hurley, Ciaran Farrell for K McGuinness

Gracefield: Jonathan Knight, Niall Slattery, Aaron Whelan, James Flanagan, Niall Parker, Karol Slattery, Keith Mullally, Niall Smith, Ruairi Allen, Jack Walsh, Padraig Duffy, Jamie Evans, Stephen Slattery, Ciarán Kiely (capt), Stephen Flanagan Subs: Brian Brereton for K Mullally, Adrian Murphy for K Slattery, Michael Lawlor for S Slattery, Thomas Doyle for N Parker

Ref: Noel Cooney