Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge – Quarter Finals

CORN MICHAEL HOGAN

EAST CORK 4-23 KERRY 3-8

East Cork sealed their place in the semi-final stage of the Corn Michael Hogan with a comprehensive victory over a Kerry side who had been unbeaten in the campaign so far. But it was not all plain sailing for Cork East, who trailed 2-2 to 0-1 after 11 minutes.

Kerry started impressively with some excellent link up play and support running causing the East Cork side all sorts of problems throughout the field. Colin Walsh was on hand to finish an excellently worked goal after five minutes and won a penalty in the 11th minute which was dispatched to the net by the impressive Nathan Guerin. A point from Guerin from the resulting puck out seemed to stir the East Cork men who from here on were the dominant side.

A lethal four minute spell from the 23rd to 26th minute saw Cork East come from five points down to take a four-point lead with 2-1 from full forward Sam Quirke and two points from centre forward Ciaran Joyce which saw the East Cork men lead 2-8 to 2-3 at the short whistle.

A third goal from Sam Quirke on the 40th minute out the game beyond doubt and from here on, as valiantly as Kerry tried, they just couldn't manage to break down the Cork defence, with Cork East running out comfortable winners.

It was a disappointing end to the campaign for the Kerry side who had earlier claimed the scalps of Cork West, Cork North, Clare Blues, and Limerick Sarsfields.

Best & Fairest Players: Kieran Kearney (East Cork) and Seán Sheehan (Kerry)

Scorers for East Cork: Sam Quirke 3-1, Sean Walsh 0-7 (5fs), Ciaran Joyce 0-6, Tim O'Sullivan 1-0, Cian Crowley 0-2, Diarmuid Kearney 0-2 (1f), David Murphy 0-2, Kieran Kearney 0-1, Eanna Motherway 0-1, Noel Cahill 0-1.

Scorers for Kerry: Nathan Guerin 0-4 (3fs), David Godley 1-1 (1-0 Pen), Colm Healy 1-0 (f), Colin Walsh 1-0, Dillon Moriarty 0-1.

CORN JOHN SCOTT

WEST CORK 2-18 CORK CITY 1-17

Coachford was the venue for the all Cork clash last Saturday with Cork West prevailing in a fiercely contested quarter-final clash over neighbours Cork City.

A goal in injury time from Colm O'Donovan finally sealed a mouth-watering clash in favour of the Westerners. Cork City trailed by 10 points at half time with Cork West storming into a strong lead aided by a strong breeze.

Aided by a dominant back line which conceded only six points in the first half, Cork West were able to get plentiful ball into the forward line, which contributed 1-10 from play in the opening half, with superb link up play throughout and John O'Brien getting on the end of numerous passes to finish the only goal of the half in favour of the Westerners. Conor O'Sullivan kept the City in contention with four pointed dead balls in the first half to leave the half time score, 1-13 to 0-6.

Cork City, with the wind at their backs in the second half started strong, with the move of Daragh Milner up to the forward line proving inspirational scoring two from play and winning two frees. A Niall Hartnett solo effort in the 50th minute, billowed the Cork West net and left only 2 between the teams. An inspirational Ben Aherne point was quickly followed by two frees from Padraig Holland which looked to be enough for the Westerners but Cork City rallied again and trailed by two points going into injury time. That is when Colm O'Donovan struck for the decisive score to see Cork West into the Semi Final to face Waterford.

Best & Fairest Players: Ben Aherne (West Cork) and Peter O’Brien (Cork City)

Scorers for West Cork: John O'Brien 1-3, Padraig Holland 0-4 (2fs), Colm O'Donovan 1-1, Aidan O'Donovan 0-4 (3fs), Chris O'Connell 0-3, Ray O'Hallorhan 0-2.

Scorers for Cork City: Conor O'Sullivan 0-10 (9fs), Niall Hartnett 1-2, Joseph Harte 0-2, Daragh Milner 0-2, Cathal Crowley 0-1

CORN JOHN SCOTT

SOUTH TIPPERARY 4-11 OFFALY 1-10

South Tipperary progressed to the Corn John Scott semi-final with a win over Offaly in Birr on Saturday evening. The home opened brightly and took an early lead with two pointed frees from Mark Cahill which were responded to by a green flag from South Tipperary’s Cian Mooney and by a point from a free by team mate Darragh Fitzgerald. With Offaly goalkeeper Dan Gleeson’s puck outs landing deep in the Tipperary half of the field the visitors full back line and the home full forward line were busy throughout the first half with some great tussles taking place.

On the scoring front the accurate Mark Cahill notched up another point from a free for Offaly, but South Tipperary responded again with another green flag courtesy of the tigerish Sean Ryan. A classy point from South Tipperary’s Noel Obilor was followed by an equally good point from Offaly’s Mark Kennedy. South Tipperary midfielder Conor Vaughan then got on the score sheet as the Ballingarry man tipped over a nice point to put his side six points to the good.

The remainder of the first half belonged to a determined Offaly side as they scored 1-3 without reply to level the game at half time. The impressive Mark Kennedy accounted for 1-2 of this tally with Ciaran Egan accounting for the remaining point.

Whereas Offaly scored 1-3 towards the end of the first half South Tipperary did likewise at the beginning of the second half with the goal coming from Aaron Moloney and the points from Darragh Fitzgerald (2) and David Fox.

Now playing with the assistance of the wind, and some very dogged defensive play from the defensive unit but from Ciarán O’ Dwyer, Jack Ryan Casey and Daire O’ Brien in particular the South Tipperary forwards began to carve out openings in the Offaly defence with Cian Mooney, Kevin Grogan, Sean Ryan, Noel Obilor, and Darragh Fitzgerald particularly prominent. A goal from Noel Obilar after a winding solo run was arguably the highlight of the game. South Tipperary outscored Offaly by 2-8 to 0-4 in the second half to progress to next Saturday’s semi-final.

Best & Fairest Players: Noel Obilor (South Tipperary) and Paddy Maher (Offaly).

CORN JOHN SCOTT

WATERFORD 0-13 WEXFORD 0-9

After several near misses, Waterford finally got a much-deserved victory when beating South East neighbours Wexford in a tight affair at the WIT Arena, Carriganore

In a low scoring game, the Waterford defence played superbly as individuals and as a unit to keep Wexford to just nine points over the course of the game. Sean Harney and PJ Fanning were to the fore putting bodies on the line and driving out of defence on many occasions after winning possession. A good start by the Déise lads had them in front with some good frees by Eoin O’Reilly complimenting scores from play including excellent point by Tommy Carberry to leave Waterford ahead 0-7 to 0-5 at half time.

Wexford came back in the second half and showed their own qualities as a team and with Waterford not taking the goal opportunities that came their way the game was level at 0-9 apiece with five minutes remaining. Sean Lennon was working hard in the middle of the field and using possession well at all time, but scores weren’t forthcoming.

The subs who came in made a huge difference in the final minutes with both Niall Long and Michéal O’Floinn getting on the scoresheet to give Waterford a four point cushion in the end on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-9.

CORN MICHAEL FEERY

DONEGAL 2-15 LEITRIM 1-8

It might have ended with a 10-point win for Donegal, but this match was much closer than the score line suggests. Leitrim came into this game undefeated and Donegal were on an upward curve having improved in each game.

Frees from Donegal’s O’Buachalla and Mash Doherty and Leitrim’s Liam Phelan kept the score at 0-2 apiece. Points from St Eunan’s men Randles and Forde were cancelled out by points from Cormac White and Liam Taylor. Buncrana’s Liam Ó Doherty put Donegal into the lead only to be answered by Leitrim’s Shane Mallon.

Donegal got a lucky break just on the half time whistle when the Dungloe pairing of John Boyle and James Hartnett inter linked and the ball landed in the net, Hartnett finishing with a rasper to the bottom corner. Half time- Donegal 1-5 Leitrim 0-5

Leitrim came out more focused in the second half and pegged back a few scores from Mallon and White who were on form. Matthew Doherty continued to be accurate from frees and pushed Donegal further ahead until Leitrim were thrown a life line with a well taken Shane Mallon goal to leave only two points between the teams.

Donegal reacted well to the goal with Hartnett adding a point from play. Then the killer blow was dealt. James Hartnett collected the ball in the corner from Tommie Lee Scally’s well placed pass.

Hartnett did the rest, rounded his opponent and delivered an unstoppable shot into the net. Donegal’s tails were up and Leitrim’s energy subsided. Donegal added five points to Leitrim’s one in the last 10 minutes to win on a score line of Donegal 2-15 Leitrim 1-8. This was a sweet victory for Donegal. Some of this panel lost out to Leitrim in the All Ireland U16 C last year.

Best & Fairest Players: James Hartnett (Donegal) and Michael O’Brien (Leitrim)

CORN MICHAEL FEERY

SLIGO 2-20 MONAGHAN 4-9

This was a cracking game of hurling with both sides giving it all, played in fine conditions with a fair breeze which aided Monaghan in the first half. Sligo were first on the score sheet with two points from play by Cahan Hallinan and Fionn Connolly.

Disaster struck for Sligo when Monaghan's Darragh Cassidy struck the net, not once but twice and again a third time to leave Monaghan with a six point lead. Sligo played much of the hurling for the remainder of the half but still trailed Monaghan by 3-3 to 0-10 at the interval.

Monaghan's Shane Slevin got the opening point of the second half. Sligo added a number of points to their tally and half way through the half the sides were level, Sligo 0-14, Monaghan 3-5. Sligo eventually found the net after a pass from substitute Tola Carway reached Fionn Connolly who duly fired it into the net.

This gave Sligo the lead for the first time in the game, 1-15 to 3-6. Monaghan levelled again with three unanswered points from frees by Mikey Carville. Sligo's Fionn Moylan, fresh from his county Poc Fada win on Friday night scored a goal and a point to give his side the lead again. Another three points were

Sligo's scorers played very well as did full back Eoghan Rua Mc Gowan amongst others. Monaghan's award winners , free taker Mikey Carville and goal scorer Darragh Cassidy were in fine form. Sligo now look forward to a semi-final against Mayo.

Best & Fairest Players: Liam O’Kelly Lynch (Sligo) and Niall Bermingham and Ronan Boyle (Monaghan).

See www.gaa.ie/celticchallenge for fixtures, results and the full list of Best & Fairest Recipients.