All-Ireland Club Junior Football Championship semi-final:
Ardnaree Sarsfield's (Mayo) 0-11 St Mary’s, Rockcorry (Monaghan) 0-6
MONAGHAN and Ulster junior champions Rockcorry couldn’t take the final step to an All-Ireland decider as fell to a five-point defeat to Mayo’s Ardnaree Sarsfield's in Sunday’s semi-final in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Rockcorry played the last 19 minutes with 13 men after the second-half dismissals of Fergal McGeough and Noel Carroll which scuppered their chances of reeling in the Connacht champions. Playing with the wind advantage, Ardnaree opened the scoring after five minutes with an Eoin McCormack free. The Mayo men went 0-3 ahead by the eighth minute after Cathal Noone and Ronan Doherty hit a point a piece. Fergal McGeough opened Rockcorry’s account when he fired over a free two minutes later.
The Monaghan side suffered a setback on 12 minutes when ’keeper Jamie Smith was issued with black card for a foul on Ronan Doherty. Doherty pointed the resultant 20-metre free. Ardnaree continued to dominate and opened up a 0-7 to 0-1 lead by the 21st minute after Doherty hit two more points with Shane Timlin also chipping in with a point.
Rockcorry’s Fergal McGeough received a 23rd minute yellow card while Eoin McCormack increased Ardnaree’s lead with a point from play a minute later. Yellow cards were issued to Rockcorry’s Noel Carroll and Ardnaree’s Chris Walsh during the next three minutes.
Rockcorry finished the half with a slight flourish and reduced Ardnaree’s advantage when Mark Daly and Fergal McGeough whipped over a free each to leave the Mayo men leading by 0-8 to 0-3 at the break.
Ardnaree stretched their lead early in the second half when Ronan Doherty hit the target from a free. Rockcorry replied with a 39th minute Lorcan Smyth point from play, which was the Monaghan men’s only score that did not come from a placed ball. However, Rockcorry’s hopes of a comeback where dashed when Fergal McGeough received a black card and Noel Carroll was also lined for the Monaghan champions.
Despite this setback, Mark Daly fired over a free to reduce the gap to four points. Ardnaree’s Ronan Doherty was black carded in the 45th minute but the Mayo side stretched their lead when substitute John Timlin fired over from play. Rockcorry’s Lorcan Smyth (free) and Ardnaree’s Brian Fitzpatrick traded points but there was to be no way back for the Monaghan men.
Delighted Ardnaree boss Declan O’Dee said after the game: “It was a good win for us. In fairness to Rockcorry, they fought all the way. They were obviously handicapped by the cards they got.
“We were very disappointed to have our two best forwards black carded, but we have a huge date to look forward to in Croke Park.”
A disappointed Rockcorry manager Mickey Morgan said: “Even at half-time we didn’t think it was over. We still though we had a chance at it.”
But Morgan conceded the two second half cards “killed us.”
Ardnaree will play Kerry side Templenoe in the All-Ireland final on February 6 in Croke Park. Templenoe were 1-9 to 0-5 winners over Curraha of Meath in yesteday’s other semi-final in Killmallock.
MATCH STATS
Adrnaree Sarsfield's: B Ginty; Conor Naylor, Colm Naylor, C Cawley; M McCormack, P Lacken, S Timlin (0-1); S Tighe, M Rafter; N Beatie, N Clarke, C Noone (0-2 frees); R Doherty (0-4 frees), C Walsh, E McCormack (0-2 frees); Substitutes: B Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Colm Naylor (56); I Clarke for Tighe (57); M Forbes for M McCormack (60); Black cards: E McCormack (32) replaced by R O’Malley, R Doherty (43) replaced by J Timlin (0-1).
Rockcorry: J Smith; C Quinn, N McKeown, C McGeough; J Reilly, K Daly, S McGuirk; M Thornton, M Daly (0-2 frees); C Sheridan, P McKeown, L Smyth (0-2 frees); M McGuirk, F McGeough (0-2 frees), N Carroll; Substitutes: M. Carroll for Sheridan (27); D Mathews for P McKeown (43); A Tate for Quinn (60); A McGovern for S McGuirk (62); Black cards: J Smith (13) replaced by D Fay.
Referee: F Barry (Kildare).
