HUGH Emerson struck a sensational 16-minute hat-trick of second half goals as lively underdogs Laois sent double NFL champions Derry crashing at Croke Park.
Emerson’s move to full forward five minutes after the break paid out a quarter-final jackpot dividend for the never-say-die division two qualifiers.
His rampaging efforts reeled off goals after 42, 55, and most dramatically 58 minutes to shatter the hot favourites’ bid for a treble of National League wins.
Near identical poaching strikes, direct, first-time long balls over the top of Derry’s full back position wrenched away the title with a series of devastating blows.
Emerson, his familiar long locks cropped short and sporting a new De Niro-style goatee beard, kept his feet and momentum to begin his glorious exploits 12 minutes into an enthralling second period.
Derry: J Kelly, K McKeever (capt), J McBride, E McKeever, S M Lockhart, H Downey, G Coleman, A Tohill (0-3), D Dougan (1-0), R Boylan, D Heaney (0-1), R Rocks, J Brolly (0-4), S Downey (0-2), J Cassidy (0-3).
Subs: A McGuckin for Boylan (half time); D O’Neill for McBride (50 mins), E Muldoon for Rocks (54 mins).
Laois: F Byron, J Deegan, A Phelan, C Burke, D Lawlor, D Conroy, M Delaney, T Maher (1-0), P J Dempsey (0-1), I Fitzgerald (0-6), H Emerson (3-1), D Sweeney (0-1), T Bowe, M Rooney, L Turley (0-1).
Sub: B O’Reilly for Rooney (55 mins).
Ref: M Curley (Galway)
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NINETEEN-year-old Stephen Maguire was the toast of Fermanagh last night, his injury-time goal securing his place in the Dr McKenna Cup final in this replay at Irvinestown.
In a game liberally sprinkled with basic errors and missed opportunities, Armagh deserved their 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead and they went on to a 1-8 to 0-8 victory.
Armagh looked the better team in patches with Fermanagh labouring to create clear-cut scoring chances.
Obviously benefitting from a tongue-lashing by Pat King, Fermanagh were much more committed for the second.
Two minutes into injury time a move begun by Collie Curran was carried on by Paul Brewster, and then an interchange between the Gallagher cousins, Rory and Raymond, resulted in the ball finally being played out to substitute Stephen Maguire, who hammered it low to the net.
Fermanagh were now 1-7 to 0-8 in front and for good measure Rory Gallagher converted another free to protect that lead.
Fermanagh: C McAdam, P McGuinness, S Breen, M Lilly, T Callaghan, B King, J Gilheaney, P Brewster, C Courtney (0-1), M Greene, C Curran (0-1), M O’Rourke, Raymond Gallagher (0-2), F McCann, S King (0-2).
Subs: Rory Gallagher (0-2) for McCann (inj), Stephen Maguire (1-0) for O’Rourke.
Armagh: B Tierney, E McNulty, G Reid, J McNulty, J Rafferty, D Horisk, A McCann, PMcGrane, J Burns, C O’Rourke (0-2), T McEntee, K McGeaney (0-1), N Smyth, M Toye (0-1), O McConville (0-4).
Subs: A O’Rourke for Reid (inj), D Wilson for Toye.
Referee: Michael Hughes (Tyrone)
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KERRY strolled into the National League football semi-final with a facile 1-18 to 0-10 victory over a weak and disjointed Down side in a drab quarter-final game at Croke Park yesterday.
In a match that was expected to provide a sterling struggle the ease with which Kerry strolled through most of the game left Down floundering.
At times Down were clutching at straws as a young, vibrant and very fit Kerry side tore the former All-Ireland champions apart.
Except for the opening 10 minutes when they led by 0-4 to 0-2 Down were hesitant, unsure and always second to the ball.
They were devoid of a game plan, lacked fitness and at times looked like selling platers against thoroughbreds so vast was the difference in class between the teams.
Had Kerry accept half of the scoring chances which came their way they could have doubled their winning margin.
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IF Steve Collins needs to catch up on the man who wants his title, the WBO supermiddleweight champion need only switch on to Sky Sports One on Tuesday evening.
The satellite giant has enlisted Sam Storey’s vacant British supermiddleweight showdown with Dave Starie and will be beaming live pictures to the Collins’ household.
Storey has ambitions set on taking back to Belfast, the British title, for the third time since its inception in 1980.
But the 33-year-old Belfast born southpaw and outright Lonsdale Belt holder, has greater ambitions to become the first of two Irish men to battle for a World crown between the ropes.
Speculation mounts by the day, that Collins has opted to wait before confirming the details of his next payday as champion.
While Frank Warren’s Sports Network camp prepares for a third headline World title bill on May 3, which includes featherweight king, Prince Naseem Hamed, supermiddle’s WBC holder Robin Reid and Storey’s recent Commonwealth title victor Henry Wharton, Collins is expected to announce a super-powered clash for the summer.
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AT last the talk at Aintree can turn back from bomb alerts, which forced the postponement of Saturday’s Grand National, security checks and the like to potential winners of the world’s greatest steeplechase.
And all conversations must include the name of Go Ballistic, who has all the hallmarks of a Grand National winner.
The eight-year-old put up a marvellous trial for this race when winning the Betterware Cup at Ascot in December, jumping accurately despite a very strong pace and leading in the straight to score decisively from Unguided Missile.
That form has worked out very well, with the runner-up scoring off a much higher mark at Aintree on Friday and third and fourth-placed Major Bell and Turning Trix also going on to show themselves very useful chasers.
And Go Ballistic showed his continued well-being when fourth in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month.
Ignore those who decry his Aintree chance on the grounds that he was “flattered” at Cheltenham.
He makes much more appeal than Lord Gyllene, whose limitations were revealed at Uttoxeter last time, and exposed sorts such as Wylde Hide and Lo Stregone.
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A LITTLE bit of history was made at Falls Indoor Bowls Club when honours were shared in the annual Irish News-sponsored Nomads-Nomaids game in aid of Beaconfield House and the NI Hospice.
The scores were tied 69-69 after three hours of intense competition - the first draw in the 10-year history of the event.
Well, that’s what the record books will show but organiser Arthur Donnelly was disappointed, tongue firmly in cheek, at the Nomads performance.
“They should have wiped the floor with those auld dolls and I’ll have to give some serious thought to next year’s line-up,’’ he joked.
“There will be some new faces in the side and some positional changes, for example Eddie Orchin from skip to the tombola stall.”
Despite the stalemate, two winners did emerge from the Irish News event – Beaconfield House and the NI Hospice who benefitted to the tune of £4,000
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MARTY Quinn blasted his players last night and warned them they could end up with nothing over the next three weeks.
Cliftonville boss Quinn watched his Irish Cup semifinalists go down 3-0 at Linfield at the weekend, a defeat further emphasised by Ards’ 1-1 with Glenavon at Mourneview.
It means Cliftonville and Ards must play on April 19 in a game which could decide who goes down.
If Ards win, Cliftonville will play either Bangor or Omagh in the relegation/promotion playoff. If the Reds win, they will go two points clear of Ards.
A draw or Cliftonville win means all is pinned on the final game of the season.
But first, this weekend, Loughgall meet the Reds in the cup semi-final.
