currentaccount.ie All Ireland Junior Football Club Championship quarter-final: Castleblayney Faughs (Monaghan) 2-19 Craobh Rua (Belgium) 5-2
MONAGHAN and Ulster champions Castleblayney turned in a stunning second half to overcome a tough challenge against European champions Belgium in Maastricht, Holland yesterday morning.
The visitors found themselves trailing by a point early into the second half before they turned on the style to pull clear and set up another long trip, this time to face Cork side Naomh Abán. While convincing in the end they will be concerned with the concession of five goals but delighted at getting the job done. Jodie McQuillan fired over nine points in all, eight coming in that second half while Hazel Hughes rowed in with 1-3 for the winners.
'Blayney through Hughes, McQuillan and Grace Hanratty opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after the opening quarter before the Belgium side levelled with the first of their goals through Clara Lambert from the penalty spot on 17 minutes. The response was immediate as play swung to the other end and Hughes found the net and after both sides exchanged points Blayney led at the break 1-5 to 1-2.
McQuillan extended that on the resumption to four before Lambert struck for her second goal. McQuillan hit back with a point but Belgium took the lead for the first time on 38 minutes with Margaux Mansanarez punching to the net.
This seemed to ignite Blayney and from that moment they took complete control with an unanswered 1-9 in a blistering 13 minute spell. Aimee Donnelly levelled matters while McQuillan hit five points in that period and Aoibheann McCooey found the back of the net on 49 minutes.
To their credit the Belgium girls never give up and got their reward with two late goals but it is the Ulster champions that march on to this weekend’s semi-final.
