St Brendans   1-06       Ellan Vanin Gaels 2-07  Ellan Vanin Gaels progressed to the semi finals of the Lancashire Junior championships defeating St Brendans by 4 points at Hough End. In difficult conditions Ellan started the brighter with Eunan Timmons and Darren Mcguinness winning the early exchanges in the midfield area. Joe Quinn was causing major problems to the St Brendans half back line and the lively forward scored the 1st point after 4 minutes with good interchange with McGuinness. Tony Sharkey scored an excellent point from the left hand side to put the gaels 0-02 up inside 10 minutes.  St Brendans were finding it hard to adjust to the pace of the game but opened the scoring with a free from Brian Johnson. Gerry Kelly scored a third for the gaels after being supplied with the ever running  Peter Ferguson.Simon Coyle started to impose himself in the middle for St Brendans and his supply of ball into the 51 year old vetern Mickey Conway started to pay dividends as Ellan Vanin Gaels struggled with his strength and experience. He set up another veteran Kevin Madden who pointed excellently from 25 yards and 5 minutes before half time the ball broke to Brian Johnson who equalised for St Brendans. Joe Quinn put the visitors in front when Brian Kane won a free on the  13 yard line and the gaels went in at half time 0-04 to 0-03 ahead.St Brendans came out of the blocks at half time and a quick point from Brian Johnson settled them. Within minutes St Brendans were 3 points up when Shane Dunne was upended by the Gaels goalkeeper and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot with Johnson cooly slooting down the middle.The response from the gaels was immediate and McGuinness and Sharkey pointed after good play from Timmons. Then the turning point in the game Ronan Harkin brought down Moriarity in the box with a sliding tackle and the resulting penalty placed to the left of the Brendans keeper by Mcguinness. Within minutes  Timmons received the ball in midfield and sent it into the corner forward Kelly who beat his man and finished to the net leaving it at 2-05 to 1-05.St Brendans introduced Colm Conway son of Mickey and his assist put liam Kelly through to put over the bar. Brian Kane pointed again for the gaels and Joe Quinn put the game beyond doubt with minutes left  on the clock.Ellan Vanin Gaels will now meet Oisin in the semi Final whilst John Mitchells will play St Lawrences with dates to be fixed .Meanwhile in the senior championship John Mitchells easily disposed of Oisin at Old Bedians  with a 3-07 to  0-01 win. This puts the favourites on course for another final and with this form no one would bet against them to challenge for the All Britain again.   Results : Pennine League               St Lawrences 3 -12 St Brendans 1-08                Senior Championship      Oisin 0-01 John Mitchells 3-07              Junior Championship       St Brendans 1-06 Ellan Vanin Gaels 2-07  Fixtures : Thursday 03.07.08  Junior league semi final Oisin v John Mitchells Old Bedians 7.30Pm                 Saturday 05.07.08 Pennine league semi final Cu Chullains V  Oisin Leeds 7.Pm                 Sunday 06.07.08 Jon Mitchells V St Benedicts  1.00Pm Tweet

Most Read Stories