JFC semi final: Dunsany squeeze into final
October 04, 2015
Dunsany's Declan Smyth
Dunsany 0-13
Carnaross 1-9
A Declan Smyth point in the 61st minute of the contest was enough to book Dunsany's place in the Junior A Final in two weeks time.
Carnaross opened the scoring with a well taken point in the 4th minute, however, Dunsany responded well through Mark Brennan (2) and Kevin Keena to lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after quarter of an hour.
In the 18th minute the Carnaross attack surged through the heart of the Dunsany attack before finishing well past Dunsany 'keeper Niall Flynn to take the lead. The men in red responded well through Brennan and Alan Kelly to restore their lead. This lead was short lived as Carnaross scored a brace of points of their own before Kevin Keena levelled the tie with a point from outside the '45. The sides would trade frees before half time with Brennan on target for Dunsany.
Dunsany were quickest out of the blocks in the second half with Declan Smyth on target twice. Carnaross responded with a point before a Brennan free restored Dunsany's two point advantage. Soon after, Dunsany lost 'keeper Niall Flynn to a black card. He was replaced by his cousin Ciaran. The subsequent free was scored and the gap was back to one. Dunsany responded well however with captain Eoin Marsh scoring a huge point. Both sides traded points immediately after this. Substitute Ger O'Neill was on target for the reds with a great score off the outside of his left boot. This restored Dunsany's two point lead. Carnaross never let up and they were rewarded with two good scores to level the contest. The game looked to be heading for extra time before Declan Smyth struck the winner in injury time to the delight of the Dunsany players, management and supporters.
The final whistle blew soon after and Dunsany had reached their first Junior Championship Final since 2009.
Dunsany: Niall Flynn; Ryan Montague, Cathal Burke, Pauraic Burke; Paddy Dunne, Joey Keena, Padraig Maguire; Shane Brennan, Eoin Marsh (0-1); Declan Smyth (0-3), Mark Brennan (0-5, 0-3f), Kevin Keena (0-2); Shane Walsh, Alan Kelly (0-1), Pierre Fox.
Subs: Brian Faherty for Shane Brennan (blood), Ciaran Flynn for Niall Flynn (bc), Ger O'Neill for Walsh, Charles Keena for Kelly.
Carnaross Report
Carnaross 1-9 Dunsany 0-13
A late point for Dunsany in stoppage time put Carnaross out of the Junior Championship following a tight battle at Brews Hill which appeared to be heading for extra-time.
The game was tight right from the start and both sides missed early chances before Niall McDonnell finally broke the deadlock in the sixth minute with a fine effort from play. Dunsany then took the lead with two quickfire points within a minute. Another point for Dunsany edged them two in front but Carnaross replied with the game's only goal coming from Charles Brogan following a surging run through the middle. Dunsany levelled matters a minute later and both sides went on to register three points each with Niall McDonnell (2) and Patrick Nugent hitting the target for Carnaross to leave it all square at the break, 1-4 to 0-7.
Dunsany started brightest in the second-half and scored two early points but a free from Dermot McGee kept Carnaross in touch. Both sides went on to exchange two points each with both of the Carnaross scores coming from Niall McDonnell. Another free from Dunsany gave them a two point advantage with ten minutes remaining but Carnaross fought back and a point each from Niall McDonnell and Dermot McGee left the teams level for the sixth time with five minutes remaining. There was no breakthrough for the remainder of normal time as both sides battled for a winner. Extra-time seemed certain until Dunsany snatched the victory with the late winner in stoppage time to claim their place in the final.
Carnaross: Ollie Murphy; Peter Carpenter, Eamonn Comaskey, Cian Gillic; Peter S. Farrelly, Ian Donoghue, Liam Brogan; Tomás Plunkett, Dermot McGee (0-2); Patrick Nugent (0-1), Charles Brogan (1-0), Cillian Comaskey; Shane Casserly, Niall McDonnell (0-6), Frank O'Reilly; Subs: John L McGee for Shane Casserly; Thomas Nugent for Liam Brogan; Brian Comaskey for Peter S Farrelly; Cian O'Reilly for Cillian Comaskey;
