C'Blayney 2-10, Latton 2-10 Castleblayney and Latton must meet again after they finished all square at the end of this pulsating semi-final that was played in ideal conditions in Aughnamullen on Saturday afternoon last. Brimful of incident from start to finish this was a contest that could have gone either way in a dramatic finish but overall a draw was probably a fair enough result although Latton will look back on a game where they held the advantage for long periods. Castleblayney started the better and led by four points after 10 minutes but by the end of the opening quarter Latton were two in front with a goal and three points in a blistering four minute spell overturning Castleblaney's area advantage, Kevin Hughes blasting home in the 14th minute. By the end of normal time in the first half Latton looked to have taken almost total control with another sizzling period that yielded a goal and three points, Eoin Duffy with the goal in the 26th minute and the points from Hugh McElroy (2) and one by Kevin Hughes putting them seven points in front. Castleblayney however clawed back some of that advantage when Dermot Malone poached an opportunist goal in injury time to leave the half-time score Latton 2-6, Castleblayney 1-5. Castleblayney enjoyed the better start to the second-half and by the 11th minute they had drawn level thanks largely to a goal by Ciaran Hanratty in the 11th minute that threw the contest wide open. A brace of points from frees by Hanratty then put Castleblayney in front entering the final quarter and while Latton clawed their way back to parity by the 25th minute Castleblayney took a late lead with a point by Dermot Malone. In injury time Latton fought back with a point from a free by Hugh McElroy in a tense finish to send the teams back to Aughnamullen this Saturday evening to decide who will join Carrickmacross in the county final on October 12th. Teams and Scorers: C'Blayney: Padraig McBennett, Paddy Mallon, Kieran Hughes, Stephen McGeough, Patrick Tavey, Cormac Brady, Ray McArdle 0-1, Jason Hughes, Francis Moore, Dermot McArdle, Dermot Malone 1-1, Niall Duffy 0-1, Ciaran Hanratty 1-5 (1f), Kieran Tavey 0-1 (f), Martin McElroy 0-1. Subs: Aidan Ward for S McGeough. Latton: Sean Farmer, Ruairi Ward, Edmund Lennon, Hughie Lennon, Paul Fitzpatrick, Francis Coyle, Noel Coyle 0-1, Eoin Lennon, Aidan Farmer 0-1, Barry McCabe 0-1, Bernard O'Brien 0-1, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Kevin Hughes 1-1, Hugh McElroy 0-5 (5f), Eoin Duffy 1-0. Subs: Dermot O'Brien for R Ward, Brendan Lennon for N Coyle. Referee: Sean Gilsenan (Donaghmoyne). Tweet

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