JFC quarter-final v Athlone

Hogan Park in Moate last Sunday afternoon was no place for the faint-hearted where we scored six of the last seven points to edge out Athlone by 1-18 to 2-12 in a gripping Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 Football Championship quarter-final.

As winners of Section B, we were strongly fancied to account for a team that finished fourth in Section A, but the Athlone second string refused to read the script and had us on the rack on a number of occasions before we finally came good in the closing stages to earn a semi-final date with either Ballycomoyle or Mullingar Shamrocks on the weekend after next.

We looked to be on course for our expected win when a Cathal Finn goal had us 1-4 to 0-3 up at the end of the opening quarter. But Athlone hit back with majors from Piaras Rohan and Mark Egan to take a 2-6 to 1-5 lead into the break as we lost our way in the September heat.

We resumed with two points each from Pidgeon and Delaney to level proceedings before Athlone regained the lead. We equalised on three further occasions through Brendan McMahon and Delaney (two frees), but each time Athlone responded with points from Ryan Gaffey (two frees) and Colin O’Leary to keep their noses in front.

When Whelan put them two up, we looked to be in big trouble, but with Nigel Scally – who was introduced as a half-time substitute after being sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury for the past year – making an impact in our full forward line, we rallied with scores from Delaney (free) and Pidgeon to restore parity after 54 minutes, 1-14 to 2-11.

Gaffey nudged Athlone back in front, but Athlone wouldn’t score again as we finished with a flourish. Delaney levelled with a brilliant score from play before failing to capitalise on a misplaced back-pass which Athlone were able to scramble away.

Fortunately, that miss didn’t prove costly as we pushed on to take the win thanks to injury-time points from Pidgeon and two from Delaney – one from a free and the other a fisted effort. It may not have been pretty, but a win is a win and that’s all that matters at this stage of the championship.

Scorers: Conor Delaney 0-10 (6fs), Shaun Pidgeon 0-5, Cathal Finn 1-0, Brendan McMahon, Darragh Coffey and Joey O’Neill (’45) 0-1 each.

Team: Joey O’Neill; Mel Kiernan, James Fox, Shane Hanlon; Conor Carroll, Aidan Stone, Micheál Coffey; Brendan McMahon, Niall Carey; Paul Fennell, Shaun Pidgeon, Cathal Finn; David Fennell, Conor Delaney, James Finnegan. Subs: Nigel Scally for Finnegan (half-time), Darragh Coffey for Finn (42 min), Dean Fitzgerald for McMahon (53 min), Cathal Finn for P Fennell (60min+2, injured).

New Forest Gaels

Best of luck to the Kilbeggan-Tyrrellspass combination, New Forest Gaels, in their U17 Division 3 Championship semi-final against Milltownpass this Monday evening in Tyrrellspass.

Lotto

Last week’s lucky numbers were 5, 7, 8 and 24. Ruth Fitzpatrick and John Whelan were the Match 3 winners. Thanks to everyone for their support. The jackpot is capped at €15,000. You can purchase your tickets in local shops or online.

Sympathy

Deepest sympathy is extended to clubman and well-known referee Kieran Daly on the passing on his mother Ethna, late of Ballinahown, last weekend. May she rest in peace.

Scór Sinsir

It’s that time of the year again when we are looking for Scór Sinsir participants.

Participants must be 17 and over to enter. The county final is scheduled for Sunday, October 8 at 6pm and the first part of the quiz takes place two days earlier, Friday, October 6, in Streamstown at 8.30pm.

New Mercy Secondary School

Best of luck to the students and staff on their big move into the magnificent new Mercy Secondary School which opens its doors for the first time this week. No doubt, it will serve Kilbeggan and its environs well for many years to come.

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