Comprehensive Eire Og Annacarty Donohill performance enough to ensure Crosco Cup progression

John O’Shea at Annacarty

Eire Og Annacarty Donohill are through to the semi-final of Berties Bar Dundrum, Crosco Cup following their victory over Arravale Rovers at Annacarty on Wednesday evening. Played before a small crowd with a slight breeze blowing towards the far end, this was a good entertaining contest. The main difference at the end was the ability of the home side to find the net coupled with the scoring power of their forwards, especially Dinny Crosse, Daragh Kelly and Paudie Bradshaw.

Arravale, on the other hand were dependent on the accuracy of midfielder Sean O’Mahony; he finished the game with 0.13 to his credit from placed balls, open play and a wonderfully struck line ball. I have seen this young man’s striking ability combined with his overall play, over the past few years, and it amazes me as to why he is not part of the County Under 20 panel.

In a reasonably even contest during the opening period, Eire Og went in at the break leading by four points, the goals coming in the fifteenth from Dinny Crosse and from Liam Og O’Dwyer after seventeenth minutes when he latched onto a pass from Paudie Bradshaw. Bradshaw was causing problems to the Rovers defence from the outset and finished the half with 0.4. Apart from O’Mahony, Micheál Sharpe was the biggest threat to a well organised Eire Og defence, with Brian Fox manning the centre.

Eire Og dominated the opening eight minutes after the restart, when they hit 1.4 without reply, the goal coming from Dinny Crosse following a defence splitting run from Seanie Ryan. Sean O’Mahony kept the Rovers in touch from placed balls and open play until Daragh Mooney wrapped up the game as a contest with a goal from the penalty spot, following a foul on Kevin Fox.

Scorers & Teams:

Eire Og Annacarty Donohill; Dinny Crosse (2.4), Liam Og O’Dwyer (1.1), Daragh Mooney (1.0, pen), Paudie Bradshaw (0.5), Seanie Ryan (0.4, 3 frees), Daragh Kelly (0.4, 2 frees), Kevin Fox (0.1), Aidan Griffin (0.1 free), Brian Fox (0.1)

Arravale Rovers; Sean O. Mahony (0.13, 9 frees, 1 sl), Micheál Sharpe (0.3), Cormac Maher (0.2), Darren Lowry (0.1)

Eire Og: Daragh Mooney, Michael Bradshaw, David Fox, Darragh O’Brien, Eoin Kennedy, Brian Fox, Conor O’Brien, Tom Fox, Seanie Ryan, Jack Kingston, Kevin Fox, Dinny Crosse, Paudie Bradshaw, Liam Og O’Dwyer, Daragh Kelly

Subs used: Daniel Kelly for Conor O’Brien (22 inj), Aidan Griffin for Daragh Kelly (41), Liam Crosse for Liam Og O’Dwyer (41)

Arravale Rovers: Paddy Dalton, Raymond Kelly, Matthew Moroney, Brendan Delaney, Brian Roche, Shane Maher, Daniel Ryan, John Paul Lohan, Sean O’Mahony, Orrin Jones, Darren Lowry, Eoghan Lonergan, Shane Quigley, Micheál Sharpe, Nial Sharpe

Subs used: Cormac Maher for Shane Quigley (28), Peter Ryan for Brendan Delaney (40), Gavin O’Mahony for Cormac Maher (51 inj)

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow)