Pair of Rosegreen goals enough to see them through to another football final

Francis Coughlan at New Inn

Rosegreen are through to a first Shane Hennessy Agri-Advisor West Junior B Football Championship Final since 2020 when eventually seeing off a spirited Eire Og side in New Inn on Tuesday evening.

Played in dry but cool conditions this game was always close and while Rosegreen at times look the more threatening it was Diarmuid Quinlan’s goal late in the third quarter which finally gave them the edge in this contest.

Killian Ryan’s goal just the before the interval would separate the sides at Paddy Russell’s half time whistle.

It was probably a fair reflection from a Rosegreen perspective who kicked seven wides to Eire Og’s four in the opening thirty while also dropping a number of efforts short.

Playing with Colin Bourke as a sweeper he was a major threat when going forward. It was Bourke that kicked his side ahead in the fourth minute. Scores were very hard to come by with just three more points in the half. Eire Og too had chances but while kicking a number of bad wides they were also turned over at vital times.  

Alan Shanahan broke their deadlock at the beginning of the second quarter from a placed ball. Eire Og backs too were making it hard for the Rosegreen attack.

It was the twenty first minute before Tony Kerwick kicked Rosegreen’s second. Alan Shanahan had the sides level minutes later though his effort could easily have gone under the bar.

The turning point came in the twenty ninth minute when Diarmuid Quinlan set up Killian Ryan who goaled from close range and a tight angle despite the goalkeeper getting a touch. Rosegreen ahead 1-2 to 0-2 at the break.

Jeremy Furlong and Tony Kerwick (free) traded points in the first seven minutes after the resumption. In the ninth minute Alan Shanahan was brought down going in on goal.

Paddy Russell signalled a penalty and after receiving treatment slotted the penalty home past Gerard Cummins right. The turning point of the game came in the thirteenth minute when Killian Ryan intercepted a ball around the twenty-one and played on Diarmuid Quinlan who ran at the Eire Og defence before sending a powerful effort to the net.

It got worse for Eire Og who lost Peter O’Dwyer to a black card in the eighteenth minute Rosegreen seemed to finally get a rhythm going in the final quarter which saw them move the ball a lot better.

Diarmuid Quinlan kicked two points with Daniel Hayde adding another. Pat Aherne kicked two points when coming on for Eire Og however Eire Og just couldn’t get back into the game.

Best for Rosegreen were Tom Dowling, Pa Ryan, Colin Bourke and Diarmuid Quinlan while Conor O’Brien, Jeremy Furlong Cian Mooney and Alan Shanahan caught the eye for Eire Og.

Scorers & Teams:

Rosegreen: Diarmuid Quinlan (1-2), Killian Ryan (1-1), Tony Kerwick (0-2,(0-1f)), Colin Bourke (0-1), Daniel Hayde (0-1)

Eire Og: Alan Shanahan (1-2, (1-0p), (0-1f))), Pat Aherne (0-2, (0-1f)), Jeremy Furlong (0-1)

Rosegreen: Gerard Cummins, Sean Ryan, Kevin Tobin, Tom Dowling, Tony Kerwick, Ross Burke, Paddy Colville, Keith Bergin, Pa Ryan, Daniel Hayde, JP Anglim, Killian Ryan, Podge Quinlan, Diarmuid Quinlan, Colin Bourke
Subs Used: Eoin McSweeney, Vinny Downey, Jake Phelan, Michael Quinlan

Eire Og: Michael Ryan, Ciaran Loughman, Cathal Coughlan, Adam O’Dwyer, Peter O’Dwyer, Conor O’Brien, Stephen McDonald, Jack Kingston, Michael Hanley, Jermy Furlong, Liam Crosse, Thomas Quinn, Conor Devlin, Cian Mooney, Alan Shanahan
Subs Used: Willie O’Neill, Ronan O’Brien, Pat Aherne, Philip McGrath, Colin Heffernan

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly)