Relieved Edenderry still alive as Durrow miss golden chance

STILL surviving on their wits, Edenderry remain alive and kicking in the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship after a come from behind win against a gutted Durrow in an entertaining quarter-final in O'Connor Park on Sunday.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Edenderry 1-11

Durrow 2-7

Edenderry were very relieved to advance to the semi-finals where they will face either Rhode or Tullamore but another stuttering display did little to convince that they are going to recapture the Dowling Cup.

In some ways, however, that is an ideal position for them to be in. They are the outsiders of the remaining four teams but they are alive and kicking with enough good players to cause concern for any opposition.

Durrow will be bitterly disappointed at losing and really have only themselves to blame. Playing with a strong wind in the first half, Durrow were brilliant early on and stormed into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes. However, they failed to build on that and a 1-7 to 0-3 half time lead in no way reflected how good they were in the opening quarter.

They were in a great position again early in the second half following an excellent Ciaran Burke goal in the 32nd minute. Burke made a storming run through the heart of the defence and finished very well to put Durrow 2-7 to 0-4 ahead. Seriously competitive and very close to the win, Durrow went from the 12th to the 30th minutes and again from the 32nd minute to the final whistle without scoring. They never kicked a point in the second half, neither creating or really doing much to create chances and these long barren spells are the reason they lost.

A nine point win was a huge advantage, even with the wind against them and Durrow really should have won from here. While Edenderry showed great character and got on top in most sectors, they won almost inspite of themselves and Durrow's defeat was at least partially self inflicted.

They retreated into a shell when they had that huge lead, became ultra cautious on the ball. Their play became very stagnant and they didn't manage to score again. Way too often, they didn't break the line, turned back and a lot of play broke down in their own half back line and midfield sector.

Edenderry gradually crept back into it and Durrow were soon wilting. Four points brought the gap back to 2-7 to 0-8 after 44 minutes and a minute later, Edenderry got the goal they had to get. It was self inflicted by Durrow as Stephen Fitzgerald's wayward kickout was intercepted, Sean Doyle fed sub Cillian Lowry who finished very well.

Now it was game on and Edenderry had the initiative. Cian Farrell got a crucial point after Gavin Hand gave the ball away and then Jordan Hayes floated over a super equaliser in the 57th minute.

You would have put your house on Edenderry at this stage but Durrow fought with every inch of their fibre. Cian Farrell curled over a fantastic winning point in the 61st minute and it was only then that Durrow showed real urgency in an attacking sense. It was too late as they got a 45 metre free with the three minutes of added time just up but into the wind, it was always a long shot and the kick from goalkeeper Fitzgerald never caused the umpires to get on their toes as it went well wide.

Durrow gave themselves a great chance of a famous success with a blistering start to the game and everything they touched turned to gold for the first quarter before the wheels came off a bit.

With a strong wind on the back, they almost cleaned Edenderry out early on.

Playing some sensational attacking football, they took full advantage of a very lethargic Edenderry, whose energy levels and work rate were nowhere near where they needed to be.

Edenderry were turned over too easy, too often. A Durrow goal came from one in the sixth minute when Jordan Hayes lost the ball, Billy Fogarty sent a free into the raiding Gavin Hand who found the net for a 1-2 to 0-0 lead.

Six minutes later it was 1-6 to 0-1 and Edenderry were in danger of being blown out of the water. It didn't happen because of two things. Durrow couldn't maintain the same intensity and began to take wrong options while Edenderry did knuckle down more. Durrow went from the 12th to 30th minutes without scoring and with such a strong wind on their back, that was a cardinal sin.

Edenderry settled with two Cian Farrell points, the second a well won mark while Kevin McDermott's free left Durrow 1-7 to 0-3 ahead at half time.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ciaran Burke (Durrow): Cian Farrell was the reason that Edenderry survived as he kicked six points, three of them quality ones from play and he really stood up to be counted when his side needed. He got big scores when it counted and very much ploughed a lone furrow up front while Lee Pearson and Jordan Hayes did get on a lot of ball when it was in the melting pot – Rory Egan also returned to action here after his spell in the USA and made a difference when introduced. The choice, however, is Ciaran Burke who was immense for Durrow. Hurling may be his first choice but he showed how good a footballer he is as his surging runs up field was instrumental in Durrow going so close while he also scored 1-1. Gavin Hand had a brilliant first half for Durrow while Ross Ravenhill's work rate at midfield was phenomenal and Dan Bourke was also very good but ultimately the losers suffered from underdogs syndrome – as they panicked and stopped doing what they had been doing to such effect when they got into a winning position, twice, but most crucially in the second half.

THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Cian Farrell 0-7 (3f), Cillian Lowry 1-0, Sean Doyle (1f) and Jordan Hayes 0-2 each.

Durrow: Ciaran Burke and Gavin Hand 1-1 each, Dan Bourke 0-2, Kevin McDermott 0-2 (2f), Billy Fogarty 0-1.

THE TEAMS

DURROW: Stephen Fitzgerald; Jack O'Brien, Oisin Cusack, Sean Hughes; David Magner, Ciaran Burke, Gavin Hand; Ross Ravenhill, Jack Fogarty; Dan Wyer, Niall Geraghty, Dan Bourke; Kevin McDermott, Billy Fogarty, Barry O'Rourke. Subs – Steven Doran for O'Rourke (43m), Niall McDermott for Geraghty (56m), Shane McDermott for Billy Fogarty (60m),

EDENDERRY: Mark Young; Daithi Brady, Sean Pender, Lee Pearson; Adam Mahon, David Hanlon, Mark Abbott; Jordan Hayes, Oran Lawton; Dan Lowry, Alan Harte, Ciaran Farrell; Sean Doyle, Cian Farrell, Colm Byrne. Subs – Rory Egan for Lowry (26m), Darragh Farrel for Ciaran Farrell (30m), Eoin Dunne for Mahon (39m), Cillian Lowry for Lawton (39m),

Referee – Joey Deehan (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Joey Deehan refereed it well. He was in control and there wasn't much contentious. He did penalise Ross Ravenhill for a late pick up that was questionable, though he may have touched the ball on the ground. Oisin Cusack was not far off black card territory with his second half yellow but overall, Deehan impressed with his handling of it.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cillian Lowry's 45th minute goal was the key moment here and without it, Edenderry would have been gone.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch held up well and the game was well hosted.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edenderry play Tullamore or Rhode in the semi-finals.

STATISTICS:

Wides: Edenderry - 3 (2 in first half); Durrow – 4 (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Edenderry – 1 (Mark Abbott); Durrow – 2 (Oisin Cusack and Ciaran Burke).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.