Rathvilly & Eire Og served up the most entertaining game of the season so far at Netwatch Cullen Park last night.
This was a game of real quality which ebbed and flowed throughout and never disappointed in terms of action.
Eire Og put Murtough Ware on the edge of the square and this provided them with the long ball option which they utilised multiple times throughout the game, particularly in the second half.
We seen some great scores in the first half from both teams with Eoghan Ruth and Darragh O’Briens outside of the boot efforts matched by tidy scores from Brendan Murphy and Gary Dempsey and at half time it was 0-6 each.
The second half really opened up and the sides pretty much went score for score in that period with Ruth and Murtough Ware registering the best of Eire Og’s points as Murphy and Ed Finnegan replicated at the far end.
Late on Eric McCormack made it a one point game with Rathvilly just ahead and Eire Og knew that a draw would send them through on score difference.
The same player then had an opportunity to level the game but his effort tailed wide and after an altercation with Alan Kelly he was lucky to stay on the field.
Brendan Murphy went down the far end and fisted the ball over after the the dust settled and Rathvilly progressed to the semi finals on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-13.
Eire Og now face Tinryland in the Quarter Finals after the hoops lost to Old Leighlin by 1-10 to 0-8 yesterday.
St Andrews recorded a 1-17 to 0-9 win over O’Hanrahans to set up a quarter final meeting with Old Leighlin.
Barry Lambe scored the goal for the Drews with Carlow Minor Robbie Kane popping over several points from play during the contest.
It promises to be an interesting Quarter Final as Old Leighlin’s Barry Hayes trains St Andrews so it will be interesting to see if he can plot his own clubs downfall.
Mount Leinster Rangers and O’Hanrahans will now meet in the Senior Football Relegation Final.
In the Intermediate Championship Fighting Cocks and Kilbride are straight through to the semi finals.
In the Quarter Finals Eire Og play Kildavin Clonegal and Ballinabranna face Grange.
Naomh Eoin and Clonmore will battle it out for survival.
