Denn’s strong finish sees them into semi-final

JFC quarter-final

Denn 1-17

Kildallan 3-6

Mark O’Reilly at Rory O’Moore Park

A dominant last quarter from Denn where they scored 1-6 helped ensure that they booked their place in the JFC semi-final at Kidallan’s expense when the teams clashed in Belturbet on Sunday.

Jack Moran registered the first score of the game seconds into the match, profiting from good play from Shane McGovern. Thomas Edward Donohoe quickly levelled for Denn and fine play from Conor O’Reilly resulted in Donohoe kicking his side’s second point.

Kildallan struck for a well-worked goal in the third minute, when Shane McGovern arrowed a pass into Ronan Fitzpatrick, who in turn fed Ryan O’Neill with the corner forward racing onto the ball to bury to Mark Fegan’s net from close range.

Thomas Edward Donohoe popped over a fifth minute free for his side and the Crosskeys men were unlucky not to raise a green flag a minute later when Kildallan’s Cian McCaffrey pulled off a fantastic point blank save. Denn created a second goal chance with nine minutes on the clock, but again they found Kildallan’s number 1 in great form, as he made another terrific save.

Mark Fegan hammered over a 45 to level the match at 1-1 to 0-4 after 13 minutes and Donohoe nudged them back into the lead with a 15th minute free. Shane McPartland ensured the sides were level at the water break at 1-2 to 0-5, after more good approach play from Ronan Fitzpatrick.

Ben Conaty was fouled in the 18th minute with Thomas Edward Donohoe again converting the free.

Kildallan struck for their second goal with 21 minutes gone, again Fitzpatrick providing the assist for O’Neill, who powered into the roof of the net from close range and Kildallan moved 2-3 to 0-6 ahead when Shane McPartland kicked a monster of a point from 45 yards out.

Denn replied with points from Donohoe (free) and Eoin Reilly to leave it 2-3 to 0-8 at half-time. Sean Donohoe had Denn level a minute upon the resumption of the second half and brother ‘Ted’ added to his tally with another free in the 36th minute to again nudge his side ahead by a point.

Denn created their third goalscoring chance when Fegan’s long kickout was worked through Conaty and Thomas Edward Donohoe to Eoin Reilly, who was foiled by another excellent Cian McCaffrey save.

Ryan O’Neill converted a free he won himself in the 42nd minute to again tie the match up at 0-10 to 2-4. Cavell Keogan collected a mark from an astute Sean Donohoe pass and tapped over the resultant kick to again move Denn one point clear but Kidallan immediately responded, with Ronan Fitzpatrick clipping over a point from an acute angle.

Kildallan moved ahead once again when Ryan O’Neill converted a mark in the 49th minute but Denn levelled matters at 0-12 to 2-6 in the 50th minute when Cavell Keogan slotted over a close range free.

The Crosskeys men then went on a scoring blitz scoring 1-5 without reply. Conaty kicked two points in two minutes and added a third in the 57th minute to move his side three clear. Keogan landed another free and Conaty shot over his fourth point after a great ball from Eoin Reilly to ease the lead out to 0-17 to 2-6 with 59 minutes on the stopwatch.

Denn finally broke the resistance of Cian McCaffrey in the Kidallan goal, when Thomas Edward Donohoe smashed in a 63rd minute goal to increase the lead to eight points. Kidallan got a late consolation goal which was arrowed into the bottom of the Denn net deep into stoppage time as the Ballyconnell men battled valiantly to the finish.

Denn: Mark Fegan (0-1, 45), Cormac Cusack Smith, Brechan McGivney, Michael Gaffney, Stephen McPartland, James Brady, Mark McSherry, Conor O’Reilly, Oisin Kiernan, Brandon Keogan, Thomas Edward Donohoe (1-7, 6f), Cian McCann, Sean Donohoe (0-1), Ben Conaty (0-4), Eoin Reilly (0-1)

Subs: Cavell Keogan (0-3 1m, 2f), Jamie Reilly, Bernard Galligan.

Kildallan: Cian McCaffrey, Brandon Cooke, Fergal Donohoe, Eanna Moran, Neasan Neary, Shane McGovern, James Henry, Owen McPartland, Niall Ward, Conor Crowe (1-0), Conor Mimna, Shane McPartland (0-2), Ryan O’Neill (2-1, 1f), Jack Moran (0-1), Ronan Fitzpatrick (0-1)

Subs: Stephen Curry, Ciaran Donohoe, Oisin Bannon

Referee: Packie Smith