Erin Rovers 0-20 Sean Connolly’s (Longford) 2-9
Erin Rovers qualified for a quarter-final meeting with Ballymore-Eustace (Kildare), following a six point victory over Sean Connolly’s of Longford in the opening round of the AIB Leinster Junior Club Football Championship at Pullough this afternoon.
Erin Rovers laid the foundation for this success in the opening half when, playing against the wind, they built up a 0-10 to 0-4 half-time lead. On the resumption Sean Connolly’s came more into the game and goals in the 32nd and 49th minute, the second from a penalty, saw them reduce the deficit to the minimum 0-14 to 2-7. However, just like in the Offaly final, Erin Rovers and in particular Conor Lynam upped the ante and outscored their Longford rivals by six points to two in the final 10 minutes to set up a home meeting with the Kildare Champions in two weeks’ time. Lynam was outstanding all through and finished with seven points from play, five of which came when needed most in the final quarter. In all Erin Rovers kicked 15 points from play and could afford the luxury of Declan Kelly kicking a 61st minute penalty over the bar.
Erin Rovers: Neville Dunne, Dean Bracken (Capt), Andrew Buckley, Aaron Buckley, Declan Cooney 0-1, Richard Fox, Declan Buckley, Danny Spain 0-1, Tom Spain 0-2, Conor Lynam 0-7, Ryan Delaney 0-1 (f), Barry Buckley 0-2, Stephen Buckley, Nathan Poland 0-4 (0-3f), Gio Russo 0-1 Subs: Declan Kelly 0-1(p), for Poland (inj), Conor Owens for Stephen Buckley, Ollie Buckley for Andrew Buckley
Sean Connolly’s: Stephen Murtagh, Tommy Keogh, Ciarán McEoin, Michael McGlynn, Greg Masterson 1-0(p), Dessie Reynolds, John McKenna, Stephen Lynch 0-1, Daire Duggan, Sean Kenny, Andy McNamee 1-5 (0-3f), Paddy O’Neill, Frank Reynolds 0-2, Paddy McDonald 0-1, Joe Heaney Subs: Padraig Brady for J McKenna, James Vesey for Daire Duggan, Paddy Earley for M McGlynn, Adrian Dalton for P O’Neill
Ref: P Coyle (Meath)
By Offaly PRO Sat 7th Oct
