Athea turn on the style to get the better of Ballylanders

Athea 0-14 Ballylanders 0-11

In ideal conditions, the football purists from both ends of the county were treated to a wonderful game. But at the end of the hour, it was Athea who were ahead, and on reflection, they just about deserved to win.

Johnny Murphy opened the scoring for Ballylanders with a point but pressure from Athea yielded two Declan White points and the lead. Athea had the better of the exchanges in the first quarter, but Ballylanders came back to level. They went ahead just before half-time and in lost time the equaliser came from Ger Aherne to leave it 0-6 apiece at the break.

In a thrilling second-half, it was Athea who shaped like winners and it was 0-10 apiece with 10 minutes remaining. Athea struck for four unanswered points in these remaining minutes as they pushed for a place in the knockout stages. Stephen Fox kicked over the last point of a hectic hour for Ballylanders but it was Athea who held firm.

Scorers: Athea: D. White, G. Aherne 0-4 each, T. Mullane, J. Collins, J. Mulvihill 0-2 each. Ballylanders: J. Murphy 0-3, M. Mansell, S. Fox 0-2 each, E. English, M. O’Brien, T. Fox, K. O’Callaghan 0-1 each.

ATHEA: T. Enright; M. Tierney, T. Collins, M. Aherne; P. Collins, P. Aherne, J. Vaughaun; N. Hunt, T. Mullane; D. White, J. Collins, S. O’Connor; B. Aherne, J. Cotter, G. Aherne. Subs: J. Mulvihill for Tierney, B. McKenna for O’Connor.

BALLYLANDERS: D. O’Connor; M. Meade, D. Dineen, C. McSweeney; S. Walsh, D. Murphy, P. Fox; M. O’Brien, E. English; T. Fox, W. Kelly, S. Fox; M. Mansell, J. Murphy, K. O’Callaghan. Sub: J.B. Murphy for Mansell.

Referee: J. Kearney (Mungret).

Newcastle West 0-9 Fr Casey’s 0-8

NEWCASTLEWEST came from behind to win a place in the semi-final at Tournafulla when they defeated a spirited Fr Casey’s side. The losers were in front at the break - 0-7 to 0-3.

Pat Fitzgerald fired over three first-half points for the Abbeyfeale side and it was Conor Fitzgerald and Shane Kelly who kept Newcastle West in the hunt.

The second half saw Newcastle West play a much better game as they gradually wore down the opposition. With six minutes remaining, the score was level and the winning point for Newcastlewest was sent over by Declan Brouder.

Scorers: Newcastlewest: S. Cronin 0-5, C. Fitzgerald 0-2, S. Kelly, D. Brouder 0-1 each. Fr Casey’s - P. Fitzgerald 0-3, T. Fitzgerald 0-2, K. O’Connor, S. McAuliffe, P. O’Donnell 0-1 each.

Defending champions Drom-Broadford survived the challenge of St Kieran’s. Their 1-9 to 1-5 win earned them a place in the semi-final.

Monaleen, also through to the semi-final, tasted defeat at the hands of Adare - 1-10 to 1-9. Gerald Griffin’s, who failed to win a game in the series, fell to Claughaun - 2-11 to 0-12.

At Ballingarry last evening, the Hospital/Herbertstown versus St Senan’s game was cancelled when Joe Kearney, the referee, declared the pitch unplayable.