O’Rourke’s lucky goal gives UUJ edge over St Marys

UUJ 2-11, St. Marys, Belfast 1-13 (aet)

Jordanstown were very lucky to win this all-Ulster clash and it took a lucky goal by Martin O’Rourke early in the second period of extra time to set up a semi-final clash with UCD at the same venue today.

Two superbly fit teams were level seven times before O’Rourke’s goal helped UUJ into a four-point lead but St Marys battled back to cut the deficit to the minimum only to be finally beaten by the clock.

The Saints chased and harried their more fancied opponents at every opportunity, and while they won the midfield exchanges hands down through the efforts of Dan Gordon and Liam O’Hare over Paul Rouse and Philip Loughren, it was their weakness in attack that ultimately cost St Mary’s dearly.

There were almost totally reliant on Mark Harte for scores and the fact he finished the game with 1-10 of his side’s final tally, tells its own story.

Jordanstown can thank Sean Cavanagh in particular for getting them over this difficult obstacle.

He was a tower of strength at wing-forward and later out around midfield and he also set up Martin O’Rourke for that crucial second goal.

After a slow start, Michael Walsh thundered into the game and finished with six excellent points while Padraig O’Kane, Enda McGinley and Paddy Bradley also made significant contributions.

There was nothing between two evenly matched sides in the opening half at the end of which the sides were tied on 1-3 apiece.

A feature of that opening half was a magnificent goal by Enda McGinley for UUJ after Sean Cavanagh had done all the hard work in creating the opportunity.

The second half developed into a dour struggle as the sides matched each other point for point to be still locked together at 1-8 apiece at the final whistle.

As tiredness began to creep in, Michael Walsh edged UUJ a point in front at the end of the first period of extra time.

Then came the turning point of this absorbing contest, when Martin O’Rourke’s shot took a wicked deflection off a Marys defender for a UUJ goal which put them four points clear.

Back came St Marys and, inspired by the brilliance of Dan Gordon at midfield, they knocked over three points in a row, one a classic effort by substitute Ronan Clarke. But the clock finally beat them.

Scorers for UUJ: M. Walsh 0-6 (0-4 frees); M. O’Rourke, E. McGinley 1-1 each; P. Rouse, S. Cavanagh, P. Bradley 0-1 each.

St. Marys: M. Harte 1-10 (1-0 penalty, 0-10 frees); T. O’Neill 0-1 (free); M. Donnelly, R. Clarke 0-1 each.

UUJ: R. Gallagher; T. Earley, G. O’Reilly, M. Anderson; C. McGinley, P. O’Kane, L. Doyle; P. Rouse, P. Loughren; E. McGinley, M. Walsh, S. Cavanagh; P. Bradley, M. O’Rourke, K. Madden.

Subs. K. McCrory for O’Reilly; J. Toal for Madden; B. Shannon for Rouse; E. Reddan for E. McGinley.

ST. MARYS: S. Featherstone; F. Donnelly, C. O’Hare, S. Lennon; D. Harte, B. Murray, K. Began; D. Gordon, L. O’Hare; L. Meenan, M. Harte, C. McElroy; M. M. Donnelly, A. McCairn, K. Corry.

Subs. T. O’Neill for McElroy; D. McCairn for Donnelly; R. Clarke for Corry.

Referee: J. Kearney (Cork).