Cummins goals inspire Edenderry

Two brilliant Dean Cummins first half goals helped Offaly senior football kingpins Edenderry to a 2-16 to 1-12 quarter-final victory over Erin Rovers at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday.

With Richie Dalton, Sean Pender and Stuart Cullen performing well, the ten-time champions progress to face Clara in the penultimate round.

Edenderry were reduced to 14 players by half-time as defender David Hanlon picked up two yellow cards but their lead of 2-9 to 0-3 was pretty much unassailable. Alan Lynam converted a 33rd minute penalty for the losers but this failed to knock composed Edenderry off their stride.

2009 champions Clara ran riot in their 15 point, 3-13 to 0-7, quarter-final thumping of disjointed Ferbane in the first of Saturday’s triple bill.

Two John O’Hara goals on the cusp of the break left them with a 2-7 to 0-3 advantage and John Reynolds confidently dispatched a second half penalty to complete the rout.

Tullamore and Rhode will lock horns in the second semi-final. Shane Dooley, Declan Hogan, Kevin Williamson and Shane Kelly were among the scorers as Tullamore edged out Gracefield by 0-16 to 0-12. Gracefield, with brothers Niall & Stephen Slattery and Shane Lawless on target, were within three points, 0-5 to 0-8, at the interval but failed to translate hard-won possession to scores during a disappointing second half. The first quarter-final on Friday evening at O’Connor Park, saw 2010 champions Rhode ease comfortably past Ballycumber’s challenge, 3-10 to 1-8. Conor McNamee’s excellent first half goal provided Gerry Hickey’s side with a 1-7 to 0-4 interval cushion and when Niall McNamee was on target from the penalty spot it was job done for the 24-times champions.

Richie Dunne netted a 46th minute consolation goal for Ballycumber who ended the hour with thirteen players but inevitably it was Rhode who’d the final say and Declan Murphy’s late goal sealed an emphatic win.