Champs Rathnew remain in hunt
Once again Les Bleus proved unable to get over the finish line at a crucial phase of the championship, but they did stage a fierce late assault in a bid to retrieve the situation.
County team captain Leighton Glynn was the commander in chief of the Rathnew forces, helping out in defence as well as attack and scoring three points
But the two second half goals by full-forward Jody Merrigan before he picked up a black card proved crucial to the win — the first goal three minutes after the restart, the second in the 53 minute — to give them a vital six points cushion going into the closing minutes.
Blessington stormed the Rathnew barricades and in a last desperate assault, Jonathan Daniels blasted a free through a packed goal to the net and then Rathnew keeper Peter Dignam had to make a couple of super saves to stop Les Blues grabbing an equaliser.
Rathnew’s Wicklow parish neighbours St Patrick’s also booked a place in the last four but their display did not match their seven point winning margin (1-16 to 2-6) over Annacurra.
Annacurra could and indeed should have scored another two goals — denied by Saints goalie Colm Byrne with super-saves — and they also made their opponents defend in great numbers to weather the storm, particularly in second half.
Corner-forward Brian Coen was top scorer for the winners with six points, while wing-forward Ian McDonald bagged both goals for Annacurra.
Baltinglass and Bray Emmets must meet again after playing a 0-13 draw at Aughrim on Sunday. Bray Emmets wiped out a three points deficit with four unanswered points before Baltinglass’s Joe Kelly fired over the equalising point deep in injury time.
In a very poor game, Éire Óg Greystones carved out a 2-10 to 0-8 victory over Hollywood, with Daniel Woods and Sam Tompkins landing the decisive goals in the second half.
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