Duagh through to junior final

Duagh (Kerry) 0-12 Park Ratheniska (Laois) 0-9

A strong performance from midfielder Anthony Maher helped Duagh book a spot in the All-Ireland Club JFC final thanks to a 0-12 to 0-9 victory at St Flannan's Park in Moneygall today.

The Kerry outfit were always in control of this game and although the sides were tied at 0-5 each at the interval, Duagh withstood a strong Park/Ratheniska challenge from Laois U21 player Kieran Delaney and former O'Moore county senior star Tom Bowe in the second half.

Duagh held a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage after just eight and a half minutes with points from Denis Lane, Aidan Kelly, Brendan O'Brien and Tom Dillon.

However the Leinster champions rallied well to cut the deficit to the minimum thanks to good work from Bowe and Delaney, before the sides were level for the first time at 0-4 each.

Duagh kicked three splendid points within six minutes of the restart and Declan Griffin's pointed free saw the gap extended to four points in the 40th-minute.

The men from the Kingdom tried hard for a goal and but for the reflexes of Park/Ratheniska goalkeeper Brian Ramsbottom and the excellent play of defender Tommy White, they would have poached one.

Despite four and a half minutes of injury-time, Park/Ratheniska were unable to get themselves back on terms and Duagh progressed to the final.

Mayo side Killala and Tyrone's Greencastle meet in tomorrow's other JFC semi-final at Markievicz Park (throw-in 2pm).

Scorers - Duagh: B O'Brien 0-3; A Kelly, T Dillon (2f) 0-2 each, D Griffin (1f), D Lane, A O'Brien, A Maher, T Scanlon 0-1 each

Park/Ratheniska: K Delaney (2f), T Bowe (1f) 0-4 each, C Brennan 0-1