Moyle Rovers see off spirited Clonoulty challenge in U/21 county football semi-final

Moyle Rovers  ------------------- 1.14

Clonoulty/Rossmore -----------  0-10

A solid team performance saw Moyle Rovers  overcome the spirited challenge of Clonoulty/Rossmore in the county U/21 A football  semi final this  afternoon.

The reigning U/21 county champions  ,handed a home venue for the penultimate round clash after winning the toss for the right to host the game, will now take on JK Brackens  in the final next weekend. Brackens accounted for Borrisokane in a one sided semi final by 7-2`1 to 0-3.

Moyle Rovers were well in control after making the most of playing wth a strong wind in the first half with Riain Quigley hitting top form converting three frees and picking off four excellent points  from distance and  from difficult angles.

They held a seven point advantage at the break  which was extended out to nine after two more Quigley frees in the opening  twelve minutes of the second half.

A minute later that cushion became even more comfortable when a close range  free  from  Stephen Quirke somehow found the net after a defensive misunderstanding  on the goal line cost Clonoulty dearly.

The unfortunate concession of the only goal of the game by Clonoulty saw them twelve points adrift but to their credit they put in a stirring performance in the last quarter outscoring Moyle Rovers by seven points to two.

Clonoulty did apply a lot of pressure in that period  wiith Cathal Bourke and Enda Heffernan leadng the  way. They created two good goal chances one which  goalkeeper  Colm McKeown and Keith Cronin combined well to deal with and another which went narrowly wide.

A free from Sephen Quirke and a point from substitute David Roberts  ensured Moyle Rovers were never seriously troubled  in the last quarter.

The foundation for this Moyle  Rovers victory was laid in the opening half when they dominated proceedings backed up by the strong wind in Monroe.

Riain Quigley put in an outstanding display. His clever movement was picked out by his colleagues and he punished Clonoulty with his quality. He scored three points from frees and demonstrated his prowess taking four excellent points from play.

The hard working  Diarmuid Mulcahy  chipped in with an excellent point and with one apiece from Stephen Quirke and Daragh Bolger,  Moyle Rovers registered ten scores in the first half  to just three points from Clonoulty, all coming from the boot of the impressive Cathal Bourke,  two frees and one  from play.

Had Ger Mockler found the net for Clonoulty in one of their  first half counter attacks when playing against the wind  matters might not have been so comfortable for Moyle Rovers in the second period.

Mockler, from a difficult angle, saw his shot across the  goal go just wide of the goalpost   with two minutes left  in the half and when Quigley popped up with his fourth from play in time added on  Rovers held a seven point half time advantage.

 Playing against the wind  Rovers continued where they left off scoring 1.2 without reply in the opening thirteen minutes of the second half.

Clonoulty did respond  but commanding  performances from Danny Owens, Ciaran Luttrell and Jack Harney in defence, Tadgh Fitzgerald and Luke Fogarty in midfield   and the  work ethic of players like  Cillian Crowe,Cathal McKeown , Dara Ryan and Luke Delahunty  ensured Moyle Rovers were always in control.

Moyle Rovers-

Colm McKeown,Jack Harney,Keith Cronin,Cillian Crowe,Ciaran Luttrell,Daragh Bolger,Tadgh Fitzgerald,Luke Fogarty,Stephen Quirke,Cathal McKeown,Riain Quigley,Diarmuid Mulcahy,Danny Owens(captain) Dara Ryan,Luke Delahunty.

Subs- David  Roberts for  Luke Delahunty, Brian Lacey for Luke Fogarty , Michael O Doherty  for Keith Cronin.

Scorers - Riain Quigley(0.9,5f's) Stephen Quirke (1.2) ,Diarmuid Mulcahy (0.1) Daragh Bolger (0.1),David Roberts (0.1)

Clonoulty Rossmore-

Odhran Quirke,Patrick Carew,Dylan Kennedy,DonnchadhQuirke, Aidan Loughman,Martin Ryan,Jimmy Ryan, Ger Mockler,Enda Heffernan,James Hammersley,Owen Ryan,Nathan Slattery,Michael Ryan,AidanCarroll,Cathal Bourke.

Scorers - 

 Cathal Bourke (0.6,4f's),Enda Heffernan(04f's),