8-7-18 gaa cHAMPIONSHIP
GAA FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP
LAOIS 1-11 0-19
MONAGHAN
MAGIC MC MANUS
Shane Carey, Jack McCarron and McManus all helped themselves
to scores in the first-half as Laois found their defence under siege.
Karl O'Connell, nominally a Monaghan wing-back, featured
prominently in attack and curled over two eye catching scores with the outside
of his right boot.
Laois, in contrast, had to fight so hard for any score they
got and trailed by 0-07 to 0-01 after 16 minutes.
Their first point from play didn't arrive until the 24th
minute and even then Evan O'Carroll had to conjure a clever dummy to get clear
of his man.
Monaghan defended with 15 behind the ball at times but had
the guile and quality to launch a number of sumptuous counter-attacks which
troubled Laois.
Two things gave Laois hope; Brody's performance in goals and
a goal that they scored through Paul Kingston approaching half-time.
Laois improved in the second-half and outscored Monaghan by
0-07 to 0-05 in that period but, again, were bailed out by Brody who pulled off
three more excellent saves.
MY
OPINION
Monahan showed in this match
that they have some real potential to do some damage and I was a little disappointed
by Laois as I felt that they could give a better game than they did. Monahan
can look now to a potential semi-final date.
KILDARE 3-20 0-18
FERMANAGH
FANTIC FLYNN
Daniel Flynn exuded his sides new found confidence, he
superbly fielded the ball on the edge of the square and powerfully rounded Che
Cullen to bury to the net and Fermanagh’s hopes with it, after 8 minutes.
The goal raised the roof, the Kildare players fed off that
energy to roar into an early 1-05 to 0-03 lead. The Cribbin brothers
particularly excelling in this period both getting on the scoresheet.
In the meantime Ryan Jones, Declan McCusker and Séamus
Quigley responded notching the first of his seven points in response.
Neil Flynn alongside namesake Daniel was expressing himself
with some superb efforts and well taken frees to punish a wasteful Fermanagh.
Midfield pair of Tommy Moolick and Kevin Feely pointed
directly as a result of this learning curve, while centre back Eoin Doyle was
making himself a threat in these area’s all evening.
Quigley added frees to keep the Ernesiders in touch, but
another Flynn, Kevin, with a brace from wingback but Daniel Flynn had the final
say on his half with a point to make it 1-13 to 0-05.
Neil Flynn finished off the move of the game Fergal Conway
with the vision again sent another direct ball similar to Kildare's first this
time Moolick flicked it to the on rushing Doyle who found Flynn at the back
post to finish.
Champagne football from the Lilywhites who could now ease
off and slow the game down and take off weary legs, both midfielders and
impressive Flynn’s replaced with a quarter of an hour to play.
Fermanagh took advantage to fire over six points on the trot
during the lull in the second period. Barry Mulrone from half back and
replacements of their own Tomás Corrigan and Seán Quigley between them they
finished with five points from play.
Chris Healy made the most impact off the bench for Kildare
and having slotted over two points he ended the game with his smashing goal
https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0707/977010-kildare-go-up-another-level-in-steamrolling-fermanagh/
MY
OPINION
I cannot say anything else
except the fact that this was a disaster for Fermanagh both in the way that
they played and how much they were beaten by. This definitely shows that Kildare
are an improving team and should be a force moving forward.
CORK 0-13 3-20 TYRONE
MIGHTY MC ALISKY
Frank Burns, an imposing figure at the heart of the defence,
also got on the score-sheet as the Red Hands pulled 0-4 to 0-1 clear by the
14th minute.
Brian O’Driscoll and Mark Collins began to instigate
meaningful attacks, and they exploited openings in the Tyrone defence.
Goalkeeper Niall Morgan had to be alert to deny Michael
Hurley, whose shot was deflected for a point, and Connolly, goal chances that
gave the Rebels added confidence.
Tyrone went back on the attack, using the flanks to stretch
their opponents, and picked up six of the last seven points of the half.
Connor McAliskey (3), Sludden and Cathal McShane, an
effective outlet for Morgan’s long kick-outs, all found the target to send
Mickey Harte’s side in with a 0-10 to 0-5 interval lead.
Tyrone had eased into a 0-13 to 0-6 lead when McAliskey cut
inside James Loughrey to rifle in his side’s opening goal on 42 minutes.
That was the end for a Cork side that was unable to muster
any powers of recovery, although Connolly and Collins did pull back points.
But they were always susceptible to swift Tyrone raids, with
men in support to change the point of attack and work the ball into scoring
positions.
McAliskey, Burns and McShane turned the screw with well
executed scores, and McAliskey had helped himself to 1-6 by the time he was
withdrawn from the action in the 49th minute.
Cork were reduced to 14 with more than ten minutes to play
when Collins was shown a straight red card, and as Mickey Harte emptied the
bench, an other sub, sealed a comprehensive success with a third goal.
MY
OPINION
This was not the test that
Tyrone was hoping for as they had more expectation of Cork and what they would
do and after they scored their goal Cork had no response to it whatsoever as we
began to see that Cork might have a few problems.
ROSCOMMON 2-22 1-19 ARMAGH
SUPER SMITH
Despite Brendan Donaghy’s experience as sweeper, Roscommon
found a variety of ways through their defence, with long range scores from
Ciaran Murtagh and Cathal Cregg narrowing the gap.
Enda Smith’s influence was increasing as the game wore on,
and it was in the 28th minute that he struck for a classic counter-attacking
goal.
Sweeper Niall Daly launched the move from deep, with the
ball moves swiftly through the hands of Conor Devaney and Diarmuid Murtagh, and
Smith arrived at pace to smash his shot to the bottom corner of the net past a
helpless Blaine Hughes.
They added points through Diarmuid Murtagh, Smith and Ciaran
Murtagh to take a 1-11 to 0-12 lead into the break, and with Enda Smith and
CAthal Cregg making power and pace, they continued to press a tiring Orchard
defence.
Cregg thumped over a couple of inspirational scores, and the
incisive running of Conor Devaney and Ciaran Murtagh exposed Armagh’s frailties
at the back.
But Armagh weren’t prepared to allow their season to melt
away in the burning Midland sun, and they set about getting themselves back
into the game.
Grugan blazed the ball over the bar when the goal was
gaping, but referee Joe McQuillan, allowing an advantage, brought play back to
ward a penalty, which Grugan also missed, his shot saved by Colm Lavin.
The Ulster men did get the goal they so badly needed,
however, two minutes later, Ryan McShane sending Mark Shields in for a clinical
finish to the bottom corner of the net, and with just ten minutes of a
fast-moving second half played two points separated the sides.
Going into the final ten minutes, Armagh, trailing by four,
committed extra men forward, and almost paid the price as Cathal Cregg
collected Cathal Compton’s pass, but pulled his shot wide when a second goal
would almost certainly have killed the game off.
Armagh were still very much alive, cutting the gap with a
couple of Niall Grimley efforts. He also steered over a ’45 to leave just a
point between the sides with five minutes to play.
But it was the Rossies who had another gear to carry them
through, hitting 1-3 in injury-time, with Smith smashing home his second goal
to send them into the last eight.
MY
OPINION
There are some results that are dependent
on one man and to me this was one of them as the game was defined by Smith and
his goals and how they changed the game completely. I think that he might be
one of the best non free players of the season so far.
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