Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Preliminary Round

Éire Óg 4-22 Rockcorry 3-17 (AET)                                   28/5/17

Éire Óg proved stronger in extra-time to put Rockcorry away in this high-scoring JFC preliminary-round shoot-out in Scotstown. A brace of goals from Mark McGuirk gave Rockcorry a first-half advantage, but Éire Óg hit back through Dónal Tierney to cut the gap to a point at the interval (2-7 to 1-9). Substitute Christopher McGorman found the net to help Éire Óg hit the front inside the final quarter and they were two points up deep into added time, with their keeper James Morrow having earlier saved a Mark Daly penalty.

Mark Thornton’s late goal edged Rock ahead, however, before James Leonard popped up at the other end to force extra-time: 2-14 to 3-11. Éire Óg pulled away in the additional 20 minutes, with Conor Leonard and sub Francis McMahon both firing to the net either side of the change of ends. The Smithborough side will face Clones in Round 1A.

Éire Óg: J Morrow; R McAree, J Leonard (0-1), C Carlisle; C McAree, D McCluskey, S Kerr; R Cassidy (Capt., 0-2), F Sheridan; O Treanor, D Gleeson (0-2f), C Leonard (1-6, 0-2f); D Tierney (1-0), M Tierney (0-5f), R Sherlock (0-2).

Subs: F McMahon (1-1) for Treanor (43 mins), C McGorman (1-0) for D Tierney (46), B Smith for M Tierney (black card, 57), D McCaffrey (0-3) for McAree (inj., 58) D Toal for Sheridan (79).

Rockcorry: D Rooney; A McPhillips, N McKeown, C Quinn (0-1); C McGeough, K Daly, G Smyth; M Thornton (1-1), M Daly (Capt., 0-2); M Carroll (0-1), N Carroll (0-2, 1f), K Clerkin; F McGeough (0-4, 3f), M McGuirk (2-4, 0-3f), A McGorman (0-2f).

Subs: C Sheridan for K Daly (inj., 21), K Daly for Sheridan (H-T), C Sheridan for K Daly (inj., 39), A Tate for McGorman, C Gallagher for Sheridan, K Thornton for F McGeough (inj., 74).

Referee: A Mullen (Scotstown).