Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Final Replay

Rockcorry 2-12 Blackhill 1-8                                   10/10/15

Rockcorry won their second JFC title – their first since 1982 – when they got the better of Blackhill in their replay at Clontibret on Saturday. Rock raced into a 0-7 to 0-0 lead and although Blackhill grew into the game either side of half-time, they suffered a double-whammy when Michael Geehan had a penalty saved, before Mark Thornton got the opening goal at the other end. Blackhill shipped another couple of blows midway through the second half with Dónal Courtney getting sent off and Rock finding the net again through Man of the Match Mark McGuirk. Colin Woods got a goal back for Blackhill, but despite losing Mark Daly to a second booking, Rock were convincing winners. Unlike the drawn game, Rock weren’t dependent on frees for the bulk of their tally, with eight players on the scoresheet, twice as many as Blackhill’s number of scorers.

Rockcorry: J Smith; J Reilly, N McKeown (Capt.), C McGeough; S McGuirk (0-2), K Daly, C Quinn; M Daly (0-2), M Thornton (1-0); M Carroll, P McKeown (0-1), L Smyth (0-1); M McGuirk (1-3, 0-2f), N Carroll (0-1), F McGeough (0-2, 1f).

Subs: A Tate for F McGeough (black card, 59 mins), C Sheridan for Smyth (60).

Temporary sub: C Sheridan for Reilly (18-20).

Blackhill: M Shevlin; R Courtney, G McArdle, D Courtney; C Courtney, H Byrne, Shane Courtney; D Daly (0-1f), A Courtney; J Daly, D Woods, J Finnegan; É Byrne (Capt.), C Woods (1-3, 0-2f), M Geehan.

Subs: A Burns (0-3, 1f, 1 ’45) for D Woods (28), P Donnelly (0-1) for H Byrne (37), A Kenny for Finnegan (41), R Craig for D Daly (50), Stephen Courtney for R Courtney (inj., 51), T Courtney for Shane Courtney (55).

Referee: D Hurson (Drumhowan).