Mostrim squeeze into semi-final

22.08.10 | SFC Quarter-Final | Mostrim 1-10 Killoe 0-12 | By Deniese O'Flaherty

Mostrim survived a late Emmet Óg fightback on Sunday evening last to set up a semi-final meeting with Longford Slashers.

Trailing by three points with four minutes of the game remaining Emmet Óg cut the deficit to just one point right on the stroke of full-time.

They could've levelled matters deep into injury-time when Mostrim corner-back Aaron Gallagher was blown by referee Derek Fahy for over-carrying. Denis McGoldrick stepped up to take the free but the angle was too tight and his effort sailed wide.

It would have been rough justice on Mostrim had Emmet Óg forced a replay. The Edgeworthstown side controlled the second half but failed to show their dominance on the scoreboard, hitting five wides in-a-row.

There was always going to be very little between these two evenly matched sides and in the end it was a kick of a ball that decided things.

Mostrim deserved their win and played well as a team throughout. Michael Victory though was their star performer putting in a fantastic display at full-back. His fielding, judgement and overall play were excellent.

The first half was a tight affair with neither team really exerting their pressure and only one point separated the sides going in at the break.

It was Mostrim that made the brighter start with Brian Farrell hitting over three points (two from placed balls) inside the opening ten minutes.

Joe McCormack opened the scoring for Emmet Óg in the third minute and points from Ger Carberry Ronan McGoldrick levelled matters, before Killoe went in front for the first time on the quarter hour mark with the two McGoldrick's, Denis and Ronan combining for the latter to point over.

A point apiece from Shane Kiernan and Michael Hussey (free) put Mostrim back in front by one point in the 18th minute. Their lead was two points in the 23rd minute when Farrell hit over a '45.

But credit to Emmet Óg who hit back with points from Sean McCormack, Eugene Clarke (free) and John Kiernan. They had now turned a two point deficit into a one point lead going in at the break. It was very much all to play for in the second half.

A well-struck point from Hussey one minute into the second half tied the game up for the fourth time.

Emmet Óg regained the lead two minutes later before a great score from Sean McCormack edged them ahead by two.

Hussey fired over another great point minutes later and then came the turning point of the game for Mostrim. Joe Dempsey did very well to get down to the endline, he passed into Shane Kiernan who finished to the net.

They were back in front, this time by two and it was now Emmet Óg's turn to play catch-up.

Instead it was Mostrim that got the next score of the game; a free from the boot of Farrell to extend their lead to three points.

Emmet Óg swiftly moved up the field and a foul on substitute Bernard O'Connor handed Eugene Clarke the chance to cut the gap to two points; he duly accepted, slotting over the free.

Mostrim then took control of the game but despite having all the possession they failed to register any scores.

In an eight-minute spell they kicked five wides. They eventually registered another point on the board in the 56th minute; a nice effort from Kiernan to restore their three point advantage. It was to be their last score of the game.

As the clock ticked down and with the game slipping away from them, Emmet Óg staged a comeback. Two minutes from the end they were awarded a dubious free after Sean McCormack appeared to go to ground rather easily; Denis McGoldrick fired over the free. In the 60th minute they then got it back to a one point game.

With two minutes of stoppage time to be played and just one point between the sides the game was in the balance.

Sean McCormack hit an effort into the keeper's hands in the final minute and right on the stroke of full-time Denis McGoldrick saw his effort from a free go agonisingly wide. The final whistle was blown seconds later and Mostrim had booked a place in the final four of the championship.

Mostrim: Ciaran Garvey; Ciaran Gallagher, Michael Victory, Aaron Gallagher; Patrick Smith, Seamus Hannon, Martin Coyle; Fintan Coyle, Gerard Smith; Joe Dempsey, Shane Kiernan (1-2), Thomas Gallagher; Brian Farrell (0-5,3f, 1 '45), David Morgan, Michael Hussey (0-3, 1f).

Sub used: Bernard Dempsey for Morgan 56 mins.

Emmet Óg: Stephen Coy; Aiden Brady, Francis Brady, David Kiernan; Shane Dowd, Peter Maguire, Ciaran Keogh; Thomas Nolan, Joe McCormack (0-1); John Kiernan (0-1), Sean McCormack (0-2), Ger Carberry (0-1); Eugene Clarke (0-2, 2f), Denis McGoldrick (0-2, 2f), Ronan McGoldrick (0-3).

Subs used: Bernard O'Connor for J Kiernan half-time; Shane Doherty for D Kiernan and Colm Devaney for Maguire 48 mins; Sean Maguire for Clarke 55 mins.

Referee: Derek Fahy (Ballymahon).

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