Upperchurch\Drombane 1-06, Eire Og Annacarty 0-07.

Eire Og Annacarty's interest in the 2019 County Senior Football Championship came to an end in Dundrum last Wednesday evening against fellow dual club Upperchurch\Drombane, thus earning the Mid side the 2nd quarter-final spot from group 4 joining group winners and reigning County Champions Moyle Rovers.

Colm Stapleton opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a point, a lead they would hold onto for 10 minutes when Daragh Mooney pointed a free to level matters. Scoring was hard to come by as both sides' constant cross-field handpassing allowed congested defences to form as scoring oppertunities were few and far between. Eoin Kennedy gave Eire Og the lead fisting over from a tight angle after a long inter-passing move on 16 minutes. Paul Shanahan levelled matters on the 20th minute before Eire Og had a purple patch with half-time approaching. Donal O'Dwyer, Tom Fox and Dinny Crosse (free) had points as the game went into first half injury time. Paul Shanahan with the last kickof the firsyt half pointed a free to leave the score, 0-05 to 0-03 in Eire Og's favour and one foot in the quarter-finals.

The 2nd half was a slow-burner, as defences dominated meaning scoring oppertunities were few and far between. Upperchuch had 3 wides from 3 attempts before Paul Downey pointed for Eire Og 10 minutes in. Paul Shanahan opened Upperchurch's 2nd half scoring with a pointed free within 2 minutes. Second half sub David Fox (brother of Tom) landed a point after being set up by Kev Fox and Daragh Mooney in the best move of the match and one of the few direct passages of play in the game. However this proved to be Eire Og's last score as Upperchurch began to get on top in the final quarter, with Eire Og not helped by the loss of Eoin Kennedy around midfield. Colm Stapleton pointed after David Fox's point to keep 2 in it as the game entered the final ten minutes.

Now Upperchurch had Eire Og on the back foot, with Paul Shanahan landing a free with 4 minutes remaining. A draw would have done Upperchurch as their scoring difference would have ensured progression to the last eight. The real drama came in the last two minutes, as a ball dropped into the Eire Og goalmouth caused panic leading to referee Michael Kennedy awarding of a penalty after an Upperchurch forward being dragged back. Paul Shanahan could have taken the easy option to tap it over and level matters, but he thought otherwise and duly slotted into the bottom corner of the net to give Upperchurch the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. Eire Og's late, late injury-time flurry came to nothing as the Mid side ensured progress on the score 1-06 to 0-07.

Eire Og might question if more injury time could have been played, but in truth going by their overall performance it would have made no difference to the result. Best for the West side who fielded minus Conor O'Brien and Paidi O'Dwyer amongst others, were the Foxes, Paul Devlin, Mike Bradshaw, Eoin Kennedy and Daragh Mooney.

Eire Og Annacarty: Michael Ryan, Diarmaid Ryan, Kev Fox, Mike O'Brien, Paul Devlin, Brian Fox, Mike Bradshaw, Eoin Kennedy (0-1), Tom Fox (0-1), Richard O'Doherty, Donal O'Dwyer (0-1), Eoin Bradshaw, Paul Downey (0-1), Daragh Mooney (0-1 free), Dinny Crosse (0-1 free). Subs: David Fox (0-1) for Eoin Kennedy (36m), Liam Og O'Dwyer for Eoin Bradshaw (55m), Conor Devlin for Mike O'Brien (59m, bc).

Referee: Michael Kennedy, Newcastle.