All-Ireland quarter-final results:
Kildare 2-17 – 1-12 Meath
Cork 1-16 – 0-10 Roscommon
Wrap up:
Another fantastic day of football at Croke Park and a fitting conclusion to what has been a magnificent weekend. Kildare blew away Meath in the second quarter-final but it was a goal scored right on half time when they were four points down that was the turning point.
In the first game, Cork were disappointing yet agin in overcoming a brave Roscommon side but showed signs in the second half that they are beginning to find even small traces of form. This year, we will have new All-Ireland champions for the first time since 2002 and on the evidence of this weekend, any of the four teams left in the championship is capable of landing the Sam Maguire. No one could have predicted what would have happened this weekend, but the championship is all the better for it.
Full time thoughts:
Probably the best game of the four quarter-finals and probably the best team performance over the weekend, even better than Dublin’s. Once again , Kildare showed that they are a second half team and they wiped out Meath after half time, winning the second half by nine points.
Kildare dominated the midfield, got the better of a much vaunted Meath attack and some of their forward play was outstanding. Johnny Doyle, despite a few shocking misses, scored eight points, while James Kavanagh, Padraig O’Neill and particularly Eoghan ‘Flaherty were also outstanding. Justice is done says Pat Spillane, who felt that karma has come around for Meath for not offering Louth a replay.
On this evidence, Kildare will be extremely hard beat and the influence of their manager Kieran McGeeney is evident for all to see. Super game at Croke Park and an outstanding team performance from Kildare.
FULL TIME: Kildare 2-17 – 1-12 Meath
It’s all over at Croke Park!
Johnny Doyle with another one and the scoreline is beginning to flatter Kildare ever so slightly.
The celebrations start early for Kildare as Eoghan O’Flaherty knocks over his fifth point to put his side seven in front.
Seamus Kenny sent off for Meath after a second yellow. It was the linesman, Gearóid Ó Cnáimhe that made the call, possibly for a stray arm in the direction of Daryl Flynn.
That man Johnny Doyle curls over another one and Kildare are flying home at the finish.
Eoghan O’Flaherty with his fourth of the game and his second from a free to put Kildare five in front and as good as home at this stage.
And Doyle adds a magnificent one from play to put his side four in front. Just over five minutes left for a Meath comeback.
Johnny Doyle taps over another free after Kevin Reilly is harshly penalised in front of the Meath goal.
Jamie Queeney follows it up with a free kick and Meath are within two despite having been thoroughly outplayed in the second half.
Brian Meade, back on after a blood injury and wearing number 31, puts Meath back to within three with a super long range effort.
Gary White on for Emmet Bolton for Kildare.
Only one point for Meath in 20 minutes play in the second half. Kildare on top all over the pitch.
Johnny Doyle brought down very cynically when bearing down on the Meath goal, the gaelic football equivalent of a professional foul. Gary O’Brien gets a yellow card and Johnny Doyle puts over the free. Kildare go four in front.
Just as I type, Cian Ward has gone off with Jamie Queeney coming on in his stead. Anthony Moyles has also gone off, with Cormac McGuinness replacing him.
Kildare beginning to take an iron grip on this game. They’re winning all the 50-50 balls and their attack is starting to fire. Meath need a score quick and they need more from the likes of Cian Ward and Stephen Bray, who have been anonymous.
O’Flaherty quickly follows it up with his third point of the day, this one from play. Only brought into the starting line-up for this game by Kieran McGeeney, he has fully vindicated his selection.
Kildare now two in front after Eoghan O’Flaherty, Kildare’s third different place kicker today, knocks over a free from 45 metres out.
This game has picked up where it left off in the first half. Straight down the other end and centre half back Emmet Bolton comes up the pitch to fire it over the bar. Great score.
Shane O’Rourke with a smashing point in response for Meath, drawing it in from the left with his right boot from 35 metres out. The sides are level once more.
Johnny Doyle puts Kildare in the lead with James Kavanagh once again providing the final pass. Meath yet to score in the second half.
James Kavanagh and Padraig O’Neill combine to put Kildare level, O’Neill adding the finshing touches with his left boot.
Mick Foley on for Brian Flanagan for Kildare and he’s gone straight in on Joe Sheridan.
Second half is underway at Croke Park
Half time talk:
A great game of football by all accounts, especially in difficult conditions at Croke Park. If Kavanagh’s goal was scored by the Gooch, we’d be raving about it, says Spillane. All of the pundits have been impressed with the long range point scoring, especially by Joe Sheridan, who has landed three from play. Earley’s loss will be a big one, but Kildare are a second half team, they say. Lots more to come at Croker.
Half time thoughts:
That half absolutely flew by and all credit to the two teams for delivering an outstanding game of football so far. It really has ebbed and flowed. Kildare, as usual, started at a snail’s pace and found themselves six down after ten minutes. They made their way back into the game with a goal from James Kavanagh, but then Meath came to life again and looked to be coasting to a comfortable half-time lead. Just before the break, Alan Smith strikes and the game is in the melting pot once again.
Joe Sheridan, Graham Reilly and Shane O’Rourke have been outstanding for Meath, who are dominating midfield in the absence of the departed Dermot Earley. On the Kildare side, James Kavanagh and Padraig O’Neill have been influential but they need to tighten up drastically at the back. Cracking game so far, don’t take your eyes off it for a second.
Half time at headquarters.
Just as Meath looked like they would take a comfortable lead going in at the break, Padraig O’Neill burts it through and unselfishly supplies Alan Smith, who has the simple task of palming it into the net. Game on.
GOAL!!! Kildare
Reilly with another peach of a score but I haven’t a clue who’s supposed to be marking him. Reilly picked up the ball in acres of space on the right wing, gave a couple of one-twos and tapped it over with the left boot.
Joe Sheridan is on target again, he is on fire today. He twists and turns before switching to his left side and firing it over the bar. Excellent score.
Graham Reilly is fouled in the process of shooting and Marty Duffy awards Meath a free in front of the posts, 13 metres out. Cian Ward does the necessary and Meath have a 2 point lead.
This really is end to end stuff. Straight down the other end and Joe Sheridan lands a peach from long range to put Meath back in the lead.
Wonderfully taken score by James Kavanagh. Long delivery by Hugh Lynch collected by the wing forward who sold Brendan Murphy the most delighful dummy and tapped the ball in with his left boot. Smashing score.
GOAL!!! Kildare
Padraig O’Neill responds instantly for Kildare with an equally impressive score. This game is beginning to heat up at Croke Park.
Graham Reilly off the mark for Meath with a super score from the right wing, curling his effort beautifully inside the near post.
Corner back Chris O’Connor lands one from distance for Meath, who were going back and over across the pitch with little or no threat before O’Connor showed his forwards how it’s done.
Johnny Doyle puts his earlier miss behind him and nails one from play to reduce the gap to 2 points.
20′
James Kavanagh with a lovely curling free from the right hand side to put Kildare within 3.
18′
What a miss from Johnny Doyle. From a free 13 metres out on the right, he seemed to rush it and in the end it was well wide of the target.
More like it from Kildare as Eoghan O’Flaherty taps over a point on the run with his right boot.
Johnny Doyle responds with Kildare’s first point from a 45′. That was badly needed, Kildare haven’t got going yet.
Controversy once again surrounds a goal scored Meath at the Canal End of Croke Park. Cian Ward’s penalty is struck low and firm but is saved by McCormack, but the ball squirms over the line… just. Umpires give the goal but McCormack is furious. Replays confirm that the ball did indeed cross the line.
GOAL!!! Meath
Joe Sheridan’s effort for a point rebounds off the crossbar and is gathered by Brian Meade who is dragged down in the area. Correct decision by Marty Duffy.
Penalty Meath!
Joe Sheridan with point number three for Meath, getting his fist on a delivery from Chris O’Connor. A few ironic boss greet Sheridan’s score. He was of course, the scorer of the ghost goal against Louth which won the Leinster Final for the Royals.
Meath have made by far the better start and Shane O’Rourke is posing big problems on the edge of the square. Kildare have been notoriously slow starters this year and nothing has changed today.
Shane O’Rourke capitalises on hesitancy in the Kildare defence and taps it over the bar for Meath’s second point.
Dermot Earley has had to make way with Hugh Lynch coming on instead. Big blow for the Lilywhites.
Cian Ward with Meath’s first point from a free in front of the posts.
Dermot Earley down already and he looks in trouble. Bad sign for Kildare.
Second game underway in Croke Park.
The Meath forward line were very poor against Louth apart from Graham Reilly, who has been averaging 0-4 a game from wing forward, not bad for a converted defender. I doubt the rest of his colleagues will be as anonymous today.
Dermot Earley and Johnny Doyle are the heartbeat of the Kildare side according to Tony Davis. Earley, whose leg is half hanging off, has been magnificent once again this year, while even though he forgot his shooting boots against Monaghan, Johnny Doyle has also been excellent. Big games from those two needed once again today.
The panel are amazed at the intensity of the Kildare warm-up and indeed the pre-game warm-ups of all teams at Croke Park this weekend. Down apparently had a 15 v 15 match before the game against Kerry yesterday, with a half-time teamtalk in between! It certainly worked.
1546:
15 minutes to go until throw-in in today’s second quarter-final. Here’s the teams:
Kildare: S McCormack; P Kelly, H McGrillen, A MacLochlainn; M O’Flaherty, E Bolton, B Flanagan; D Flynn, D Earley; J Kavanagh, P O’Neill, E O’Flaherty; J Doyle, A Smith, E Callaghan.
Meath: B Murphy; C O’Connor, K Reilly, E Harrington; A Moyles, G O’Brien, C King; N Crawford, B Meade; S Kenny, J Sheridan, G Reilly; C Ward, S O’Rourke, S Bray.
Full time talk:
By accident or design, Conor Counihan has stumbled on his best XV, according to Tohill, Davis and Spillane, who were impressed with the contributions of Alan and Donncha O’Connor and Nicholas Murphy. Graham Canty, though, will be a massive loss, say all three, who worry about how Cork will cope with Eoghan O’Gara and Bernard Brogan in his absence.
Full-time thoughts:
Another unconvincing win for Cork, who, despite the winning margin, only turned it on in the last 20 minutes. The substitutions made a big impact and Conor Counihan will have plenty of food for thought ahead of the semi-final. Roscommon tired midway through the second half and failed to push on when taking the lead for the first time seven minutes into the second half. Admirable performance by the Rossies, but Cork were just a level above them today.
FULL TIME: Cork 1-16 – 0-10 Roscommon
73′
All over at Croke Park.
Another point for Donncha O’Connor as the clock ticks into injury time.
Roscommon are dead on their feet at this stage and it would be a pity if Cork knock in another goal and make the scoreline slightly humiliating.
Foot block from an attempted Daniel Goulding shot on goal and Cormac Reilly blows for a penalty. Donncha O’Connor takes the simple option and fires it over the bar.
Penalty Cork!
John Nolan in, David Casey out for Roscommon.
Game over. David Casey robbed by Alan O’Connor and three men bore down on Geoffrey Claffey’s goal. Pearse O’Neill had options either side but decided to do the honours himself and stuck it to the net.
GOAL!!! Cork
Shine reduces the gap to four with another free. They’ll need a goal if they’re going to cause an upset.
John Dunning in for Cathal Cregg, who covered every blade of Croke Park for Roscommon today.
Goulding with another free for Cork after a foul on Paul Kerrigan and Cork are beginning to pull away with ten minutes left.
Eoin Cotter on for the injured Canty for Cork.
Graham Canty one on one with Geoffrey Claffey, but decides to fist it over the bar. Canty collapses to the ground after doing so, it looks like he has pulled his hamstring and will have to go off. Big blow for Cork, if not today then certainly for the rest of the campaign should they make it through.
Marty Morrissey and Kevin McStay surprised at Mannion’s withdrawal. The St Brigid’s man had been doing very well, but maybe he took a knock.
Donie Shine knocks over Roscomm’s first point in 14 minutes from a free. Enda Kenny, meanwhile, comes on for Karol Mannion.
Alan O’Connor comes on for Cork instead of Derek Kavanagh, once more illustrating the wealth of talent on the Cork bench.
Now make that 4. Paul Kerrigan clips a point over the bar immediately after O’Neill’s effort.
Pearse O’Neill with a lovely score off his right boot. Cork were looking like they were going nowhere in attack until O’Neill took over and now Cork are 3 in front.
Colm Garvey comes in for Sean Purcell for Roscommon. Purcell had taken a knock earlier on.
Goulding turns provider this time, taking a free he would have easily converted short to Donncha O’Connor, who knocks over his first point since coming on at half time.
Daniel Goulding puts Cork back in front with his fifth effort of the day, this time off his weaker right boot. Paddy Kelly doing all the spade work this time around.
Cork are level again. Ciaran Sheehan with a long range effort that comes down from the clouds with snow on it and drops over the bar. Things beginning to heat up at Croke Park.
And now Roscommon are in front. Donie Shine picks out Michael Finneran in acres of the space and the big midfielder curls it beautifully over the bar.
Karol Mannion follows it up with an inspirational point and the sides are level for the first time.
Ger Heneghan point for Roscommon but he could and should have had a goal. Alan Quirke did really well to divert his blistering shot over the bar, but Heneghan’s effort was straight at the Cork ‘keeper.
Immediately two of the subs, Murphy and O’Connor, combine to release Pearse O’Neill who fires over the bar from close range.
All change for Cork at half-time with John Miskella, Nicholas Murphy and Donncha O’Connor all coming in. Jamie O’Sullivan, Aidan Walsh and Colm O’Neill are the players to make way.
Second half is underway at Croke Park.
Half time talk:
Spillane is withering in his assessment of the first half, calling it an awful display of football. He once again raises his primary pet hate, the over-use of handpassing, which has been a feature of the first half. No blame is being attached to Roscommon by the pundits, who are all critical of Cork’s display for a team supposed to be All-Ireland champions in-waiting.
Half time thoughts:
The malaise that has affected Cork throughout the qualifiers has continued into Croke Park and the Rebels are struggling despite being a point ahead. They are wasting easy opportunities in front of goal and not making the most of the possession they have enjoyed. Only Daniel Goulding is posing a threat up front, while they are doing themselves no favour with over elaboration at the back, especially the half back line.
Roscommon, as underdogs, have been excellent. They are exerting some amount of pressure on the Cork backs and are winning most of the individual battles with the Cork forwards. They have also been guilty of poor use of possession and have missed some easy chances. The quality of ball into Donie Shine needs to improve, he has looked threatening whenever he has got the ball and his size is beginning to cause problems for Michael Shields. All to play for still, but Cork should win if they can raise their performance even a little.
Half time in Croke Park and Roscommon are given a rapturous reception leaving the field.
Shine puts Roscommon to within a point in first half injury time with his first free of the game. His marker Michael Shields is now on a yellow card with a whole half to play.
Donie Shine’s second point of the game, another super score from the full forward, who was heading away from goal and kicked it over his shoulder. Better delivery from Ger Heneghan this time around as well.
Great save by Geoffrey Claffey from Pearse O’Neill, who strikes it soccer style along the ground with the left boot. Claffey has yet to concede a goal in the championship this year.
Every Cork mistake has been greeted with a loud chorus of ironic cheers from the Roscommon faithful, who are a good three times louder than the opposition supporters.
The ball into Donie Shine has been very poor so far. He’s not going to beat Michael Shields for pace, while high balls sent in haven’t been giving him any advantage whatsoever.
Once again, Roscommon respond instantly, this time through John Rogers off the left boot.
Ciaran Sheehan point for Cork after Stephen Ormsby blocks Daniel Goulding’s effort. Cork four to the good with just under ten minutes left in the second half.
David O’Gara responds with a beauty from fully 45 metres out after cutting inside Graham Canty. More of the same needed for Roscommon.
Paul Kerrigan becomes Cork’s second scorer of the day with a fine point from the right wing. Cork far more economical than their opponents at the moment.
Michael Shields has not given Donie Shine an inch and is comfortably dealing with the full-forward so far.
Fourth point for Daniel Goulding when he might have had a goal. Pearse O’Neill made the burst and played in Goulding but Geoffrey Claffey was out quickly to prevent an easy goal.
Fair dues to Roscommon, their work rate has been ferocious but whether they’ll be able to sustain it for seventy minutes is another matter. Cork have all the ball but Derek Kavanagh has just registered their third wide on the trot.
Roscommon putting serious pressure on Cork in their own half, but the Rebels use all their experience to calmly work the ball out of their own defence.
Donie Shine with his first opportunity from a placed ball and his effort hits the post and goes wide. Roscommon can’t afford to miss opportunities like that I’m afraid.
Silly yellow card for David O’Gara for a high challenge on Michael Shields when the ball was well gone. Might live to regret that considering there’s over an hour to go yet.
3 points already for Daniel Goulding, his latest effort coming from play after Ciaran Sheehan’s effort came back off the post.
Donie Shine with an absolute monster of a point from the left wing, a really inspirational score which rises the Rossies who obviously make up the majority of support in Croke Park.
Goulding adds another from a 45′ after a very elaborate routine involving about 50 steps.
Michael Shields is picking up Donie Shine and the Cork man wins the first battle between the pair.
Goulding duly obliges. Cork take the lead.
Aidan Walsh already causing problems for Roscommon with his direct running from midfield. His latest surge earns a free kick which should be a tap over for Daniel Goulding.
We’re underway…
Almost ready to go at Croke Park, Comac Reilly from Meath is the man in the middle for today’s game.
Less than five minutes until throw in and no changes evident in the starting line-up of either side. It will be interesting to see who on the Cork side picks up Donie Shine. My money’s on Graham Canty; what a challenge that would be for the youngster.
Spillane is not impressed with the contributions of either side’s forwards so far. Donie Shine has got 65% of Roscommon’s scores so far this year, while the Cork forward line scored 0-5 and 0-4 from play against Wexford and Limerick. The wide open spaces of Croke Park might help alter that particular statistic you’d imagine.
Cork, of course, are in their sixth successive All-Ireland quarter final and have won the previous five, while this is Roscommon’s third quarter final and they have lost th previous two. Ominous signs for the Rossies.
One of the most entertaining things about watching Cork on the box is the number of sly digs that Pat Spillane throws in their direction from the studio. “Cork would never have beaten Kerry in Croke Park,” he says, “and now with Kerry gone it’s Cork’s All-Ireland to lose,” adds Pat, in no way putting added pressure on Conor Counihan’s side.
Fergal O’Donnell himself doesn’t seem the most confident. “I just hope we don’t get hockeyed,” he says, although I would suspect that he was using slightly different words inside the dressing room.
The Sunday Game pundits are being slightly patronising towards Roscommon ahead of the game. “It’s a bit too much of a big ask for them to win today and I just hope their season doesn’t end on too much of a low note,” says Anthony Tohill, while Cork man Tony Davis says that “It will be the biggest shock of the year” if Roscommon come out on top.
Most pundits are writing off Roscommon before a ball has even been kicked but a lot of players in yellow and blue are used to success and will have no fear of Croke Park today. Peter Domican, Stephen Ormsby, David O’Gara and Donie Shine were all members of the All-Ireland winning minor side of 2006, which was of course managed by current senior manager Fergal O’Donnell.
Teams:
Roscommon: Geoffrey Claffey; Sean McDermott, Peter Domican, Stephen Ormsby; Sean Purcell, Cathal Dineen, David Casey; Michael Finneran, Karol Mannion; David Keenan, David O’Gara, Cathal Cregg; John Rogers, Donal Shine, Ger Heneghan.
Cork: A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, J O’Sullivan; N O’Leary, G Canty, P Kissane; D Kavanagh, A Walsh; P Kerrigan, P O’Neill, P Kelly; D Goulding, C Sheehan, C O’Neill.
Just under an hour to go until the third quarter-final of the weekend gets underway and if any of today’s games can live up to the drama produced at Croke Park yesterday then we’re in for a treat. Roscommon are fierce underdogs with bookies quoting them at prices ranging from 15/2 to 10/1 but they will have taken heart from the performances of Dublin and Down yesterday.
The other game between Kildare and Meath is very hard to call but it will be interesting to see if Meath have recovered from what went on in the Leinster Final against a Kildare side very much in form. Team news for the Roscommon/Cork encounter on the way.
