CORMAC O’GARA’S Dunedin Connolly’s were defeated in their AIB All-Ireland JFC semi-final against Tyrone’s Rock St Patrick’s at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh this afternoon.
Dunedin Connolly’s 2-6 Rock St Patrick’s 1-18
Rock St Patrick’s now have a Croke Park date to look forward to against Glenboigh-Glencar from Kerry – Darran O’Sullivan’s team – in the final next month.
Glencolmcille native O’Gara guided the Edinburgh team to both the Scottish and All-British titles before overcoming the Leinster champions, Rosenallis from Laois, in the All-Ireland quarter-final on Edinburgh’s Granton Road last month.
[adrotate group=”46″]A short-kick this afternoon out from Dunedin goalkeeper John McAleavy was intercepted on 19 minutes by Eamon Ward and the Rock centre-forward, following a give-and-go with Conor McCreesh, was left with the simplest of finishes to score the opening goal of the game. That made for a 1-4 to 0-3 Rock lead.
However, a goal a minute before the break from Mayo’s Francis Molloy gave Dunedin – who had Carndonagh’s Éanna Newton at wing-forward – a sugar-boost ahead of the half-time cup of tea, as they went in just four down when things might’ve been worse.
But with Ciarán Gourley – an All-Ireland winner with Tyrone in 2003, 2005 and again in 2008 – showing his edge of experience Rock St Patrick’s bore ahead in the second half, going eight up at one stage.
Dunedin managed a goal a minute from time through Brian McAteer, from Drumcliff, Co Sligo.
The side from the Scottish capital, on their furthest escapade in the competition ever having made the quarter-finals in 2010, settled well and scored the first two points in the Armagh sunshine, with Molloy and Séamus Mulvihill on target.
Rock St Patrick’s, though, have pedigree in the competition having reached the All-Ireland semi-final two years ago and final in 2008, struck back. In Aidan McGarrity and McCreesh the had two excellent forwards at this – or any – level. McGarrity would score eight points in all, while McCreesh was the hub of much of their offensive play.
The former scored twice with the latter then cutting in from his right to left to split the posts on 12 minutes to give the Tyrone champions a 0-3 to 0-2 advantage on 12 minutes.
Dunedin got back on level terms with a superb 45 from Declan Keating, but Rock edged back in front when Eamon Ward slotted over.
McAleavy made an excellent save from McGarrity on 18 minutes but with the rebound flying miles wide, it was from the goalkeeper’s resultant kick-out that Ward goaled. Then, Diarmuid Carroll gave Rock a five-point lead when he finished a patient move and McGarrity added two more scores to make it 1-7 to 0-3.
The last score of that series showed the prowess of the Rock double-act with McCreesh catching a ball in the breadbasket and laying off before he’d even hit the ground. McGarrity did the rest.
Dunedin conjured a 29th minute goal to get themselves back into the contest. Molloy, their full-forward, pulled away from Niall Mullan following a diagonal ball from Brendan Parsons and rammed the shot into the Rock net.
A point from Enda McWilliams enabled Rock to go in 1-8 to 1-4 interval advantage.
McGarrity started the second half as he finished the first with a fine score and on 32 minutes, Ryan Crilly added another point – his belter ramming off the crossbar on the way over – to put Rock six up.
McGarrity and Gourley then scored and Rock were out to eight in front.
[adrotate group=”76″]Mulvihill and a free from Keating pulled a couple back before the impressive McCreesh punched over. With 10 minutes to go Rock St Patrick’s were ahead on a 1-13 to 1-6 scoreline. McAleavy in goal made a point-blank save from McGarrity, who had to be content with a couple of pointed frees moments later.
Gourley’s late point really was the ice on the Rock’s cake; a nonchalant effort with the outside of the boot.
Dunedin, though, did manage a late consolation from McAteer, although Newton was sent off in injury time for picking up a second yellow card. Peter Ward, the Rock substitute, and Carroll rounded off the scoring.
But Dunedin can leave with their heads held high, with their supporters – whether from Scotland and all arts and parts of Ireland – giving them a standing ovation on their way off the field.
Dunedin Connolly’s: John McAleavy; Conor Horan (0-1), Shane Powell, Arran Moore; Ronan McGurk, Martin Hanna, Bryan Russell; Robbie Howe, Brian McAteer (1-0); Éanna Newton, Declan Keating (0-2,1f,  45), Brendan Parsons; Séamus Mulvihill (0-2), Francis Molloy (1-1), Daniel Loftus. Subs: Sean Malee for Loftus (36), Damien Keane for Malee (42 black card), Vincent Moriarty for Howe (42), Alan Ward for Mulvihill (56), John Dolan for McGurk (60+3).
Rock St Patrick’s: Seamus Donaghy; Mark McAleer, Niall Mullan, Niall McWilliams; Aidan Gervin, Stephen Mullan, Ciarán Gourley (0-2); Enda McWilliams (0-1), Diarmuid Carroll (0-2); Tommy Bloomer, Eamon Ward (1-1), Pádraig Ward; Ryan Crilly (0-1), Aidan McGarrity (0-8, 5f), Conor McCreesh (0-2). Subs: Liam Nugent for Ward (38), Peter Ward (0-1) for S Mullan (46), Shay Litter and Martin Corrigan for Ward and Crilly (59), Cathal McWilliams for McCreesh (60+3).
Referee: Seamus Lonergan (Tipperary)
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