Semi-Finals

Saturday 6^th August saw three of our four League Semi Finals being played.

In Casey Park, Mayglass, our 2 league Semi Finals took place. First up was Kilmore against Arklow. Played in perfect conditions on a carpet like pitch, both teams looked to play soccer. After both sides had missed some early chances, Jay Malone fired a shot low and hard into the bottom corner to send Kilmore in 1 nil up at half time. Just into the second half Paddy O’ Sullivan capitalised on a miscued clearance to double Kilmore’s lead. Arklow missed a great chance to get back into the game, before Devin Furlong scored a fantastic individual goal to put Kilmore 3 nil up. With the last kick of the game, Willie Kavanagh scored a consolation goal for Arklow, who battled bravely all afternoon,  and if it wasn’t for poor shooting and some great saves from Kevin Keating in the Kilmore goal, they might of got more out of this game.

Next up was Campile against Enniscorthy Rovers. This game was billed as a potential game of the season, and it didn’t disappoint as an end to end game played in fantastic conditions entertained the large crowd. An early blow to Campile as Johnny Keating limped off with what turned out to be a broken Fibula. We would all like to wish him a speedy recovery. As the game entered the final 20 mins, Campile where down to 10 men after a second yellow card for a defender. Rovers piled on the pressure and hit the crossbar twice. But it finished 0-0 and we went to extra time. Emmett Dunning with a fantastic strike from 20 yards fired Campile into the lead. But just before half time in extra time, Rovers player of the season Ducker Hawkins curled a spectacular shot into the top corner past Stuart Dunning in the Campile goal. With 5 mins remaining PJ Banville fired Campile back in front from the penalty spot. Although Rovers threw everything at them for the last five minutes, Campile held on to win 2-1 and progress to the final on the 20th August where they will meet Kilmore.

In the league Trophy Semi Finals with Taghmon v Cushinstown postponed till 12th August due to a covid outbreak, only 1 game went ahead. Duncannon played Curracloe in a repeat of the First Round Cup match which the latter won 3-2 on pens after it had finished 3-3 aet

A Cagey start saw Curracloe take the lead on 15 mins only for Keith Donnelly to equalise immediately.  Duncannon started to get on top and it was on the stroke of half time when a perfectly placed through ball from Donnelly, Paul Bungles Foley fired in a lovely shot to put Duncannon into the lead. Straight from the restart Keith Donnelly got his second from the penalty spot to extend the lead and no less than 60 seconds later the same player chased down a back pass straight from tip off to score his third and put Duncannon into a 4-1 lead.  Curracloe to their credit hit back immediately through Aidan Clarke but any glimmer of hope was extinguished when Barry Molloy got onto a through ball from Donnelly to push Duncannon into a 5-2 lead. The winners missed a few late chances to extend their deserved lead, but held firm at the back and saw the game out to run out comfortable 5-2 winners and move into the league Trophy final for the second year running but must wait until Friday night to find out their opponents.