Kepak SHC (Group A)
Four Roads 0-21 Roscommon Gaels 0-14
A sensational 3rd minute injury-time free from Four Roads goalkeeper Noel Fallon sent his side through to the semi-finals of the Kepak SHC at the expense of Roscommon Gaels in Athleague last Sunday.
In the most dramatic of finales, Fallon’s effort from all of 120 metres handed Four Roads the seven-point advantage they required to leapfrog the Gaels in the group and book an automatic place in the last four.
Roscommon Gaels can still make the semi-finals via the play-off route. Playing with a strong breeze in the opening half, the Gaels stormed into a 0-9 to 0-6 advantage at the break, but had to brace themselves for the inevitable onslaught which was to follow after the interval.
It duly arrived, and at the three-quarter mark Four Roads had overturned their deficit to lead the game by 0-12 to 0-10.
The Tisrara-based club stretched their lead even further as the clock wound down, but when the Gaels pointed through Gary Waldron on the stroke of full-time to reduce the margin to six, it looked like they had done enough.
Cue the late drama however, and Fallon’s incredible last-gasp intervention sparked wild celebrations for the champions, as a dejected Gaels side couldn’t believe their luck.
Kepak SHC (Group B)
Athleague 0-17 St Dominic’s 2-9
An ET Murray inspired Athleague secured an automatic place in the Kepak SHC semi-final with a slender victory over St Dominic’s in Athleague last Friday evening.
Murray was the star of the show and his impressive personal haul of 0-11 inspired Athleague to victory, despite a plucky effort from St Dominic’s.
Indeed it was two late efforts from Murray which won the day for his side, following a titanic battle between the teams.
Tommy Doyle and Brendan Hanley had earlier goaled for St Dominic’s.
Kepak SHC (Group A) Padraig
Pearses 1-24 Tremane 1-9
Padraig Pearses secured their place in the Kepak SHC semi-finals with a facile 1-24 to 1-9 victory over a poor Tremane side in Athleague on Saturday evening.
Without a number of key players, it was always going to be tough for Tremane, and Pearses built up an eight-point interval lead without breaking much of a sweat.
That trend continued after the break and while Sean Mahony and David Sweeney exchanges goals, Pearses were always in control and ran out comfortable 15-point victors at the final whistle.
