Éire Óg hang on for another day

Éire Óg 2-4 Colmcilles 0-10 AET - 2-1 to 0-7 after normal time:ÉIRE ÓG hung on for a draw after extra-time at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday. The visitors were the dominant side for much of the game and Éire Óg will be grateful for a replay in Longford next weekend.

The visitors had three points on the board from a Tommy Doyle free, Enda Farrell and Doyle again. It took Éire Óg 18 minutes to score when Eric McCormack struck a goal from close range.

Brian Carbery kicked a point to put the home side 1-1 to 0-3 in front on 23 minutes. A minute later Simon Rea's pass set up Mark Kelly for a fine goal.

Éire Óg led 2-1 to 0-3 at half -time, but Colmcille scored four second-half points while holding the home side scoreless.

With the sides tied 2-1 to 0-7 at the end of normal time, Éire Óg went into the lead at the start of extra-time with a point from play by substitute Cormac Mullins.

Éire Óg full back Shane Myers was sent off for a second yellow card. Éire Óg were awarded a penalty eight minutes into extra-time, but Eric McCormack's kick was saved by Gavin Tonra.

Although the visitors did lead twice through points from Noel Farrell and Paul McKeown, pointed frees from Eric McCormack levelled matters.

ÉIRE ÓG: M Hennessy; P Cashin, S Myers, V Kavanagh; A Curran, C McCarthy, B Hennessy; C Bolger, E Phelan; B Carbery (0-1), S Gannon, T Dowling; E McCormack (1-2, 0-2 frees), M Kelly (1-0), S Rea. Subs: W Quinlan for Rea (inj, half-time), C Mullins (0-1)for Kelly (39 mins), P Kingston for Dowling (49 mins), B Kavanagh for Phelan (51 mins), J Ryan for Hennessy (60 mins), K Moran for Curran (extra-time), A Curran for Moran (extra-time).

COLMCILLES: G Tonra; P Murtagh, N Farrell (0-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 sideline); O McGivney; B Brad (0-1), G Murtagh, D Reilly; E Farrell (0-1), F Kavanagh; JP Reilly (0-1), D Reilly, A Gormley; T Doyle (0-2, both frees), D Farrell (0-1), B McCabe. Subs: P Murtagh for Doyle (43 mins), P Brady for McCabe (56 mins), P McKeown (0-1, free)for JP Reilly (59 mins).

Referee: T Quigley(Dublin).