Sport

Eire Og on roll again

Eire Og of Carlow, four times winners of the Leinster club football title, overcame the strong challenge of Wicklow champions…

Mon Oct 26 1998 - 00:00

Eire Og of Carlow, four times winners of the Leinster club football title, overcame the strong challenge of Wicklow champions Rathnew in this first-round tie in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow yesterday.

The attendance of 2,500 was treated to a fine game of football and while a player from each side was sent off and a further nine booked (five from Rathnew, four from Eire Og) this was by no means a dirty match.

Eire Og, who took the lead and never lost it subsequently, led 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time, but had lost full back Adrian Corcoran for two bookable offences in the space of three minutes, and also had to face the wind in the second half.

But the half-time springing of Garvan Ware proved a match winner for the Carlow side. The big Garda took control of midfield, where Eire Og had been struggling, and they shot five unanswered points in the third quarter without reply.

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Rathnew were thrown a lifeline in the 49th minute when Trevor Doyle applied the finishing touches for the game's only goal. But three minutes later the visitors were down to 14 men when Mark Doyle was sidelined for a second bookable offence.

Eire Og survived some anxious late moments in the game, but their experience stood to them.

Eire Og: J Kearns; B Hayden, A Corcoran, J Dooley; J Murphy, P Doyle, A Callinan; H Brennan, J Morrissey (0-2); W Quinlan, P Kingston (0-4), JJ Eyre (0-1); B Carberry (0-3), L Turley (0-1) J Hayden (0-1). Subs: G Ware for J Hayden; A Keating for Turley; P Dennehy for Brennan.

Rathnew: T Murphy; D Doyle, E White, E Jameson; E Franey, M Coffey, C Murphy; D Coffey (0-3), D Byrne; T McGivern, T Doyle (1-0), P Doyle (0-1); S Byrne, R Coffey (0-2), M Doyle (0- 1). Subs: J Snell for P Doyle.

Referee: W Whelan (Laois).

Donegal regulars Jim McGuinness and Noel McGinley may miss next Sunday's National League game against Armagh as both were injured yesterday as Donegal defeated Mayo 0-12 to 0-11 at Ballybofey. An ankle injury leaves McGinley extremely doubtful, while McGuinness suffered a back injury. Although trailing 0-9 to 0-2 at half-time, Mayo fashioned a marvellous comeback and should have won the game with the second-last kick of the game, but substitute Ger O'Grady blasted wide from a penalty.