Erin's Isle withstand late rally

Of course the sentiments were in the right place, if a little premature. The green and black clad Erin's Isle youngsters, well protected from the elements, embarked on their own copycat version of England's soccer anthem, altered to "Leinster's Coming Home," as the Finglas men secured victory over Stabannon Parnells in their semi-final at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, yesterday.

Yet, even their confident, exuberant voices were drowned out for much of the final 10 minutes as the Dublin champions walked a tightrope, opting to defend their lead (which dwindled from five to three points) rather than take the game to Parnells as they had done virtually from the throw-in.

On the sort of day to separate the men from the boys, with an icy cold cross-wind blowing across the pitch to the road side and ample quantities of rain, the two teams epitomised the "parish" ethos of this particular championship. If at times the football was a little scrappy, it was easily forgiven as the enormous efforts from both sides providing sufficient compensation.

No quarter was asked, and none was given. Referee Bannon awarded 44 frees - 26 to Parnells - but, generally, the play flowed freely and Isles just about deserved their threepoint winning margin.

Eddie Barr, emerging from the shadows of his brothers Keith and Johnny, and Ciaran O'Hare, the scoring mainstay of the side's march to the provincial final, proved to be the bugbears to the Parnells defence. The teams had returned onto the pitch for the second-half level at 0-5 apiece; but twin nuisances O'Hare and Barr, with two points each inside the opening 11 minutes of the new half, set Isles on course.

That first-half had witnessed some great heart and some great scores. Bernie Murray, the former Monagahan player and joint-manager of the Parnells side, was a tremendous inspiration. Indeed, Murray's opening point cancelled out Charlie Redmond's pointed free recorded seconds earlier.

After a nip and tuck first 25 minutes, Murray went on another solo run, all of 60 yards, and supplied a pass to Peter Donnelly. He pointed, and Parnells actually went into the lead for the first time. In hindsight, an equally fine solo run by Isle's corner-back Keith Murray to set up Niall Crossan for an equalising point just as the referee was readying to blow the interval whistle was crucial.

Isles re-emerged for the secondhalf like a side with a mission. Parnells, in contrast, made enormous switches: Gerard Hoey moved from the half-forward line to half-back; John Prendergast moved from centrefield to full-forward; John Donaldson moved from centre-half back to midfield. It confused Parnells more than Isles, and inside 11 minutes the game had swung in the Dubliners' direction - mainly due to Messrs Barr and O'Hare.

O'Hare flighted over a free; Barr was set up for a point by O'Hare; Keith Murray made another run to supply O'Hare, and he obliged with a sweet, sweet point from 40 yards; and, then, Paudge Cunningham set up Barr for another point. Four unanswered points ensured Isles were pretty much on their way.

Pat Butterly ended Parnells barren spell with a pointed free, but no sooner were the Louth supporters rediscovering their voices than Mick Deegan landed a mighty point from 50 yards and then O'Hare kicked his fifth point of the game, from a free. Suddenly, Isles were five points clear and apparently coasting.

However, when Isles teenager Niall Crossan first-timed his shot off the ground, in his attempt for a goal, and then watched the ball fly wide, his action seemed to act as a catalyst for a Parnells fightback. Isles didn't score again for the rest of the match.

Bernie Murray popped up from defence for another point and Pat Butterly pointed from a free. Two other missed frees, however, will probably last longer in the memory.

Parnells were attacking in waves as the clock ticked down, but their only half-chance for a goal came when Pat Butterly passed to Gerard Reynolds, but his pass to Hoey was too far in front of his team-mate and he was closed down by the Isles defenders.

Erin's Isle: T Quinn; K Murray, K Spratt, M Naughton; D Collins, M Deegan (0-1), G O'Connell; K Barr, J Barr; C Redmond (0-2, free, 45), P Cunningham, E Barr (0-2); C O'Hare (0-5, two frees), R Boyle, N Crossan (0-1).

Stabannon Parnells: B McConnon; D Hurse, F Bell, M Butterly; B Murray (0-2), J Donaldson, I Quinn; K Reilly, J Prendergast; G Hoey (0-1), P Butterly (0-3, frees), N Butterly (0- 1); P Keegan, D Reilly, P Donnelly (0-1). Sub: G Reynolds for Keegan (41 mins).

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).