Poland's late goal seals the deal for Burren

Burren 1-15 Roslea 2-5:BURREN WERE the better team throughout, but they made hard work of dispatching a determined and hard-working Roslea side.

The Fermanagh champions plundered a goal from substitute Dermot Reilly with just five minutes left to leave just one point between the sides.

But Burren lifted their game, with substitute Paudie Poland hitting 1-1 and the brilliant Donal O’Hare converting two frees to give them a seven-point win.

By that stage, both teams were down to 14 men with Burren losing captain James McGovern to a straight red while Roslea’s Niall Cosgrove received two yellows to join him on the line.

Roslea got off to a great start with full forward Seamus Quigley converting a penalty and free to put them three up. With Anton McArdle dominating around the middle for the Down champions, slick Burren hit seven points without reply to go in at the break four up.

O’Hare, Seán Murdoch and Conal McGovern in particular enjoyed productive afternoons with McArdle also chipping in with a brace of points from his midfield berth.

Down star Kevin McKiernan was also the driving force around the half back line for Burren and, had his forwards capitalised on three goal chances in the first half, the game would have been beyond the reach of a brave Roslea side.

In the end, however, Burren had just too much class for the Fermanagh champions who really missed the influence of James Sherry around midfield.

BURREN: C Murdoch (0-1); R McGovern, D McCartan, G McCartan; K McKiernan, C McGovern, D McEntee; A Higgins, A McArdle (0-2); C McGovern (0-2), S Murdoch (0-2), E Toner; D O’Hare (0-5, three frees), J McGovern (0-2), S McArdle. Subs: P Poland (1-1) for Toner (51), E McCartan for Murdoch (58).

ROSLEA: G Deery, P Sherry, P McKenna, C Quigley, M Beggan, P Lynch, N Cassidy, K Cosgrove, M Renfrew, S Lynch, L Lynch (0-1), N Cosgrove, B Sherlock, Séamus Quigley (1-4, 1-0 pen, four frees), Seán Quigley. Subs: D Reilly (1-0) for B Sherlock (ht), R Mc Cormack for McKenna (45), R Connolly for L Lynch (58).

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).

Next Sunday, Burren and Latton will meet in the provincial semi-final. Venue TBA. Crossmaglen await the winners in the decider, fixed for the following Sunday.