Rovers undone by early blitz

Kerry stalwarts Seamus Moynihan and John Crowley took centre-stage at Ardfinnan yesterday as a tenacious Glenflesk saw off the challenge of Tipperary champions Moyle Rovers in this hectic semi-final.

Glenflesk laid the foundations for victory in the blistering opening half with full forward Crowley illuminating the game with two opening points and then grabbing a superb goal in the 17th minute.

Star midfielder John Owens got Moyle Rovers off the mark with a pointed 45, but Crowley made the crucial breakthrough when he crashed home the only goal of the game, having taken a pinpoint pass from Paul O'Donoghue.

When Eric O'Donoghue pointed for Glenflesk within a minute of the re-start, the Tipperary county champions faced a daunting task, trailing by 1-7 to 0-2.

There was a boost of excitement when Moyle Rovers' former All Star Declan Browne joined the fray in the 32nd minute and the home crowd erupted when he scored with his first touch of the ball.

A pointed Browne free in the 37th minute and a third point from play a minute later made it 1-7 to 0-5 and then Owens landed another point.

Two quick points, however, from man of the match Ollie Favier and Shane Dennehy going into the last quarter restored Glenflesk's six-point lead (1-9 to 0-6) and when Moyle Rovers closed the scoring with two late points from Browne, they were four points off the pace at the final whistle.

GLENFLESK: E Bowler; P Favier, M O'Donoghue, J O'Sullivan; T O'Sullivan, K O'Sullivan, O Favier (0- 1); S Moynihan (0-1), D Kelly; Paud O'Donoghue (0-1), D O'Donoghue (0-1), E O'Donoghue (0-1); S Dennehy (0-2), J Crowley (1-2), Pat O'Donoghue. Sub: JC O'Donoghue for J O'Sullivan.

MOYLE ROVERS: S Delahunty; N Wall, L Cronin, G McCarthy; K O'Connor, M McGrath, P Norris; J Owens (0-2), N Fitzgerald; J McGrath, Derry Foley, J Williams; J Shanahan (0-1), Donal Foley, P Foley. Subs: D Browne (0-5) for J McGrath; P Boland for P Norris; TJ Wall for J Shanahan.

Referee: Niall Barrett (Cork).