St. Vincent's 2-09 Crossmaglen Rangers 0-11

The Marino boys rolled back the years as they outgunned reigning champions Crossmaglen in their All-Ireland Semi-Final in Navan. Mossy Quinn chose to play with the wind in the 1st half & this astute call would set the pattrn of the game. Fom the off Vins harried and hassled the northerners & after only 4 minutes the excellent Tiernan Diamond floated in a superb ball to Brian Maloney who goaled. Ten minutes later Giller who was lauding it over the Cross #3 caught & placed a superb pass to Mossy Quinn who shot brillantly to the net. Mickey Whelan jumped 4 foot in the air and the similes of all in White & Blue at half time suggested that their 10 point gave them the perfect opportunity to take the Croke Park filed on St. Patrick's Day.



But it as far from over. The wind increased enormously in the 2nd half & Cross took the game to the Dublin champions. But at this time the Vinnies defence excelled. Hard hits, blocks, interceptions to the fore & with Ger Brennan always on hand to move the ball back up the field Vincents were on the brink. Cross kept taking points & the lead was reduced where there was tension coming into the closing minutes. But all in Marino should have huge pride with their charges - a full back line that was superb, a midfield brilliantly dominating through the superb Coughlan & O'Shea, Dermot Connolly back to his best & Tomas Quinn always available to hold the play. Also great to see Willie Lowry back on the big stage. Yes Vincents did only score 1 point in the 2nd half but as the referee blew up Michael Savage can reflect that he never had a save to make & the roar of the crowd shoed just how much this victory meant.



Roll on 17 March, Nemo Rangers & another Dublin v. Cork duel.



ST VINCENT’S – Michael Savage; Paul Conlon, Eoin Brady, Hugh Gill; Timmy Doyle, Ger Brennan, Pat Kelly; Hugh Coughlan, Michael O’Shea (0-01); Kevin Golden (Ruairi Trainor (55)), Tiernan Diamond (0-01), Dermot Connolly (0-04); Brian Maloney (1-01), Pat Gilroy (Willie Lowry (60)), Tomas Quinn (1-02).



CROSSMAGLEN – P Hearty; S Finnegan (P McKeown (45)), T McEntee (0-01), P Kernan (J Hanratty (45)); A Kernan (0-01), J Donaldson, B McKeown; D McKenna, S Clarke (F Bellew (40)); M Aherne (M McNamee (35)), J McEntee (0-01), S Kernan (0-02); T Kernan (0-01), J Murtagh (0-01) (K Carragher (50)), O McConville (0-04).