Cornafean 1-12
Templeport 0-13

A splendid final quarter display proved just enough for Cornafean to overcome Templeport's challenge today at Kingspan Breffni Park and advance into the last four of the junior football championship.

After having got off to a slow start, Terence Reynolds' team were lifted by an Adrian McCaffrey goal in the 17th minute but still went in level at half-time, punished by the sound free-taking of Liam Galligan and Ben Kiernan.

Templeport were the better team for 15 minutes of the second-half, as they regained the lead that they had held in the first-half before McCaffrey's major.

However, midfielder Barry Doyle proved to be the match winner for Cornafean, contributing two huge points in the last 10 minutes, to bring his tally to 0-5 from play for the evening, which would help them over the line and into a championship semi-final next month.

A well-struck free from young marksman Liam Galligan had Templeport off the mark inside the opening minute, with a quick response coming from Gerard Sheridan down the other end.

The Bawnboy men would own the next few minutes to create a three-point lead, via Galligan's second free, a Dylan Maguire point and a placed ball from Ben Kiernan that sailed over from all of 40 metres.

Barry Doyle grabbed a quick brace of points to trim the difference to one before setting up Adrian McCaffrey in the square to blast past Daniel Shannon and hand Cornafean their first lead. The corner-forward was afforded all the time and space he needed to pick his spot after Doyle had cut in from the right flank.

Templeport responded immediately with a Galligan free, which was cancelled-out by Niall Sheridan after gathering the rebound of another McCaffrey goal chance which Shannon had done brilliantly to keep out.

It provided somewhat of a wake-up call to the St Aidan's Park outfit, as they got their sixth point in superb fashion when full-forward Ciaran McManus gathered at the 45-metre line, turned and split the posts with plenty to spare. Galligan landed his fourth free from similar distance to close the half level at 0-7 to 1-4.

Templeport took back the lead just 30 seconds into the restart after Dylan Maguire shook off his marker to raise a white flag, but it didn't take long for the Reds to hit back through Padraig Tully. Galligan (free) and Barry Doyle kept things even approaching the final quarter, as Templeport manager Patrick Maguire introduced Sean Murphy, Michael Galligan and Liam McAweeney to the fray.

The switches looked to have paid dividends after scores from Galligan (free), Kiernan (free) and Murphy outweighed a Gerard Sheridan point to leave Templeport with the initiative heading into the final quarter.

However, it was there that the Reds caught fire, with their midfield talisman Doyle to the forefront, outscoring their opponents by 0-5 to 0-1 through Doyle (2), James Cullen (2) and McCaffrey.

Cornafean: Andrew Smith; Niall Corcoran, Eamonn Gaffney, Dan Wharton; Paul Brady, Mark Johnston, Cormac Geoghegan; Val Sheridan, Barry Doyle (0-5); Padraig Tully (0-1), Niall Sheridan (0-1), Cathal Sheridan; Ciaran Duignan, Gerard Sheridan (0-2), Adrian McCaffrey (1-1). Subs: Jack Wharton for C Sheridan (29mins, inj), James Cullen (0-2) for N Sheridan (HT).

Templeport: Daniel Shannon; Stephen Doonan, Martin Ball, Paddy McGoldrick; Benjamin Kelly, Oran Duffy, Martin Dolan; Sean Dolan, Eoghan Martin; Niall Farrell, Ben Kiernan (0-2, 2f), Dylan Maguire (0-2); Liam Galligan (0-6, 6f), Ciaran McManus (0-1), Eoin Doonan. Subs: Sean Murphy (0-2) for E Doonan (37mins), Liam McAweeney for M Dolan (39), Michael Galligan for S Doonan (45), Donal Maguire for M Ball (54).

Ref: Harry Conaty Tweet

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