A BRILLIANT STRIKE to the net from 45 yards by midfielder Joe Maskey helped Antrim club Naomh Éanna book a place in the All-Ireland intermediate club football final today and they will take on Kerry’s Kilcummin in that clash in Croke Park.
Maskey’s score was the highlight of the clash in Navan against Galway’s An Spidéal as they triumphed by 3-9 to 0-11.
Naomh Éanna had already hit the net through Kristian Healy and Ruairi Scott when Maskey netted. Goalkeeper Manus Breathnach lost possession when venturing outfield and Maskey pounced to fire in a long-range shot to the empty goal.
CÚL eile ag @NaomhEannaCLG
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 20, 2019
Agus cad é mar chúl, sin é an contúirt nuair a thagann an cúlbaire amach!@NaomhEannaCLG 3-4@CLG_AnSpideal 0-4@GAA_BEO @AntrimGAA pic.twitter.com/iTGJZs6Tha
That helped them into a 3-4 to 0-4 advantage and while the Galway champions cut the gap to three by half-time, the Antrim club were able to rely on that scoreboard cushion during the second half before running out seven-point victors.
They will take on Kilcummin in the final on Saturday 9 February after they saw off Kildare’s Two Mile House by 0-11 to 0-10 at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Two Mile House raced into an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead but then Kildare senior Peter Kelly was shown a black card.
Noel Duggan (four), Gary O’Leary and Matt Keane (two apiece) struck points to help the East Kerry club into the lead at the break by 0-8 to 0-6. Two Mile House fought back and drew level twice in the finale but an injury-time free from Philip Casey clinched victory for Kilcummin.
The junior final will be a meeting of Kerry and Sligo clubs in Croke Park on 9 February. Beaufort of Kerry prevailed in Portlaoise by 0-12 to 0-10 against Louth’s Dundalk Young Irelands and Sligo’s Easkey saw off Donegal’s Red Hughs by 1-8 to 0-9.
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