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Michael Shields was in action for St Finbarr's yesterday in the Cork SFC. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Last Eight

Quarter-final action in Cork SFC, Derry SFC, Kildare SFC and Roscommon SFC

The club football semi-final picture became clearer in Cork, Derry, Kildare and Roscommon over the weekend.

CORK SFC
O’Donovan Rossa became the first team to book their place in the semi-finals of this year’s county SFC after they defeated divisional outfit Avondhu by 1-13 to 1-9 in Macroom yesterday afternoon. The Skibbereen based club, who have built their challenge on the U21 team that claimed county honors last season, trailed by 1-4 to 0-6 at the interval.

Cork senior Colm O’Neill was excellent for Avondhu and found the net in the opening-half while Donal Óg Hodnett, this year’s Munster U21 winning captain for Cork, impressed for O’Donovan Rossa with his shooting. The crucial score arrived midway through the second-half when Kevin Davis, son of former county senior Don, raised the green flag that helped O’Donovan Rossa to pull clear and win by four points.

They will face either Douglas or Duhallow in the last eight after Duhallow got the better of Dohenys by 1-20 to 2-11 in Saturday night’s fourth round replay. The divisional side lead by 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time but Dohenys hit back to force a draw at 2-9 to 0-15 after normal time. In extra-time the point kicking of Cork star Donncha O’Connor and a goal by Kyrle Holland ensured they triumphed.

The other quarter-final played yesterday saw St Finbarr’s, beaten finalists in 2009 and 2010, drawing with Castlehaven, beaten finalists in 2011, by 1-7 to 0-10. St Finbarr’s made the early running to lead 0-6 to 0-3 approaching half-time but Cork senior Mark Collins bagged the goal that brought Castlehaven back into contention and tied the match at the interval.

The second-half was closely fought with Castlehaven edging in front by 1-7 to 0-9 before Jason Sexton, the two-goal hero against Nemo Rangers in the last round and a player who has recovered this year from cruciate ligament damage, proved the hero by landing a dramatic late point for St Finbarr’s to level the game. The replay will be the clubs fourth championship meeting in three years.

DERRY SFC
After yesterday’s quarter-final action in the county senior football championship, this year’s Derry semi-final pairings are now known. Kilrea, last year’s beaten finalists, enjoyed a 1-8 to 0-9 win over Magherafelt last evening in Celtic Park and will now meet Slaughtneil, who last appeared in the decider in 2008, after they got the better of Lavey by 0-13 to 1-5 earlier in the day in Glen.

The curtain-raiser to Slaughtneil’s game saw Ballinderry, who have won two of the last four titles, defeated Dungiven by 0-11 to 0-8. At the semi-final stage Ballinderry will meet Banagher, 1-9 to 1-5 winners over Bellaghy yesterday evening in Celtic Park.

KILDARE SFC
The semi-final line-up in the county senior football championship is becoming clearer after the weekend’s action with Sarsfields, St Laurence’s and Carbury all booking their last four spots with victories in yesterday’s quarter-finals. Carbury, last year’s beaten finalists, were 1-14 to 1-11 winners over Confey in Clane and will now face either Athy or Moorefield, who meet in next Saturday’s quarter-final in Newbridge.

The other semi-final will see 2009 champions St Laurence’s meet 2005 winners Sarsfields. In a double-header yesterday at Hawkfield, St Laurence’s enjoyed a 0-10 to 0-6 win over Celbridge while Sarsfields were comfortable victors by 2-15 to 0-4 against Naas.

ROSCOMMON SFC
St Brigid’s, county and provincial senior football champions for the last two years, are still on course for a three-in-row after they bettered Western Gaels in yesterday afternoon’s quarter-final in Dr Hyde Park by 2-12 to 0-13. The winners lead 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval but had to rely on the experience of Senan Kilbride and Karol Mannion to prevail as Western Gaels challenged strongly in the second-half.

St Brigid’s Karol Mannion. Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

In the semi-final St Brigid’s will meet Elphin, who they defeated by five points in last year’s final. In Dr Hyde Park yesterday Elphin were 3-13 to 0-10 winners over Clann na Gael. Fintan Cregg and Cathal Shine swapped points in the opening-half before Cregg helped Elphin lead 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval. Elphin’s lead was cut to four points, 1-8 to 0-7, by the 40th minute mark before they pulled clear comfortably by the finish.

Roscommon Gaels defeated St Faithleach’s by 1-11 to 2-7 in their quarter-final tie in Strokestown yesterday, recovering in the second-half after trailing by 2-4 to 0-6 at the break. The identity of their semi-final opponents still has to be revealed after Padraig Pearses drew 1-9 to 0-12 with Castlerea-St Kevin’s on Saturday evening.

County final pairings decided for Limerick SHC and Cork SHC

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