Passage complete their group programme with maximum points to book their place in the semi-finals of the JAFC

Passage 5-14 (5-0-14)

Ballyphehane 2-10 (2-1-8)

Passage completed their group programme with maximum points to book their place in the semi-finals of the AOS Security Junior A Football Championship, after they defeated Ballyphehane in a one-sided encounter at Ballinlough. Ballyphehane are eliminated.

After a promising start by Ballyphehane, in a game which produced seven goals, Passage got the game’s two decisive goals in the second quarter. Ballyphehane, to their credit, were unlucky not to convert a goal-scoring opportunity midway through the second half, as they were reduced to 14 players before the interval.

Ballyphehane’s Alex Cummins exchanged points with John Blennerhasset. Scott Coughlan-Collins capitalised on a defensive error by Ballyphehane, to pounce for the game’s opening goal in the third minute.

Tom O’Neill scored a point for Passage, before Ballyphehane seized the initiative.

Robert Wyse tagged on a point from play. This was followed by the game’s only two-pointer from a free by Craig Murphy, which reduced the margin to 1-2 to 0-4.

Passage increased their lead to two points as Scott Couglan-Collins pointed a free.

Ballyphehane responded as Ethan Varian set up Danny Kiely for a goal, which gave Ballyphehane a one-point lead, before they found themselves pinned back.

Dylan Barrett, Liam Harrington and Blennerhasset each scored unanswered points for Passage. Passage extended their lead to 2-6 to 1-4, as Killian Murphy set up Blennerhasset for his first goal.

Killian Murphy and Barrett each got points for Passage, before Kiely responded with his first pointed free.

In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Scott Couglan-Collins set up Blennerhasset for his second goal. Kiely replied with a pointed free.

This left Passage leading at the break by 3-8 to 1-6.

Ballyphehane’s Alex Kenny set up Craig Murphy for Ballyphehane’s second goal, but this was cancelled out as Keelin Collins set up James Kind for Passage’s fourth goal.

Ballyphehane were restricted to two points from play in the final quarter. Killian Murphy got Passage’s fifth goal, seven minutes from time.

Scorers for Passage: J Blennerhasset 2-2; Scott Coughlan-Collins 1-2 (0-1f); J Kind 1-1; K Murphy 1-0; Sean Coughlan D Murphy, T O’Neill, D Barrett 0-2 each; L Harrington 0-1.

Ballyphehane: D Kiely 1-4 (0-4f); C Murphy 1-2 (1 2pt f); A Cummins 0-2; R Wyse, T O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Passage: C Finnegan; N O’Connor, T Harrington, E Murphy; F Williams, D McCarthy, D Barrett; T O’Neill, L Harrington; K Collins, J Kind, K Murphy; Scott Coughlan-Collins, J Blennerhasset, D Murphy.

Subs: Sean Coughlan for Collins (43), J O’Donoghue for E Murphy (46), C Barry for D Murphy (53), Z Hanlon for Blennerhasset (56), E Daly for Scott Coughlan-Collins (59).

Ballyphehane: D Corcoran; D Holland, E Hill, J O’Brien; R Wyse, D Moore, Shane Keating; T O’Sullivan, C O’Brien; C Murphy, E Varian, J Thompson; Sean Keating, A Cummins, D Kiely.

Subs: A Kenny for Sean Keating (22), Paul Mealy for Hill (30+), D Lambert for J O’Brien, F Long for Wyse (both 51).

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillon’s).