Churchtown 3-5 Ballyhooly 0-11 CHURCHTOWN are through to meet Charleville in this week end's semi-final Hibernian Hotel Premier JHC following their close win over Ballyhooly at Killavullen on Sunday. Ballyhooly held a three point lead entering the closing minutes but a great fightback by Churchtown who scored two vital goals by Kieran Curtin decided the issue.

It was a game where very little separated the sides who were deadlocked on five occasions. The opening exchanges saw the winners set the early tone but had a number of wides before they had a goal in the sixth minute when John Quinn billowed the net.

Ballyhooly relied on Jerry O'Connor for scores as he accounted for 10 points of his side final tally. The sides were level at 1-0 to 0-3 by the end of the first period. There was an exchange of points between Jerry O'Connor, John Maher, Kieran Curtin and Joe Dowling by the 29th minute. Just before the break good play by John Breen placed Kieran Curtin for a massive point to see the winners hold a slender lead at the interval 1-3 to 0-5.

On the changeover, Ballyhooly gained a foothold on proceedings with their forwards exerting a lot of pressure on the Churchtown defence that resulted in three pointed frees by O'Connor that moved Ballyhooly ahead 0-8 to 13 entering the final period. It took the winners till the 50th minute to get their first score with an excellent point by Thomas Fehin after good play by Thomas Fitzgibbon.

Ballyhooly continued to set the tone and by the 56th minute they looked like reversing last years quarter final result when leading by three points. However, Churchtown were awarded a penalty when Kieran Curtin was brought down and he made no mistake from the penalty to see the sides deadlocked. The winners now had the momentum and a long ball from the half back line placed Kieran Curtin who scored the match winning goal. Ballyhooly tried very hard to get back on level terms but it was Churchtown who held firm and time ran out.

They now face Charleville in the semifinal.

Churchtown overcome Clyda Rovers

Churchtown 1-17 Clyda Rovers 2-11

CHURCHTOWN were forced to see off a late rally by a resurgent Clyda Rovers side before progressing to the Hibernian Hotel Premier JHC quarter-final when they overcame their opponents at Buttevant on Wednesday last.

The opening stages saw the sides deadlocked at 02 each before Churchtown struck for the games first goal in the 15th minute when John Maher and Kieran Curtin linked up well to set up Michael Doyle who finished to the net 1-3 to 0-2. As the half wore on Clyda Rovers began to settle with James Murphy once again very accurate from placed balls and he along with Christopher Buckley and Kevin Roche were to have the sides level at 1-3 to 0-6 by the 22nd minute.

Churchtown were to finish the half on a positive note with Paul McMahon, Thomas Fitzgibbon, Thomas Fehin. Diarmuid Fisher and Kieran Curtin to the fore and helped by some well taken scores by Fitzgibbon (5) and John Maher they were to hold a 1-9 to 0-7 lead at the shortwhistle.

CHURCHTOWN: P Morrissey, D O'Brien, J O'Callaghan, A McMahon, P McMahon, T O'Flaherty, D Fisher, J Maher 0-1, T Fitzgibbon 0-1f, K Curtin 2-2 (1-0 pen), K Brennan, T Fehin 0-1, M Doyle, J Quinn 1-0, J Breen. Sub: T Cremin for Brennan

BALLYHOOLY: P O'Connor, B Kiernan, K McCarthy, K O'Driscoll, E Hegarty, C O'Keeffe, S Howard, D Kiely, J Roche, J O'Connor 0-10 (08f, 0-1'65) J Dowling 0-1, T Roche, M Hanrahan, P Burke, K Kiely. Sub: D O'Reilly for K Kiely

On the changeover the winners again started brightly with Thomas Fitzgibbon reeling off early points from play and a free. During this half the Rovers were to make a number of positional changes that were to work in their favour that included the introduction of Co footballers Paudie Kissane and Ray Carey as they tried to claw their way back into contention.

In the 40th minute they missed a goal scoring opportunity when a long clearance by Ollie O'Hanlon was gathered by James Murphy whose goal bound attempt at goal struck the upright. Still Churchtown seemed to have the upperhand and when Paul McMahon scored from long range it helped move them into a 1-14 to 0-9 lead by the 47th minute.

Then came the Clyda Rovers revival inspired by Niall O'Mullane, Kenneth Fitzgerald, Paudie Kissane, Ray Carey, James Murphy and Christopher Buckley and with eight minutes remaining the lead was down to just three points 1-14 to 1-11 the goal coming from Christopher Buckley.

The Mourneabbey side tried hard to reduce the lead further and despite James Murphy scoring their second goal deep in stoppage time it was Churchtown that held firm with Fitzgibbon, Michael Doyle and John Breen adding a point each in between the Rovers two goals.

CHURCHTOWN: P Morrissey, D O'Brien, J O'Callaghan, N Quinn, P McMahon 0-1, T O'Flaherty, D Fisher, J Maher 0-1`T Fitzgibbon 0-12 (0-9 frees, 0-1 '65'), J Breen, K Brennan, T Fehin, M Doyle 1-1, J Quinn, K Curtin 0-1, Sub: T Cremin for D Fisher

CLYDA ROVERS: F Dorgan, J Fitzgerald, J O'Hanlon, G Carey, M O'Brien, O O'Hanlon, K Fitzgerald, N O'Mullane, R Willis, C Buckley 1-2, D Murphy 0-1, K Roche 0-1, D Roche, C Flanagan, J Murphy 1-7 (1-6 f). Subs: R Carey for D Roche, P Kissane for M O'Brien, C Murphy for R Willis