Cross II 1-8 Middletown 0-16
Middletown are the last team through to the Junior Championship semi-finals following their win over Cross IIs. These two sides had originally been scheduled to meet last Saturday, but the game was postponed and played at Davitt Park on Thursday evening.
A dominant first half display lay the foundations for the Middletown victory. While Crossmaglen IIs battled back in the second period, the scoring power of Fionnan O’Braonain ensured Middletown made it through to the last four.
Crossmaglen made the perfect start to proceedings and had the ball in the net within a matter of seconds. The Rangers won the throw up and a quick one-two with Johnny Murtagh saw Bernard Cassidy blast home the opening score of the game.
It was all Middletown for the remainder of the half however as they kicked ten unanswered scores. Sean Og McGuinness (three frees), Johnny Trainor, O’Braonain (four free), Ruairi Grimes, Ruairi McCann all split the posts.
Crossmaglen eventually ended their dry spell, which lasted almost half and hour, with a Declan Stuttard point. Murtagh then opened his account to close the gap to five at half time, 0-10 to 1-2 in favour of Middletown.
Cross made a rapid response at the start of the second period with scores from Oisin Doyle and Stuttard. O’Braonain knocked over another from the dead ball before swapping scores with Murtagh.
O’Braonain and Murtagh cancelled each other out again before a fourth from Murtagh cut the gap to two. McGuinness and O’Braonain chipped over frees and both saw goal opportunities cleared off the line.
Caolan Dooley kept the Rangers in touch with a score after coming in off the bench but a two-pointer from O’Braonain put the result beyond doubt. That left Middletown five clear when the final whistle sounded.