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Swifts into last four as Moville crash out 07.04.11
Fr O’Gara Cup quarter-final

QPS Reserves...4
(Lynch (2), Greene, McCloskey)

Moville Reserves...2
(Boyce, McQuillan)

by Caoimhinn Barr, at Muff (Photo: Herbie Barr)

Quigley’s Point Swifts Reserves booked their place in the last four of the coveted Fr. O’Gara Cup after a stunning 4-2 win over fancied Moville Reserves last Sunday.
On a swirly bright morning in Muff, QPS caught their opponents cold with spectacular goals by Aidan Lynch (2), Gerard Greene and John McCloskey ensuring victory over disjointed Moville, who replied with strikes by Tony Boyce and Harry McQuillan.
The best team in Reserve football for the past three years, Premier champions Moville failed to find their passing groove on a day when QPS, led by Trevor Gallagher and Paul Harkin, defended superbly.
Two-down early on, Moville were too jumpy in possession and over-eagerness in front of goal led to a host of missed chances. In contrast Damien McCallion’s men were more assured, making the most of limited opportunities.
With the calming influence and assured touch of Paul Hegarty and Gerard Greene in midfield, Quigley’s Point eased their way to a deserved victory in the end while Moville’s dismal record in the Fr. O’Gara cup continues for at least another year.
With the game less than three minutes old Quigley’s Point midfielder Gerard Greene fired the home team into a spectacular lead. Seizing on keeper Sean McGuinness’ clearance, Greene, assisted by a swirling breeze, looped a stunning effort into the net from fifty yards.
Settling to their task after a shaky opening, Moville had the better of the next fifteen minutes with Conor Lafferty orchestrating a number of threatening attacks.
Winger Shaun Doherty dragged wide under pressure from eight yards following Lafferty’s scuffed shot before the Moville number 11 fired inches over from a free-kick.
Tony Boyce and Kevin McDermott then combined brilliantly to carve out a chance for Conor Lafferty but his stunning finish from a tight angle was controversially ruled out by referee Willie Curran, who adjudged that the ball had crossed the line for a QPS goal-kick.
Moville midfielder Shaun Doherty saw a snap shot well saved by Swifts goalkeeper Brian Lynch before Fergal Buchanan almost doubled the home side’s advantage unleashing a powerful drive, which crashed off Sean McGuinness crossbar from 25 yards.
Buchanan turned provider minutes later when his perfect through ball split the Moville defence and presented Aidan Lynch with the chance to put the home side two clear. Racing through the left channel, Lynch made no mistake with a superb angled drive to the far corner of the Moville net.
John L. Coyle’s visitors applied vast amounts of pressure in the remainder of the opening period but the Swifts defence, marshalled manfully by veteran centre-back Trevor Gallagher, stood firm.
Tony Boyce shot wide from twenty yards when put through by Conor Lafferty before Shaun Doherty’s dangerous run and shot was blocked behind. The resultant corner saw Kevin McDermott spin and shoot with Point keeper Brian Lynch to the rescue again before Tony Boyce set his sights just wide.
Lynch saved from Conor Lafferty again in the last action of a frantic first-half.
Making the perfect start to the second period, Moville pulled a goal back within ten seconds when Tony Boyce bolted through the middle before carefully clipping a sublime effort over Lynch in the home goal.
But rather than build on Boyce’s strike Moville found themselves two behind once more when John McCloskey’s deflected drive, minutes later, gave Sean McGuinness no chance from 25 yards, much to the delight of the home support.
Reverting to three at the back, Moville poured forward once again with Lynch saving Lafferty’s stinging shot before Kevin McDermott acrobatically hooked over following one of many corners for the visitors.
On the hour Moville halved the deficit for the second time when substitute Harry McQuillan was on hand to force the ball over the line after QPS keeper Lynch’s spectacular save from a Conor Lafferty shot.
Midfielder Michael Brendan Doherty almost drew Moville level with twenty minutes remaining after a rampaging run and shot but once again Brian Lynch was up to the task in the home goal.
Michael Coyle then headed a Conor Lafferty corner over before McQuillan drove wide under pressure.
With the visitors chasing an equaliser, Quigley’s Point frontman Aidan Lynch made the most of a lightning break, cutting inside Moville defender Darren Bredin before striking a decisive fourth goal past Sean McGuinness.
Try as they might, panicky Moville could not force a way back into the game with Quigely’s Point holding on for a deserved win and a place in the last four.

QPS Reserves: Brian Lynch, Mark Wallace, Sean McIvor, Trevor Gallagher, Paul Harkin, Gerard Greene, John McCloskey, Paul Hegarty, Fergal Buchanan, Aidan Lynch, Stephen Grant. Subs: Odhran McColgan, Joe Johnston, Ian Cullen, Damien McCallion.

Moville Reserves: Sean McGuinness, Christy Harvey, Michael Coyle, Darren Bredin, Christy McLaughlin, Jimmy Holmes, Michael Brendan Doherty, Kevin McDermott, Shaun Doherty, Tony Boyce, Conor Lafferty. Subs: Harry McQuillan, Colin Doherty, Sean Diver, Maurice McCauley, Johnny Radcliffe.

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