IRVINESTOWN ...................................0-13

MAGUIRESBRIDGE .............................0-10

Irvinestown made a limp start to this quarter final tie, trailing by several points at one stage in the middle of the first half but they steadily pulled themselves together and by the time that the final whistle sounded they had gained a firm grip on matters.

Their three point success was thus a well merited one for they had generally dictated matters after the interval and a Maguiresbridge team which had opened in sprightly fashion had lost a lot of their lustre by the time that the final ten minutes had got underway.

The losing side was also much too dependent on the place kicking of David Johnson to keep their scoreline ticking over. Johnson certainly delivered a splendid display of the art of free taking, steering over a succession of well struck shots but the team needed another scoring outlet and this was not to be forthcoming.

Corner forward Sean Corrigan was the only Maguiresbridge forward to pose a significant threat to the Irvinestown defence on a consistent basis over the course of the sixty minutes.

For the winning side, centre half back Liam McQuaid had a fine match with wing half Joey Miller also contributing handsomely to the team cause. In the middle of the park Paul Leonard gradually stamped his presence after a lowkey opening and Liam Murphy, funnelling back from half forward was to scoop up a great deal of possession.

But it was Maguiresbridge who made the initial running and they were to motor three points clear within minutes of the throw in, David Johnson firing over the placed kicks. Maguiresbridge were pinching practically all of the loose ball in the middle of the park and Irvinestown were sluggish.

But as the half progressed the shine began to fade from Maguiresbridge's play and Liam Murphy came much more into the picture as he dropped back from half forward.

With Ronan Ormsby an increasing presence at centre half forward, Irvinestown who had to wait ten minutes for their first score, now edged back and by the time that they interval was reached they had hauled themselves back to go in at the break level on seven points each.

On the restart the revival for Irvinestown continued apace with two Ormsby points from frees and a third from corner forward Rory Cassidy. Maguiresbridge managed one last thrust in an effort to save the game and they pulled level with three points in the space of five minutes, Johnson hitting two from frees.

Twelve minutes to go and the teams level but in the run up to the finish it was Irvinestown who controlled. They initially tossed several shots wide but it all came right for them in the end, finishing with three unanswered points.

Referee Paul Campbell Tempo.