Cookstown Make Semis

Sunday 17.09.2023

Championship Football

Cookstown safely negotiated their passage into the semi-final of the junior championship, surviving a spirited revival from Eskra.

Cookstown dominated the opening quarter and deservedly led by four.  Callan Kelly opened the scoring, followed by a couple from Michael McElhatton and an effort from Conor O’Hare.

Eskra responded with a brace of points from Conor O’Hagan. When Joe McCarroll opened his account, despite their territorial dominance and wind advantage, Cookstown only led by the minimum, with twenty six minutes played.

The game’s only goal arrived minutes later. Referee Fergal Ward awarded a penalty for a foul on Conor O’Neill which Callan Kelly expertly dispatched to the bottom corner. The final act of the half was man of the match McElhatton converting with a converted forty five.

Conor O’Hagan opened the second half, scoring with a long range free before Matthew Carberry maintained Cookstown’s advantage with a free kick.

Eskra’s best goal chance arrived in the 43rd minute but MacNia, pulled off a superb save from Conor Hackett before Matthew McNeill made a crucial goal line clearance from the rebound before Joe McCarroll settled for a point.

Joe McCarroll’s third point of the game was followed by a Niall Marlow point as Eskra exerted huge pressure on Cookstown. When Johnny Hackett scored from the wing with ten minutes remaining, just a point separated the teams.

The league winners needed a score to steady the ship and Nathan Connolly delivered with a classy run and finish. McCarroll responded with a free but young guns McElhatton and Kelly ensured Cookstown would be triumphant with late points.