A resurgent Eire Og staged a strong final quarter performance to book their place in the semi final of the intermediate football championship at the expense of Tyholland in this hugely entertaining and at times highly exciting game that was played under lights in Emyvale on Friday evening last. Played at a cracking pace throughout this was a contest that was in the balance for a good deal of the time but when it was needed most it was Eire Og who had the deeper reserves of strength, commitment and hunger to fashion a great fight back and push on for victory. Paddy Croarkin at full forward along with Ronan Cassidy, centre back Pauric McKenna and Mark McCaffrey were central to Eire Og's power packed late surge while for Tyholland Cyril, Raymond and Gregory Ronaghan along with Ronan McNally at full-back and Paul Coyle when introduced in the second-half were key figures along with Dermot Coyle who registered four points, three from frees. A goal by Raymond Ronaghan in the early minutes of the second quarter helped Tyholland to a narrow one point half-time lead but when they opened up a three points lead in the early minutes of the second-half it looked as if they might turn their championship prospects around. To their credit this was a vastly improved performance over their replay against Rockcorry but in the final analysis they could not find that extra gear which Eire Og had when the chips were really down and they deservedly went on to record a memorable victory.
Ronan Cassidy opened the scoring with a point from a free for Eire in the opening minute, Raymond Ronaghan equalising after four minutes. Four minutes later Eire were back in front, Paddy Croarkin providing the finish and four minutes later still he converted a free from a difficult angle after he himself had been fouled to put his side two points in front. Croarkin eventually was to turn into executioner in chief but that was to come at a later stage when it was needed most. By the end of the first-quarter Tyholland were level with points from Karl O'Connell at the end of a strong run and a point from a free by Dermot Coyle after Brian McArdle had been fouled. Two minutes into the second quarter Tyholland took the lead for the first time when Karl O'Connell carried the ball out of the Tyholland defence, placed Dermot Coyle on the run who delivered a high centre in to Raymond Ronaghan, he flicked the ball over his head, turned and half volleyed to the net past Paul Hand for an excellent goal to put Tyholland three points in front. Eire Og responded with a point from a free by Paddy Croarkin in the 21st minute after Ronan McNally was adjudged to have fouled the ball and Donal Tierney in the 25th minute after good work by Enda Doran and Johnny McMahon. Dermot Coyle restored Tyholland to a two points lead after James McQuaid released him with a good pass from a free and Tyholland had two further chances to extend their lead but Dermot Coyle was off target and effort form James McQuaid dropped short to the Eire Og keeper that set up a counter attack that saw them equally wasteful at the other end. Ronan Cassidy then finished off an excellent point for Eire Og just on the half hour to leave the half-time score Tyholland 1-4, Eire Og 0-6.
Two points in the opening five minutes of the second-half in a period of all out attack by Tyholland put them three in front but too often over elaboration saw them fail to deliver early ball in to Raymond Ronaghan and they ultimately paid the price as they were turned over on a number of occasions. It took Eire Og until the 11th minute of the second-half to record their first score of that period, a point by Ronan Cassidy which kick started a strong period for them and three further points without reply in that period of power play that saw Paddy Croarkin totally dominate play turned it around. He scored two points himself, one from a free and the other a brilliant fisted effort as he cut in from the right wing with a further point by Donal Tierney in the 17th minute restoring Eire all to a lead they never subsequently relinquished. Both sides saw chances off target before Paddy Croarkin extended Eire Og's lead in the 22nd minute and five minutes later he hit another brilliant point after a quick break by Johnny McMahon to put Eire Og three points in front with three minutes of normal time remaining. Tyholland now rallied and it was all out attack but they suffered a setback as regards staging a late rally when Raymond Ronaghan was sent off for a second booking was just over a minute of normal time remaining. Ronan Cassidy converted a free in the 31st minute to give Eire Og the insurance point and while Tyholland pulled back a point from a free by Dermot Coyle two minutes into stoppage time Eire Og had done enough earlier to go through to the semi finals with Tyholland's championship prospects gone for this season.

Philip Myers, Peadar Farrelly, Ronan McNally, Daniel Connolly, James McStravog, Trevor Connolly, Paul McQuaid, Cyril Ronaghan, Gregory Ronaghan, Karl O'Connell 0-1, Kevin McQuaid, Brian McArdle, Dermot Coyle 0-4 (3f), Raymond Ronaghan 1-2, James McQuaid. Subs: Paul Coyle for T Connolly, Adam Askin for K McQuaid, Michael Boyce for J McQuaid.

Tyholland 1-5 Rockcorry 0-10.
Rockcorry booked their place in the IFC semi-finals with a well-merited win over Tyholland in Scotstown on Sunday. Rock had to settle for a draw last week in a game they should have won, but they finished the job this time. Mickey Conlon and Dwayne Rooney hit four points each for Rock, while Damien Matthews, Niall McKeown and Keith Daly also played key roles. Ronan McNally, Raymond Ronaghan were the pick of a disappointing Tyholland, who sorely missed the suspended Gary McQuaid.

Rock dominated the first half and two points by Dwayne Rooney, either side of a Dermot Coyle free for Tyholland, got them off to a positive start. Rock could have gone further ahead but for a good save from Tyholland keeper Pauric Hamill to deny Seamus Carroll. Coyle brought Tyholland level from a free, but Rock hit four points in a row to take control. Conlon and Niall McKeown were both on target, before Rooney got his third point of the half. Veteran forward Conlon added another point, after being well-placed by Mark Daly, to give Rock a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at half-time.

Paul McKeown linked up with Cormac McFadden to put Rock five clear, but a good point by James McQuaid ended 22 scoreless minutes for Tyholland and sub Adam Askin added a point. Raymond Ronaghan had a point from a free disallowed for taking it from the wrong position, but the resulting throw-up fell for Ronaghan to kick a point from play. Conlon replied with a point and well-taken scores by Rooney, after good work by Niall McKeown, and Conlon, set up by Rooney, restored the five-point gap. Tyholland got back in contention, though, with 12 minutes left, when James McQuaid caught a long free from Cyril Ronaghan and laid the ball off for Raymond Ronaghan to fire a left-footed shot to the net. Brian McArdle went close to another goal with a fisted effort from a long ball by Ronan McNally, but despite Tyholland enjoying most of the possession in the last 10 minutes, they couldn't get the scores they needed. Their chances ended when, deep into injury-time, an attempted pass by McArdle went over Ronaghan's head, as Rock held on to advance to their first ever IFC semi-final. Tyholland will have a second chance to join them in the last four when they play Eire Og in Emyvale on Friday evening at 8.00.

P Hamill; P Farrelly, R McNally, D Connolly; J McStravog, P McQuaid, P Coyle; C Ronaghan (Capt.), G Ronaghan; K O'Connell, K McQuaid, B McArdle; D Coyle (0-2f), R Ronaghan (1-1), J McQuaid (0-1) Subs Used: S Treanor for P McQuaid (19), A Askin (0-1) for Treanor (inj., 25), T Connolly for McStravog (42).

Tyholland were never troubled, despite not reaching top form, as they eased past Aughnamullen in the first game of the IFC at Clontibret on Friday. Gary McQuaid, Shane Treanor, Ronan McNally, Ronan McNally and Karl O'Connell were to the fore for Tyholland, while Colm Flanagan and Damien Hamilton were the pick of a very disappointing Aughnamullen team.

Aughnamullen led for the first and only time when Mickey Keenan hit the first point of the game, but Dermot Coyle hit two points, the second from a free, to put Tyholland ahead. A 20-metre free by Raymond Ronaghan, after a foul on Paul Coyle, and a point by Shane Treanor put them three in front. Treanor then linked up with Gary McQuaid to kick a good point, making it 0-5 to 0-1 in Tyholland's favour at half-time.

Any hopes Aughnamullen had of a comeback were all but wiped out two minutes into the second half, when a flowing Tyholland move involving Ronaghan and Brian McArdle, finished with Karl O'Connell placing a low shot into the net. Sean Sheridan pulled a point back from a 20-metre free, but Treanor set up by a point for Paul Coyle, before adding one of his own. A well-taken score by Dermot Coyle, following good work by McQuaid and Ronaghan, put Tyholland nine clear, before Sheridan and Treanor swapped points from frees, both after the free-taker had been fouled. Chris Keenan hit a good point, only Aughnamullen's second and final score from play, but points by sub Adam Askin, from a 20-metre free after a foul on Cyril Ronaghan, and Dermot Coyle from play put 10 between the. O'Connell sealed a comfortable win late on with a fine point from long-range, as Tyholland set up a first-round clash with either Corduff or Cremartin. (Report Courtesy of Monaghan Gaa Website)

Tyholland: C Boyce; P McQuaid, R McNally, D Connolly; P Farrelly, G McQuaid (Capt.), P Coyle (0-1); C Ronaghan, B McArdle; D McQuaid, G Ronaghan, K O'Connell (1-1); S Treanor (0-4, 1f), R Ronaghan (0-1f), D Coyle (0-4, 1f).

A great performance from the boys on Saturday evening last. Tyholland got off to a great start hitting 1-2 from R Ronaghan. Aghabog hit back with a goal and point the sides then exchanged scores before Tyholland added 2 more before the break leaving the scores 1-8to 1-5 in favour of Tyholland.The second half was virtually all Tyholland 2 quick points and then a goal from K O'Connell probably sealed the game for Tyholland however they continued to dominate procedings with some great passages of play.A second K O'Connell put the game to bed and further scores left the final score 3-18 to 1-7

C Boyce,P Mc Quaid,R Mc Nally,Dan Connolly,P Farrelly,G Ronaghan 0-1,T Connolly,C Ronaghan 0-1,G Mc Quaid 0-1,P Coyle,K O' Connell 2-1,Dec Connolly,M Boyce 0-2,R Ronaghan 1-10,D Coyle 0-2.Subs used J Mc Stravog,K Kavanagh,D Mc Quaid,B Farelly.

Intermediate Tyholland 1-12 Donaghmoyne 0-15 A share of the spoils in this highly entertaining 1st game of the season. Tyholland got off to a great start scoring 3 unanswered points Donaghmoyne then equailised before hitting 8 unanswered points which left a margin of 6 between the sides at the break 0-6 to 0-12.A much improved second half from Tyholland saw them claw there way back into the game scoring 5 unanswered points and then a goal from Karl O'Connell which left Tyholland 2 up however 2 Rory Woods points earned Donaghmoyne a share of the spoils which in hindsight was a fair outcome.

C Boyce,R Mc Nally0-1,M Treanor,P Mc Quaid,P Farrelly,G Mc Quaid0-1,K O Connell1-0,B Mc Ardle,C Ronaghan,P Coyle0-2,G Ronaghan0-1,Dec Connolly,D Coyle0-2,R Ronaghan0-5,A Askin. Subs I Treanor for B Mc Ardle,T Connolly for M Treanor,B Farrelly for A Askin