Late free sees Rheban book a semi-final spot in JFC 'A'

Rheban advanced to the Tom Cross JFC ‘A’ semi-final with a dramatic free in the 64 minute following a breach that saw them score only their second point of the half.

The opening half was a fairly level affair, the difference being that Rheban found the Ballykelly net twice in the half.

Ballykelly opened with a Ciaran Byrne point before Alex Johnson found the net getting on the end of a long ball in and firing to the net.

Ballykelly replied with two points from Daragh Byrne, the second a free, to level 0-3 to 1-0 after five minutes.

A Conor Byrne free edged Rheban ahead; a Tadhg Perry 45 had the sides level before Rheban full forward, Dean McCarthy kicked an excellent two-pointer to his side two clear on 20 minutes.

Carthy extended the lead with a fine single and while Michael Murphy replied with a Ballykelly point Rheban got a second goal when wing-back George Lawler was on hand to find the net after a long free was punched but only to Lawler who made to mistake to leave the half-time score reading Rheban 2-4 Ballykelly 0-5.

Ballykelly dominated most of the second half and two two-pointers from Daragh Byrne and Michae Michael hauled them back into the game.

Both sides were reduced to 14 in the second half and a point on 61 minutes from Daragh Byrne saw Ballykelly draw level.

However a breach saw Rheban get the winner, Conor Byrne tapping over the resultant free to give his side the win by a single point on a final score line of Rheban 2-6 Ballykelly 0-11.

Rheban now join Robertstown, Athgarvan and Kildangan in an open semi final draw but with no repeat pairings Rheban and Robertstown cant meet.

Scorers: Rheban: George Lawler 1-0, Alex Johnson 1-0, Dean Carthy 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Conor Byrne 0-3 (3 frees),

Ballykelly: Daragh Byrne 0-6 ( 1 two-pointer, 1 free), Michael Murphy 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Tadgh Perry 0-1 (45), Ciaran Byrne 0-1.

RHEBAN: Cian Ryan; Tyrone Stynes, TJ Moran, Luke Kelly; George Lawler, Culann Carbery, Kevin O’Shaughnessy; Denis McEvoy, Chris Casey; Alex Johnson, Shane McDonald, Caoimhe O’Shaughnessy; Conor Byrne, Dean Carty, Jay Delaney. Subs:

BALLYKELLY: Tadgh Perry; Dara Lovern, Ciaran Byrne, Emmet Black; Russell Grattan, Owen Whelan, Jamie Delaney; Michael Murphy, Eddie O’Connell; Darragh Sinnott, Cian Stafford, Darach Byrne; Sam Rainbow, Nathan Broughall, John Lawler. Subs: Simon Luttrell for Eddie O’Connell (half-time); Adam Gordon for John Lawler (57 minutes); Rory Nea for Darragh Sinnott (57 minutes).

REFEREE: Thomas Smyth.