Old Leighlin beat last season's runners up to qualify for first final in ten years 

Senior Football Championship semi-final

Old Leighlin 3-10 

Palatine 0-17

Old Leighlin survived a huge second half comeback from last year’s beaten finalists to qualify for their first final in ten years at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

With the aid of the wind, goals from Cathal Coughlan, James Dowling and Darragh Fitzgerald in the first half saw the eventual winners going into the break 3-6 to 0-5 in front. Shane O’Neill scored three points for Palatine in the first period.

While Aaron Amond scored an early second half point for Old Leighlin, Palatine attacked from the off from there. They were caught on the break with Coughlan and Mikey Bambrick scoring Old Leighlin points.

Eventually the Bennekerry side found their scoring touch as Conor Crowley, O’Neill, Josh Egan and James Cranny raised white flags. Eoin Ryan’s late point had the margin down to two and it looked as if the impossible was on.

Old Leighlin stared down the barrel of the gun but they won a few crucial tussles and were more than relieved to hear the full-time whistle.

Scorers 

Old Leighlin: C Coughlan 1-2 (1f), J Dowling, D Fitzgerald 1-1 each, A Amond 0-3 (45), D Bambrick, S Kinsella (f), M Bambrick 0-1 each

Palatine: S O’Neill 0-9 (6fs, 1-2pf), J Egan, C Crowley (fs) 0-3 each, J Cranny, E Ryan 0-1 each.

OLD LEIGHLIN: Steven Scallan; Jordan Kelly, Niall Roche, Tadhg O’Neill; Tadhg Roche, Sean Bambrick, Jamie Doyle; Ian Atkinson, David Bambrick; Aaron Amond, Mikey Bambrick, James Dowling; Cathal Coughlan, Seamus Kinsella, Darragh Fitzgerald.

Subs: Sean Taylor for Doyle (44), Mark Brennan for Dowling (52)

PALATINE: Craig Kearney; Darragh Fitzpatrick, Cian Cashman, Sean Walsh; Jack Deacy, Ciaran Moran, Cillian Moore; Finbarr Kavanagh, Shane O’Neill; Josh Egan, Brandon Cassidy, Bryan McMahon; Conor Crowley, Jamie Kenny, Conor Crowley.

Subs: Conor O’Doherty for Moore (h/t), Andrew Kehoe for Cassidy (36), Padraic Kelly for McMahon (45), Tomas Kenny for Walsh (51), Eoin Ryan for Cranny (56).

Referee: Marion Hayden (Éire Óg).