Wolfe Tones march on to last four

Knockout games are all about winning, by any and all means necessary. This quarter-final in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday certainly wasn't a classic, but Wolfe Tones won't care less as they march on to the SFC last four with a 0-12 to 1-7 win over Simonstown.

Much had been made of Simonstown's vastly improved attacking displays this year, but against a well-organised, hard working Wolfe Tones rearguard they struggled to make the necessary breakthroughs.

Wolfe Tones were methodical and well disciplined in their approach.

They conceded just one point from a free and despite conceding an early goal they never panicked and once they got back level by the end of the opening quarter they never trailed again.

As both sides traded jabs in a dour contest it was a couple of moments of brilliance from Saran O Fionnagain and a number of excellent saves from Ciaran O Gallachoir that proved decisive.

The first of O Fionnagain's two points was a superb fetch and kick as he gave his side a 0-10 to 1-5 lead with nine minutes of the hour remaining.

A minute later he put three points between the sides for the first time and roared in celebration as the ball crossed the bar - he knew the game was won.

However, Simonstown didn't give up and while O Fionnagain thought the result was in the bag he needed his goalkeeper to be alert to stop a Luke Caffrey effort and then deny Brian Conlon by applying pressure in the last action.

It took until the fifth minute for the opening score and after Caolan Ward got Wolfe Tones off the mark Niall O'Reilly added a second a minute later.

Ben Hoey opened Simonstown's account in the seventh minute, but two minutes later the north Navan men received both a huge boost and a heavy blow.

The boost came in the form of a Sean Tobin goal, which O Gallachoir probably should have stopped, but in scoring the goal Tobin injured himself and was forced out of the game.

Two points from Thomas O'Reilly (one free) brought Wolfe Tones level and with the wind at their backs Cian Ward stroked over a fine score to give his side the lead again, 0-5 to 1-2.

Padraig McKeever restored parity for the second time and three minutes before the break O Gallachoir made amends for his earlier error with a fine save to deny Conlon.

Two minutes into injury-time another nonchalant kick from Cian Ward sailed between the posts to ensure a 0-6 to 1-2 interval lead for the Tones.

The low quality continued after the break as scrappy play prevailed.

Eoghan Gough levelled it up three minutes after the restart and in the 39th minute Conlon stung the legs of Adrian Crawford who got in the way to block the Simonstown man's goalbound effort.

Niall O'Reilly restored Wolfe Tones lead 30 seconds later, but in the 41st minute Tadhg Hanrahan drew Simonstown level again. That was the last time the teams were on terms.

Caolan Ward made it 0-8 to 1-4 at the three-quarters mark and Thomas O'Reilly put two between the sides with another free.

Caffrey hooked a loose ball over his shoulder to close the deficit to one, but when O Fionnagain kicked his brace it put Wolfe Tones in the driving seat.

Padraig McKeever pulled one back, but when Oisin Martin closed Wolfe Tones account on the hour mark it forced Simonstown to have to go for goals.

O Gallachoir stood strong and even when Shane Barry dropped one into the mixer the Tones goalkeeper applied enough pressure that all Conlon could do was deflect the dropping ball over the bar rather than under it.

That late chance was Simonstown's last opportunity and with it went their Keegan Cup hopes as Wolfe Tones march on to yet another semi-final.

Wolfe Tones - Ciaran O Gallachoir; Conor Sheppard, Shane Glynn, Adrian Crawford; Dan O'Neill, Adam O'Neill, Niall O'Reilly (0-2); Oisin Martin (0-1), Sean Penny; Caolan Ward (0-2), Saran O Fionnagain (0-2), Thomas O'Reilly (0-3 two frees); Cian Ward (0-2), Fiachra Ward, Stephen Sheppard. Subs - Brughach O Fionnagain for Penny 14m, Alan Callaghan for Sheppard 39m.

Simonstown - Robbie Burlingham; Mark Devlin, Michael Gavin, Aaron Chinchilla; Eddie Nash, Brian Conlon (0-1), Brian McGrath ; Sean Conlon, Tadhg Hanrahan (0-1); Josh Carolan, Padraig McKeever (0-2 one free), Ben Hoey (0-1); Aaron Farrelly, Sean Tobin (1-0), Eoghan Gough (0-1). Subs - Luke Caffrey (0-1) for Tobin 9m, Shane Barry for Nash 44m, Stephen Moran for Gavin 62m.

Referee - David Gough (Slane).