Roslea Joint Manager, Mark Harte.
Tradition steeped Teemore came into their semi-final meeting with Devenish as the underdogs if only on the basis of current league form.
Teemore have been relegated from the first division, Devenish on the other hand have made the top four. But championship is another story and Devenish would have been all too conscious of the threat posed by the Mountain Road Shamrocks.
The upshot of it all was that league form book was turned upside down and it is Teemore who advance and there could be no disputing the merit of their success.
Devenish simply could never get any semblance of a game going and it was just a struggle from start to finish for the Blues especially as their major players produced generally anonymous performances.
Occasional flashes from John O’Flanagan and Chris O’Brien in attack, less from stalwarts such as Marty O’Brien and Barry Mulrone and in the end Devenish looked a dispirited side.
Teemore on the other hand, once they had grabbed an absolutely priceless goal shortly before the break were in the driving seat.
And their effort was driven by the usual cohort of suspects, the hugely experienced core of the side who have served them so well over the years.
Hugh Brady stifled the O’Flanagan threat, Joey Donegan effectively manned the number six slot, Barry Owens helped command midfield and the ever willing Declan Fitzpatrick at corner forward kept the Devenish defence on their toes.
One cameo score, Teemore’s final point of the opening half summed it all up.
Devenish drop a shot short, Hugh Brady collects, sends on to Barry Owens in the centre of the park and he immediately slings a long pass on to Declan Fitzpatrick who skips in for a score of impressive simplicity.
So Teemore will have another crack at Roslea the side who overcame them in the decider back in 2011.
These other Shamrocks will be a different kettle of fish altogether for Teemore. Roslea are a much better, more resilient and capable side than Devenish.
The reigning holders ruthlessly put ambitious Ederney to the sword on Saturday evening with a polished team display that brooked no argument whatsoever at the finish.
Ederney came into the game with steely determination and a game plan which they hoped would curtail the potent threat of the Roslea full forward artillery.
And over the first half it basically worked as the contribution of the Quigley brothers was more or less stymied. Ederney reached the break only a point adrift and still in the hunt, at least on paper.
But it had been hard going for them and they lacked serious conviction.
Roslea were patiently waiting for a breakthrough score and this duly popped up some ten minutes into the second half.
A score from the Roslea team manual, the old one–two.
A long ball speedily fired in from midfield by James Sherry, collection by Sean Quigley, a swift turn and the ball nestling in the Ederney net.
Game effectively settled and Roslea romp home over the one sided final quarter.
A very efficient team performance from them with a clutch of allegedly supporting players all sparkling.
Best team in the county, but Teemore will be up for that challenge come early October.