AUGHLISNAFIN booked their place in a third JFC semi-final in as many seasons when they were six-point victors over a spirited Ardglass side in Ballykinlar on Saturday afternoon.
Fourteen points was the gap between the teams a fortnight ago in the first round of the championship. Ardglass were looking to close that divide and they did just that, but it was not enough to progress.
Michael Magee opened the scoring for the seasiders with a pointed free before Shea Croskery replied from play for Aughlisnafin. Magee added a second and Stephen Rooney had Ardglass two ahead by the 8th minute.
The Fin then rattled off three points in quick succession, Croskery getting his second of the game with Oran Flanagan on target from a free and Adam Garland from play.
Ardglass enjoyed a five-minute purple patch to register three points from play. Luke Mulhall, Adam Mulhall and Michael Magee all split the uprights.
Ardglass went into the first water break two points to the good and were looking good value for their lead.
On the restart Aughlisnafin captain Donagh Steele landed a rallying score to leave it a one point game. Flanagan sent over a second free and Garland was also accurate with his inside mark to return the lead back to the green and whites.
The industrious Chris Doran notched the final score of the half to give the Fin a two-point interval lead by 0-8 to 0-6.
It was the 11th minute of the second half before Shea Croskery raced clear of his marker to fist over a point. Oran Flanagan also took a point from the hand to send the Fin four clear.
The Fin then lost Shane Mooney to a straight red. Ardglass sensed a comeback was on, and Magee struck twice more to leave the difference just two points.
Shea Croskery was unsettling the Ardglass defence time and again and he was on the end of some robust challenges with three consecutive frees in his favour. Adam Garland confidently dispatched all three with assurance.
Croskery then grabbed his fourth and fifth points from play to cap a superb hour with Mathew Shearer hitting a consolation point for Ardglass.
Aughlisnafin had key performances from Croskery and Garland up front with Steele, Conor Matthews and Shane McCann a steadying influence.
For Ardglass Magee was the top performer, with honourable mentions for Stephen Rooney and Adam Mulhall.
Ardglass: M Cahir, C Mason, C O’Shea, S Taggart, M Shearer (0-1), M Crangle, SP Halpin, S Rooney (0-1), A Mulhall (0-1), C Armstrong, M Magee (0-5, 3f), C Mahon, S Dorrian, L Mulhall (0-1), C Dorrian.
Subs: D Milligan, J Feenan, P Sutcliffe, J Telford, T Kearney, C Smyth, M Carling, M Magennis, N Kelly, E McEvoy, C Feenan, J O’Connor.
Aughlisnafin: M Croskery, J Matthews, S McCann, N Travers, C Matthews, O O’Toole, B McComiskey, D Steele (0-1), O Flanagan (0-3, 2f), C Doran (0-1, T Noade, F Murphy, A Garland (0-5, 3f,1m), C Croskery, S Croskery (0-5).
Subs: S Mooney, B Ogle, R Quinn, S Willoughby, L Ward, R Murphy, J Brannigan, D McKibbin, R Feenan, E Travers, R Croskery, B Willoughby, A Lenaghan.
Match ball sponsor for Aughlisnafin: Jason McCawley.
Ardglass 0-9
Auglisnafin 0-15
PARADOR LODGE JFC