,The Brian Dillons Minor Hurlers qualified for the semi-final of the Rebel Og County Minor Hurling Championship as a result of their comfortable, 3-18 to 0-7, victory over St.Vincents, which was played at the Whitechurch venue on Monday evening,19th August, 2013. They now meet Tracton in the semi-final, at Passage on next Monday evening, 26th August, 2013.

              The opening half of the quarter -final was fairly evenly contested with Brian Dillons benefitting from a fine Eoin Casey goal, after thirteen minutes, which had Brian Dillons leading by 1-2 to nil. St.Vincents responded with two points in the next few minutes and the game seemed to be turning into a  close tussle. However, the Brian Dillons players began to click into gear and with a string of well- taken points they raced into a  1-8 to 0-3 interval lead. Both sides exchanged points in the opening fourteen minutes of the second half but, when the outstanding Eric O"Donoghue raced through the St.Vincents defence and planted the ball in the back of the net, for the second Brian Dillons goal, the game took on a most one-sided complexion. With Darren McGrath and Keith McCormick excelling in defence, the St.Vincents scoring threat was totally snuffed out, while at the other end of the field the points began to flow for Brian Dillons and ,for good measure, a third goal was added when Michael Feehans long range speculative lob deceived the St.Vincents "keeper and ended up in the net.

           The Brian Dillons selectors will be well satisfied with their teams performance on this occasion and their many training sessions ,in the Tank Field, are proving to be most beneficial.  Mark Kelly had an easy game in goal, afforded plenty of cover from the brilliant Darren McGrath while Thomas McGrath was sound in the corner back position. The half-back line of John Kenny, Keith McCormick and Michael Feehan grew in stature as the game progressed while, at midfield, Andrew White, produced a workmanlike performance. Eric O"Donoghue,at right-half-forward, was in excellent scoring form with some splendid points from all angles and distances and a fine goal to boot. Brian Manning and Adam Cotter completed a most skilful half-forward  line with several penetrating attacks and always looked dangerous when in possession. Eoin Casey had his best game of the season in the corner-forward berth, scoring a goal and a point and always looking dangerous, while Kieran Delaney worked tremendously hard at full-forward.   Keith Nugent , who replaced the injured Thomas McGrath with ten minutes remaining, also performed creditably. Scorers for Brian Dillons were; Eric O"Donoghue,1-9 (0-5 frees );Eoin Casey,1-1; Michael Feehan, 1-1; Keith McCormick,0-3 (0-1 "65 ); Brian Manning, 0-2; Adam Cotter and Kieran Delaney, 0-1 each.  The Brian Dillons team was; Mark Kelly; Thomas McGrath; Darren McGrath; John Kenny; Keith McCormick; Michael Feehan; Andrew White; Eric O"Donoghue; Brian Manning; Adam Cotter; Kieran Delaney; Eoin Casey;