Strokestown stay on double track
Strokestown qualified for the final of the 2002 O'Rourke Cup with a three point victory over St. Aidan's at Strokestown on Sunday last. The winners now have the opportunity of adding the Division 1 title to their championship victory of last year. St. Aidans failed to produce the form that defeated the same opposition in the first round of last year's championship and even with the advantage of an extra man for three quarters of the game were always playing catch-up.

O'Rourke Cup (2002) semi final.
Strokestown 0-10, St. Aidan's 0-7

Strokestown opened the scoring in the first minute with a pointed free by John Rogers. St. Aidan's got off the mark after eight with an excellent point by Paul Neary from wide on the left. David Thompson then pointed from 40 meters to double Aidan's lead. After fourteen minutes Strokestown were left a man short when Pearse McGinley got a straight red card from referee Haulie Beirne for trip on Francie Grehan.
Shortly afterwards Martin Kenny kicked over a 50-metre free after Tommy Grehan was fouled. From there to half time it was Strokestown who looked like having the extra man as they took the game to their opponents and in doing so forced the St. Aidans defence into conceding frees which John Rogers gratefully accepted and kicked five in a row between the posts to leave the half-time score Strokestown 0-6, St. Aidans 0-3.
The county champions started the second half as they finished the first, with a John Rogers point, this time from play. Wing back Emmet Collins got on the score sheet to put his side five clear seven minutes into the half. St. Aidans tried to fight back and following a point by Eamon McCormack had a goal ruled out for a square infringement.
Eamon McCormack and Kevin J. Dolan swapped points mid way into the half before David Thompson reduced the deficit to three with ten minutes to go. Another Eamonn McCormack effort game the Aidans men hope but Strokestown kept their discipline and defended well the finally broke clear for Kevin J. Dolan to snatch the final point of the game.
St. Aidan's also finished the game with fourteen men when defended Eoin Henderson got his marching orders for a second bookable offence. Strokestown who were worthy winners had excellent performers in Niall Owens and Morgan Beirne at the centre of defence. Derek Hagan gave an exhibition of ball winning and ball control at the centre of the field and his probing kicks caused all sorts of problems for the Aidans defence. John Rogers accuracy from placed balls proved again how important a reliable place-kicker is to a team.
The St. Aidans effort was very disappointing, especially in defence where the lack of discipline proved costly. Goalie Raymond Kelly, Michael Cunniffe and Francie Grehan (in defence) and Eamon McCormack (in attack) did their best but too many of their colleagues seemed to have an off day.
STROKESTOWN: Donal Hanly; Adrian Cassidy, Niall Owens, Damien Cassidy; Damien Donlon, Morgan Beirne, Emmet Collins (0-1); Leo Shiel, Derek Hagan; Ronan Shiel, Pierce McGinley, John Rogers (0-7, 6f); Shane Flaherty, Kevin J. Dolan (0-2), Conor Silke. Subs: Kenny Bosquette for A. Cassidy and David Parker for C. Silke.
ST. AIDANS: Raymond Kelly; Michael Cunniffe, Noel Galvin, Shay Galvin; Eoin Henderson, Francie Grehan, Paddy Naughton; Paul Neary (0-1), Peter Hoey; Terence Kelly, David Thompson (0-2), Patrick Tiernan; Eamon McCormack (0-3), Martin Kenny (0-1f), Tommy Grehan. Subs used: Noel Farrell for P. Tiernan and Brendan Kelly for Peter Hoey.
Referee: Haulie Beirne.