GAA: Gaels blown away as Eire Og weather storm; Clan na Gael 0-9 Eire Og 1-14.

THE "team of the 90s" needed every bit of the experience they've picked up down through the years to overcome Clan Na Gael at St Brigids Park in Dundalk yesterday.

Eire OG were given quite a scare until their undoubted class came to the fore in an exciting AIB Leinster club quarter-final tussle.

The Carlow champs were blitzed in the first half as the home side opened them up with their powerful, direct game.

Clan Na Gael were much stronger physically and for a long time they caused their opponents untold problems, especially when they launched long passes forward.

But the turning point came after 21 minutes when star midfielder Seamus O'Hanlon had to come off and the underdogs simply couldn't afford to lose a player of his experience.

O'Hanlon pulled up with a hamstring injury and that was a major blow to The Clan's hopes - and when Martin Kerley was sent off early in the second half, the Louth side looked ready to throw in the towel as they lost their discipline.

Leo Turley came into his own after the interval as he put the controversy over his recent transfer to Eire OG behind him.

The former Laois forward transferred to the successful club from the The O'Dempsey's club in Laois, sparking off a row that still has be deactivated by the Leinster Council.

He underlined his worth with five excellent second half points that revived Eire OG's moral and buried the home side's hopes of producing an upset.

However the visitors also hit eight wides in the second half and although the Clan didn't get going after half time, they were always in touch until a rousing finale put paid to their hopes.

Substitute Bernard Hennessy fired home the goal that finally put the result beyond doubt with his first touch, but that strike only came in the dying moments.

Until then the Eire OG supporters had to endure some heat-stopping moments, not least when Cathal O'Hanlon blasted a fierce effort inches over the bar.

However the visitors certainly deserved their victory on the basis of a dominant second half display.

Without Seamus O'Hanlon, the Clan were toothless in midfield with only substitute David Staunton eager to get on the ball and act as a playmaker.

Garvan Ware meanwhile shone in the middle of the park for Eire OG and he converted a couple of inspiring efforts from long range.

In the first half however Pat Critchley's side depended on Brian Carbery to keep them in the game.

While the Clan were picking off some wonderful scores at the other end, Eire OG found it hard to find any sort of pattern to their play.

Carbery scored four of their five points in the opening period - and all four were converted from dead ball situations.

The home side exerted pressure on their opponents from the start, with Sean Dixon pointing from a 45 and Seamus O'Hanlon splitting the posts from the side line.

Two further impressive efforts followed from the industrious Paddy McEnaney and Cathal O'Hanlon, and Niall O'Hagan added a fifth to put the seal on an impressive first quarter.

Then Seamus O'Hanlon had to withdraw through injury and Clan Na Gael suddenly lost the momentum they had enjoyed. Chances still came their way but they weren't seized upon and Cathal O'Hanlon was denied a goal by a brilliant John Kearns save.

David Staunton and Barry O'Connor did add to the home side's tally but at the end of the half they only led by two points - despite controlling the game for long periods.

They were to regret that by the end of full time. Turley went on the offensive, claiming two quick points and Brendon Hayden's successful 45 pushed Eire OG into the lead for the first time. Kerley was sent off when he collected his second card from the referee for a high challenge on Peter Kingston just to confirm the tide had turned.

David Staunton finally made headway when he scored the Clan's first point of the half on 45 minutes, but the barrage at the other end continued.

Turley was at the heart of Eire OG's relentless attack, but Ware scored two wonderful points to steer some of his thunder.

But the insurance point was a long time coming. While there was only a goal between the sides the Carlow side were always vulnerable and Jody Morrissey didn't help matters when he missed two good opportunities.

Ware finally put Eire OG four points clear with five minutes remaining and Hennessy delivered the knock out blow soon after when he fired passed Niall O'Donnell for the only goal of the game.

Fittingly, however, Turley grabbed the last point to set up a meeting with either Fr Manning Gaels or the Kildare County Champions, who are still not known.

CLAN NA GAEL

N O'Donnell; P Fallon , S Dixon (0-1), R McShane; S Hearty, T Staunton, P Fitzpatrick; S O'Hanlon (0-1), G Curran; P McEnaney (0-1), M Kerley, B Duffy; N O'Hagan (0-1), B O'Connor (0-1), C O'Hanlon (0-2). Subs: D Staunton (0-2) for S O'Hanlon (21mins), B O'Hanlon for O'Hagan (44mins), G Smith for Hearty (54mins).

EIRE OG

G Kearns; B Hayden (0-1), A Corcoran, J Dooley; J Murphy, P Doyle, A Callinan; G Ware (0-3), J Morrissey; JJ Eyres, P Kingston, H Brennan; B Carbery (0-4), L Turley (0-5), W Quinlan. Subs: K Haughney (0-1) for Brennan (48mins), P McCarthy for Eyres (48mins), B Hennessy (1-0) for Kingston (58mins).

REFEREE: S McCormack (Meath).