Match Reports Connacht Semi Final 17/11/02
Collins' hits winner on stroke of time (Irish Independant)
STROKESTOWN 0-8; EASTERN HARPS 0-7
EMMET COLLINS was the toast of Strokestown last night after his stoppage time point at Markievicz Park yesterday earned the Roscommon champions their place in the AIB Connacht Club SFC final.

Eastern Harps were on top in the second half of an action-packed semi-final holding their opponents scoreless until Connacht U-21 medal holder Collins struck a superb score as the visitors staged a rewarding last gasp onslaught on the Harps' goal. But it was an entirely different story in the opening half. Strokestown opened the scoring with a Luke Dolan point from a free in the sixth minute and the former Roscommon county player went on to bag three first half points. The Roscommon champions were on top in most sectors with their defence playing exceptionally well. The Harps defenders were battling bravely but the Strokestown attack held too much firepower in the opening period.

Eighteen minutes had elapsed before Harps finally opened their account when midfielder Morgan McCormack scored from play as Strokestown entered the break leading by five points 0-7 to 0-2.
A superb Harps move involving Patrick Henry, Pete Carty and Michael Doddy helped to start off the second half and culminated in a Doddy point.
Paul Taylor converted a free to get the Sligo kingpins fightback up and running.
Doddy missed a great goal chance 16 minutes into the second half and the Harps had to settle for a Patrick Henry point from the resultant '45'.
A couple of late points by Sean Dorrian squared the match and extra-time loomed with less than a minute of normal time to play.
But Emmet 'Rocket' Collins hadn't read the script as he rounded off a memorable afternoon for the visitors with a superb match-winning late point.
SCORERS Strokestown: L Dolan (2f) 0-3, C Silke 0-2, E Collins, P McGinley, JK Dolan 0-1 each. Eastern Harps: P Taylor (1f), S Dorrian 0-2 each, M Doddy, M McCormack, P Henry 0-1 each.
STROKESTOWN D Hanley; D Cassidy, R Dolan, A Cassidy; D Donlon, M Beirne, E Collins; R Owens, D Hagan; S Flaherty, P McGinley, J Rogers; KJ Dolan, L Dolan, C Silke. Subs: K Bosquette for R Dolan (55), L Shiel for McGinley (60 mins).
EASTERN HARPS P Walsh; P Philips, K Philips, M Cosgrove; P McGovern, B Philips, F Sexton; P Grady, M McCormack; M Doddy, K Carty, P Henry; S Gallagher, P Taylor, S Dorrian. Subs: F Candon for Sexton (17), J Bruen for Gallagher (21), R Donovan for P Philips (ht), T Taylor for Bruen (57).
REF M Daly (Mayo).
 

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