fonaCAB Ulster Minor Tournament 2017 at St Pauls GAC
St Eunan’s L Hasson finds a gap in the Clann Eireann defence during Saturdy’s quarter final at St Paul’s. Pic by John McIlwaine
St Eunan’s, Letterkenny 0-11 Clann Eireann 0-9 (AET)
St Eunan’s, Letterkenny produced a storming finish to see of the challenge of Armagh champions Clann Eireann in Saturday’s quarter-final of the fonaCAB Ulster Minor Club Tournament at St Paul’s Belfast. Going into the final minute of normal time it appeared that the Donegal side’s interest in the competition was about to come to an end as they trailed the pre-tournament favourites by a point. However substitute, Oisin McGarvey showed great composure to point a free from forty five metres and bring the game to extra time. When they failed to score in the first period of that extra time they again faced an uphill task as their opponents turned around with a two point lead, but they came good in the second period and four well taken points saw they through to next Saturday’s semi-final where they will face Enniskillen Gaels.
There was little for the fans to enthuse about in the opening half of normal time as both team’s struggled to find their range. Ruairi McConville had given Clann Eireann a first minute lead but it was to be a further twenty before they added their second through corner forward Rioghan Meehan. St Eunan’s hadn’t troubled the scoreboard operator by this stage, but they final broke their duck in the twenty fifth minute when Niall Hannigan pointed from play and they were back on terms when Eoin McGeeghan sent over a free. However the Armagh champions regained the upper hand in the final minutes of the half and points from from Sean McCarthy and Tiernan Kelly gave them a 0-4 to 0-2 advantage at the break.
An early exchange of points in the second half kept the gap at two but St Eunan’s were beginning to find a bit of rhythm in their play and points from Oisin Purdy and Niall Hannigan brought them level before Patrick McColgan put them ahead for the first time. Substitute Darragh Morrison increased the Donegal champions lead to two with a well taken point from a free in the fortieth minute, but Clann Eireann fought back and points from Conor Turbitt and Mark Cooper had them level as the game finally came to life. Ruairi McDonald and Sean McCarthy knocked over points to again give St Eunan’s a two point cushion but they could not shake off the Clann Eireann challenge and Ruairi McDonald and Sean McCarthy found vital scores to restore parity. The Donegal side were dealt a blow when Patrick McColgan received a second yellow card, and subsequent redm and when Clann Eireann’s full forward Conor Turbitt made a brilliant high catch to score on the turn the smart money was on the Armagh champions. However there was still time for one last chance for the Donegal boys when they were awarded a free deep into injury time and McGarvey made no mistake as the Saints drew level before clinching it in extra time.
ST EUNAN’S: R McGeehin; J Angel-Atuahene, C McCloskey, A Gallagher; R Hilferty, J Kelly, P McEniff; P McColgan (0-1), A Deeney; L Hasson, N Hannigan (0-5, 2 frees), E McGeehin (0-1); C O’Donnell, M McGovern, O Purdy (0-2). Subs: D Morrison (0-3 frees) for C O’Donnell (39), S Breen for M McGovern (52), J Kelly for R Hilferty (55), S Maguire (0-1, started ET).
CLANN EIREANN: C McAlinden; A O’Connor, O McKeagney, R Shine; C Magee, J Haddock, J Conlon; S McCarthy (0-2), C Turbitt (0-2); M Cooper (0-1), T Kelly (0-1), E Kearney; A McConville, R McConville (0-1), R Meehan (0-2). Subs: R McDonald (0-1) for A McConville (22), C Kearney (0-1) for R Meehan (52), D McCarthy for M Cooper (60), R Meehan for R McConville (ET), T French for A O’Connor (ET 7).
REFEREE: Brendan Toland (Antrim)
