Ulster Club Senior League (Quarter-final play off)
John Mitchells Glenullin 0-14 Casement’s Portglenone 0-14
It took penalty kicks to separate Casement’s Portglenone and John Mitchells Glenullin in this Ulster football league quarter final played in Glenullin on Sunday. At the end of eighty minutes which included two ten minute periods of extra time the sides couldn’t be separated
The Bannsider’s dominated the opening exchanges and indeed with Fergal O’ Kane dominant in the central zone and Patrick Graffin impressive in defense they had gained a six point lead by the 20th minute.
Oisin Doherty had opened account for the Antrim men as he sped through to raise a first white flag after six minutes after the home side had spurned a couple or earlier opportunities.
A foul on the pace laden Caolan Tierney was punished when Ronan Kelly split the posts from the resultant placed effort in the 10th minute and the corner man then came out to receive from Oisin Doherty and add another point Casement’s enjoyed a 0-03 to 0-00 lead.
The home side came close to opening account with Paul Rafferty’s volleyed effort whizzing just past the post and they went further behind when Paddy Kelly directed an 18th minute ‘45’ directly between the posts.
Mid-fielder Kelly followed up with another from a 50 metre free a minute later and when Fergal O’ Kane rose in the central zone to collect and send Ronan Kelly on his way to raise white the Portglenone men looked in charge with a 0-06 to 0-00 lead.
The home side were struggling to make inroads but Eoin Bradley opened account in the 23rd minute and Dermot O’ Kane quickly followed with another a Patrick Graffin reply at the other end ensured a 0-07 to 0-02 advantage for Casement’s at the short whistle.
Glenullin with the breeze at their backs started the second half with an early point via Eoin Bradley but Ronan Kelly posted reply in kind at the other end a couple of minutes later.
A Paddy Kelly 35th minute effort extended the Casement’s advantage when he despatched a 30 metre free between the posts following a heavy challenge on Fergal O’ Kane but when Eoin Bradley replied the 36th minute score was to signal change.
Glenullin having struggled for most of the opening period were about to grab hold of the bit with Eoin Bradley leading the charge and wing half forward Dermot O’Kane standing tall. Central defender John O’ Kane raised bar a trio of unanswered white flags to reduce the gap to the minimum and the John Mitchells looked to have taken charge.
A Paddy Kelly brace of points seemed to steady the Casement’s ship as they moved 0-11 to 0-08 ahead but the home side were to dominate the closing stages and points from Conor Rafferty, Eoin Bradley, and the redoubtable Dermot O’ Kane saw the sides level after 60 minutes and signaled an extra twenty minutes of extra time.
Nothing was to separate the sides in the opening ten minutes with the wind assisted Glenullin having the better start via a Dermot O’ Kane point and another added by replacement Shane Talbot.
The Portglenone men were quick to reply however as Caolan Tierney went deep to collect and his dash up field opened the way for Ciaran Mc Kenna to split the posts.
The home side’s keeper then fluffed his lines from the resultant kick out and Conal Delargy was on hand to punish as his 68th minute point squared the contest again at 0-13 apiece at the end of the first extra period.
Casement’s had the wind behind them for the last ten minutes but in the event it was to be the home side who were to strike first as the craft, and the experience of Eoin Bradley was to be underlined.
Bradley did more than well to earn a free on the left hand side despite loud protestation from the Portglenone contingent but he was not at all perturbed in the finish as his outside of the boot delivery defied both angle and breeze as the leather split the posts to ensure the lead for the Mitchells men.
Casement’s were quick to return fire and a further Ronan Kelly point had them on terms.
Another fine score from the corner man but such delivery was to be the last employment to be given to the scoreboard attendant and although both sides in turn had opportunities to gain the verdict, at the long whistle it was 0-14 to 0-14 to signal a ‘penalty shootout’.
In the event the Casement’s man saw their opening two spot kicks turned away by Glenullin net minder Pearce McNicholl and although Ronan Kelly tucked number three in the corner the fourth attempt was saved and when Dermot O’ Kane made it three for the home side they had gained a place in the semi-finals.
Glenullin: Pearce Mc Nicholl, Mark O’ Kane, Dan O’ Kane, Eamon Mc Nicholl, Conor Kearney, John O’ Kane (0-01), James Conway, Chris Dempsey, Conor Rafferty (0-01), Paul Rafferty, Niall O’ Kane, Dermot O’ Kane (0-06), Eoin Bradley (0-05), Liam Mullan, Caolan O’ Neill
Subs
Cathal Hasson
Shane Talbot (0-01)
Danny Mullan
Eunan O’ Kane
Casement’s: Ryan O’ Neill, Paddy Carey, Jonny Convery, Patrick Graffin (0-01), Ryan Convery, Ryan Mc Guigan, Michael Kelly, Fergal O’ Kane, Paddy Kelly (0-05),
Oisin Doherty (0-01), Ciaran Mc Kenna (0-01), Gerard Mc Aleese, Ronan Kelly (0-05), Conal Delargy, Caolan Tierney (0-01)
Subs
Ronan Delargy for P Carey
Stephen Kelly for G Mc Aleese
Chris Convery for O Doherty
Stephen Kelly for F O’ Kane
Gerard Mc Aleese for J Convery
Referee Simon Brady (Tir Eoghan)