Laverty Cup Semi Final Result (After Extra Time)

Glenravel 3-13 (22)

Tír na nÓg 3-20 (29)

It was far from plain sailing for Tír na nÓg Randalstown as they progressed to the Laverty Cup Final after defeating Con Magees Glenravel after Extra time to set up another encounter with St. James’ Aldergrove.

After 10 minutes Glenravel had hit their first major to give them a 4 point advantage over visitors Tír na nÓg. Both teams traded scores both from play and frees through the remainder of the half to leave two points between the sides at half time.

At the beginning of the second half Tír na nÓg scored 4 unanswered points to take the lead for the first time in the contest to lead the game by two points, only for Glenravel to strike back and rattle the net for the second time in the game. Glenravel went through a purple spell where they hit 1-3 without reply before Ciaran O’Neill steadied the Tír na nÓg ship with a well taken free kick. Glenravel pushed on and pointed twice more and had one foot in the final with 2 minutes of injury time already played and leading by 3 points. The referee signalled a total of 5 minutes injury time due to a water break half way through the second half. One minute later the nippy corner forward Colla McDonnell collected a ball in front of his opponent and turned him to smash the ball to the back of the net to level the game deep into injury time. Both teams had a further opportunity to point and win the game but failed to find composure in front of the posts. With the full time whistle sounding the game was headed for extra time.

In the first half of Extra time Tír na nÓg were completely dominant hitting 1-3 through an Eamon Óg McAllister goal and three Colla McDonnell points with only one point from the Con Magee’s  leaving the difference 5 points at half time of extra time.

Colla McDonnell and Conor Crossey spilt the posts at the beginning of the second half and Glenravel went on to hit a goal and two points on the bounce to leave only two points between the sides with 5 minutes remaining. The final nail in the coffin came with 7 minutes played when Cormac Devlin skilfully dribbled the ball past 3 defenders on the ground and passed it bye the keeper to put his side through to the Laverty Cup final, where they will meet rivals Aldergrove once again.

Tír na nÓg: 1. A. Reid 2. S. Hinfey 3. C. Devlin 4. C. McCamphill 5. O. McAtamney 6. B. McLarnon 7. E. Higgins 8. J. Higgins 9. C. O’Neill 10. C. Crossey 11. E. Murray 12. E. Óg McAllister 13. R. Crilly 14. P. Dougan 15. C. McDonnell 17. R.R. McDonnell 18. C. Hastings 19. B. Fitzgerald 20. D. O’Neill

Subs used: C. Hastings for P. Dougan, P. Dougan for J. Higgins, R.R McDonald for O. McAtamney