fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament quarter-final
Kilcoo 3-6
Killyclogher 1-4
Kilcoo minors took the first step in matching the achievement of their senior side when they proved too good for a battling Killyclogher in the opening game of the St. Paul’s minor tournament at Shaw’s Road today.
In a game that took some time to come to life, first half goals from Jimmy Magee and two from man of the match, Justin Clarke put the Magpies in a commanding position at the break but Killyclogher grabbed a lifeline in the final moments of the half with Oran Toal intercepting a stray pass and playing in Potter who fired to the net.
Justin Clarke was outstanding for the Mourne side throughout as his side controlled the opening half and had a lot of the hard work done by the half way stage. The Tyrone side will rue the concession of those first half goals however with the second and third the result of poor defending and when Gavin Potter was sent off two minutes after the restart it was always going to be a big ask for the Tyrone side.
This game took a while to come to life with Justin Clarke getting the winners off the mark with a point from a 12th minute free. Both sides had wasted opportunities prior to this score, but Kilcoo were off target with a couple of efforts, while Killyclogher dropped several short when playing into the breeze.
Clarke added another with an excellent point from play before Porter opened Killyclogher’s account as he cut in from the left before firing over.
It was the Down champions who began to take command of matters at this stage as Shealan Johnston sent an excellent hand pass over the Killyclogher defence to free Jamie McKee and McKee fired confidently to the Killyclogher net for the game’s opening goal.
Mark Hayes for the Tyrone champions and Justin Clarke traded points before Clarke reacted quickly when his side were awarded a free and as the opposition defence switched off he sent his shot from 20 meters past Oran Grimes in the Killyclogher goals.
Killyclogher responded through a Potter point at the other end but Kilcoo struck with their third goal with three minutes remaining to the break when Clarke gathered a misplaced kickout by Grimes and his low shot across goal deflected off the far post and into the netand with a three-goal cushion, it was looking good for the Down champions,
Grimes redeemed himself when he got his fingers to a screamer from Clarke to tip over just before half time to leave Kilcoo leading 3-4 to 1-3 at the short whistle.
With the wind behind them seven points didn’t look an unassailable lead but in an early altercation Kilcoo’s Jack Devlin was booked and before play restarted Potter received his marching orders for the Tyrone men after McCusker went down injured.
What already looked a difficult task for Killyclougher had become a much tougher task and despite their best efforts they never really looked like getting back into contention in a very low scoring second half.
Justin Clarke got Kilcoo on their way with a pointed free in the 40th minute and while Joe McGurk responded with a good point, a Shealan Johnston free on 44 minutes for KIlcoo was to prove the final score of the game.
KIllyclogher went searching for goals but Michael Rafferty’s shot sailed just wide of the post and that was as close as they got to the goal that might have reignited their challenge.
Luke Clarke was issued a black cark in stoppage time to add to his previous yellow with this upgraded to red but it had no effect on the final outcome and it is Kilcooo who now go forward to the semi-final.
Kilcoo: A Curran; C Rogers, T Fettes, C Madine; L Clarke, A Morgan, M Hynes; N Doyle, R Tumelty; J Morgan, S Johnston (0-1 free), J Devlin; J Clarke (1-5, 1-3 frees), S McCusker (1-0), J McKee (1-0).
Killyclogher: O Grimes; C Conway, J McSorley, M Devlin; M Rafferty, J Rafferty, O McGettigan; O McCann, D Monaghan; B Quinn, O Toal, J McGurk (0-1); G Potter (1-2), M Hayes (0-1 free), L Higgins. Subs: C O’Hagan for O McGettigan (HT), P Corcoran for B Quinn (44).
Referee: Brendan Toland (Antrim)
