FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament
Emyvale 0-6 Termon 6-14
Termon ‘s second successful visit to Belfast in a week has established them as serious contenders for the fonaCAB-St. Paul’s Ulster Minor Football tournament. Last week they overcame the challenge of Silverbridge of Armagh at Colaiste Feirste and this evening Monaghan champions, Emyvale were put to the sword at the same venue.
The Donegal champions dominated from first whistle and had matters pretty much in the bag by the half way stage when they had established a healthy 1-6 to 0-1 lead.
It took Emyvale thirty minutes to get a score and by that time they were six points down.
Ryan McFadden then scored a fortuitous goal and Termon led by 1-6 to 0-1 at half-time.
McFadden would grab a second goal after the restart and Bobby McGettigan, Stephen Black, Conor McFadden, and Jack Alcorn also hit the net in an impressive victory for the Donegal champions.
Emyvale were at a disadvantage coming into the game, as the Minor Championship in Monaghan is played at Under 17 level as opposed to Under 18.
However, Termon had only four starters who were in their final year of minor and perhaps a bigger advantage was the fact that they had beaten Silverbridge in the Preliminary Round the previous week.
The Donegal side dominated the first half and even though they were guilty of some disappointing wides, they were still able to move six points ahead.
Midfielder Jack Alcorn scored four, while Ryan McFadden and Mark Gallagher also pointed.
Emyvale lost the influential Karl Gallagher to a black card, and they had to wait until the 30th minute to score a point when sub Niall McKenna fired over.
However, disaster struck for them on the stroke of half-time when Ryan McFadden’s shot deceived Ben Sherry and went into the top corner.
Termon led 1-6 to 0-1 at half-time and they added a further 2-3 without reply after half-time with Ryan McFadden scoring another fortuitous goal while Bobby McGettigan also raised a green flag.
Niall McKenna responded with a point for the Monaghan team, but Termon were rampant and they added another 3-3 to their tally without reply with lively sub Conor McFadden scoring 1-1, while Stephen Black and the excellent Jack Alcorn also hit the net.
Emyvale kept battling and Michael Hamill landed a brace, while Ben Ryan and Niall McKenna added frees.
However, Termon were emphatic victors and they closed the game out with points from Bobby McGettigan and Ryan McFadden.
Termon now advance to the semi-finals where they will take on Down champions Kilcoo.
That game is due to take place at St Paul’s on St Stephen’s Day with a 1pm throw-in, and Termon will have their eyes set on an Ulster final berth.
Emyvale: Ben Sherry; Conor Mulligan, Ryan Murphy, Rio Corrigan; Colm Colton; Kelvin Hackett, Liam McKenna; Alastair Stewart, Cameron Liddle; Harley McKenna, Michael Hamill (0-2), Luke Kelly; Ben Ryan (0-1, 1f), Karl Gallagher, Darragh Sherry. Subs: Aidan McKenna, Niall McKenna (0-3, 2fs), Jake Hughes, Caolan McKenna, Matthew Curley.
Termon: Emmet Maguire; Michael Trearty, Jamie Grant, Mark Toye; Caolan Gallagher, Marty Steele, Stephen Black (1-1), Jack Alcorn (1-5), Ryan McFadden (2-3, 2-1fs); Bobby McGettigan (1-1), Steve McDaid, Evan Coleman (0-1), Mark Gallagher (0-1), Adam McElwaine, Conor Cassidy. Subs: Conor Black (0-1), Conor McFadden (1-1), Eoin Boyle, Aaron Gallagher, Oisin Forde, Brian McGettigan.
Referee: Charlie Hemsworth (Antrim)
