Ulster Club Senior Football Championship quarter-final
Glen Maghera (holders) 0-11 Erin’s Own Cargin 0-07
Antrim champions Cargin bowed out to the defending Champions, Glen Maghera at Celtic Park before a good attendance on Sunday.
The Toome men finished four points in arrears of the Derry champions but not before they asked questions despite having their ace forward Tomas Mc Cann side-lined in what most observers felt was a harsh red card in the 22nd minute. Sean Og O’Neill followed after being issued black with nine minutes remaining with the Antrim champions finishing with 13 men.
The Antrim champions faced a tough assignment as they travelled to Celtic Park to take on last year’s Ulster champions and beaten All Ireland finalists Glen and most observers gave Cargin little hope but in the event the Erin’s Own men gave it a real lash.
A slight breeze blew towards the town end of Celtic Park as Conor Dourneen got matters on their way and the Cavan based official would gain few friends amongst the Antrim contingent as the game Proceeded. Cargin had the breeze in their favour in the opening period but it was Glen who were to prove quicker out of the start traps with a couple of points in the early minutes.
Jack Doherty raised the first white flag just seconds into proceedings after Emmett Bradley claimed the opening throw in and when Danny Tallon added a point from a 30 metre free a couple of minutes later, the strong favourites looked on course for victory.
Pat Shivers punished an indiscretion on Tomas McCann with a 6th minute point from a free to open the Cargin account but Tallon replied with his second of the day at the other end before Paul Mc Cann came forward to split the posts following interchange with net minder John McNabb to leave only a point separating the sides at 0-03 to 0-02.
Watty Graham’s increased their advantage again in the 16th minute via another Danny Tallon conversion following a foul on the advancing Eunan Mulholland but Cargin were quick to respond when Pat Shivers punished another foul on the advancing Tomas McCann, a couple of minutes later.
McCann was causing the panic button to be pressed each time he moved forward in the direct route to posts but disaster struck when he was issued a somewhat harsh red following a coming together with a Glen defender.
Mc Cann’s challenge on Conor Convery didn’t look too harsh to most observers, but the man who mattered most had a different view and the centre forward was shown his first ever red card.
The dismissal of the talismanic centre forward left the Toome men with a mountain to climb and a late Jack Doherty point insured a two point advantage of 0-05 to 0-03 for the reigning champs as the shrill blast signalled half time and a short rest period for the protagonists.
Glen started the second half with the breeze in their favour but despite owning possession the dogged attention of the Cargin rear guard insured approach to the target was not easy with Glen off target a couple of times before centre forward Ciaran McFaul extended their lead with an excellent 43rd minute point to increase their advantage to three.
A superb Emmett Bradley strike from 50 metres, which yielded a point in the 47th minute, extended the Glen lead, but Cargin were quick to return fire and back to back points from Pat Shivers and Michael Mc Cann saw the gap reduced to two as the travelling Cargin support roared their approval.
McCann’s score from a close free followed a heavy foul on Conhuir Johnston which was punished by the production of a yellow card which looked lenient in the extreme in light of earlier decisions.
Having looked vulnerable for a time Glen soon recovered to regain control and they kicked three unanswered points through Michael Warnock, and Emmett Bradley (2) to move 0-10 to 0-05 ahead.
In the interim the Antrim champions were dealt another blow as Sean O’ Neill was shown a black card to end his involvement in proceedings.
Cargin looked to be in trouble as they were reduced to thirteen, but to their credit the Erin’s Own men battled hard to the end as replacement Kieran Close and Michael McCann replied with points, However the goal they needed just wouldn’t come and a late Danny Tallon point eased the Derry representatives over the finish line and into the semi-finals on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-07.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Justin Crozier, Kevin Mc Shane, Kevin O’ Boyle, James Laverty, Paul Mc Cann (0-01), Sean O’Neill, Gerard Mc Cann, John Carron, Mark Kelly, Tomas Mc Cann, Ronan Gribbin, Pat Shivers (0-03), Michael McCann (0-02), Conhuir Johnston
Subs
Benen Kelly for G Mc Cann
David Johnston for M Kelly
Cahir Donnelly for P Mc Cann
Paudie Mc Laughlin for J Crozier
Kieran Close (0-01) for P Shivers
Glen: Conleth Bradley, Michael Warnock (0-01, Ryan Dougan, Connor Carville, Eunan Mulholland, Ciaran Mc Faul (0-01), Cathal Mulholland, Conor Glass, Emmett Bradley (0-03), Ethan Doherty, Jack Doherty (0-02), Conor Convery, Alex Doherty, Donal Tallin (0-04), Danny Mc Dermott
Subs:
Tiernan Flanagan for C Mulholland
Alex Doherty for C Convery
Tiernan Higgins for J Doherty
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
Paddy’s Pics
Cargin v Glen
