Under-21 B Football Championship (Semi Final)
Tir na nOg 1-03 Cuchullian’s Dunloy 2-10
Daire McMullan found the net in both halves as Cuchullian’s Dunloy advanced to the final of the under-21 B football championship when they travelled to Randalstown on Sunday and gained access to the decider with a good victory over Tir na nOg on a damp Whitehill sod.
The home side took their place in Sunday’s semi-finals with victory over the visiting Casement’s last week but although they did start this game well their visitors adapted to the underfoot conditions better and a Daire Mc Mullan goal in the 26th minute gave them a 1-04 to 0-02 half time lead.
Tir na nOg had started with a spring in the proverbial step with an early point from corner forward Rory Mullan and gave as good as they got throughout the opening quarter.
Indeed they might have had a goal after ten minutes but Rory Mullan and Caleb Smyth’s efforts from close range was charged down and the ball was cleared to safety following a goalmouth scramble.
Sean Grant for the home side and the visitors Daire Mullan swapped points but despite being denied by the home side’s net minder on a couple of occasions the Cuchullians, with the towering Daire Mc Mullan a permanent threat on the edge of the square took control in the period leading up to half time.
The towering Mc Mullan found the back of the net in the latter stages as Sean Mc Shane provided the cross and Aodhan Mc Garry converted a ‘45’ after Levi Thuman pulled off a superb save to deny Barry McCloskey.
The visitors finished strongly and Eoin McFerran added another to put the visitors 1-04 to 0-03 ahead at the break and they were good value for that lead.
Having finished the opening period on top the Cuchullians began the second in a similar fashion but Tir na nOg keeper, Levi Thuman brought off another super save to deny Aodhan Mc Garry with Barry McCloskey getting a consolation point from the ‘45’.
As the second period progressed the visitors tightened their grip on proceedings despite the considerable efforts of the home sides Caleb Smith and middle man Dylan McLarnon.
Dunloy, with height advantage pressed ahead and a cross field delivery from McGarry placed Daire Mc Mullan to finish to the net for his second of the evening to move the visitors 2-07 to 0-03 ahead and in sight of victory.
The home side fought hard but found scores hard to come by as the Dunloy defence gave little away.
Joshua Higgins and Dylan Mc Larnon worked hard for the Whitehill men but with Padraig Martin and Aodhan Mc Garry leading by example the home side were halted in their efforts.
The visitors were in command as Thomas McFerran and Sean McShane came forward to add points but Tir na nOg were still battling hard and Dylan Mc Larnon came forward with purpose to grab a 53rd minute goal.
In the event it proved too little too late and a late point from Daire McMullan enabled the Cuchullian’s to cross the winning line with advantage of 2-10 to 1-03 and into the under-21 B final where they will meet Kickham’s Creggan.
Tir na nOg: Levi Thuman, Daniel Mc Larnon, Brendan Devlin, Sean Mc Keown, Sean Grant, Paul Mc Closkey, Daire Martin, Joshua Higgins (0-01), Dylan Mc Larnon (1-00), Ciaran Mc Camphill (0-02), Alex O’ Donnell (0-01), Shane Maguire, Sean Martin, Caleb Smith, Rory Mullan
Cuchullian’s: Eoin Mc Keown, Cahir Mc Mullan, Michael Traynor, Reece Cunning, Thomas Mc Ferran (0-02), Padraig Martin, Sean Mc Shane(0-01), Lucas Mc Ferran (0-01), Eoin Mc Ferran (0-01), Sean Mc Aleese, Aodhan Mc Garry (0-02), Ben O’ Kane, B Mc Closkey (0-01), Daire Mc Mullan (2-02), Oisin Mc Camphill (0-01)
Referee: K Parke (St Enda’s)
TO VIEW MORE PHOTOGRAPHS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW