fonaCab Ulster Minor Fooball tournament at St Paul’s
Magherafelt O’Donovan Rossa 3-10 Clann Éireann Lurgan 2-6
Magherafelt’s Cathir Spiers cuts through the Clann Eireann defence to score his team’s opening goal
A strong first half performance did the trick as Magherafelt held off Clann Éireann off in Belfast on Sunday to book their spot in the Ulster minor final on New Year’s Day.
They’ll play the winners of the other semi-final between Four Masters and Coosktown who meet on St Stephen’s Day.
A gale force wind blowing across the pitch favoured the Rossa side in the first half. They bagged the game’s first goal. Cathir Spiers cut through the Lurgan defence before hammering to the net for a 1-2 to 0-0 lead with 10 minutes gone.
Kian Maynes and Lorcan Higgins kicked Magherafelt seven clear before Clann Éireann scored.
When it came, it was a much-needed goal. Daire Whitmarsh kept a Cohen Henderson cross in play before beating Campbell with a precise finish at the near post.
A three-minute burst put Magherafelt firmly back the driving seat. With Clann Éireann struggling to secure the ball from their kick-outs, Maynes and Beattie tagged on points.
When Cathair Kerr won a third kick-out, he played in Callum Leacock who blasted to the net.
It got even better for Magherafelt when Conall Higgins was fouled for a late penalty. He took the kick himself to notch a third goal to give Rossa a 3-7 to 1-1 lead.
A high ball into the Magherafelt defence forced a double save from Campbell in the opening minutes of the second-half before Henderson fired over the bar.
With seven minutes gone, Clann Éireann added their second goal after the game’s second penalty. Up stepped Henderson who was denied by Campbell before poking home the rebound.
With nine points between the sides, Clann Éireann went down to 14 men after Adam Furphy’s 41st minute black card.
Magherafelt, beaten by eventual champions Four Masters last year, never looked in any trouble with Finn Campbell and Tiarnan McDonald tagging on late Clann Éireann points.
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Magherafelt: Karl Campbell; Turlough Cartin, Zack Gavigan, Ronan Conway; Michael McKenna, Rory Small, Cathair Kerr; Jude Beattie (0-1), Cathir Spiers (1-0); Callum Leacock (1-0), Caolan Higgins (0-1), Lorcan Higgins (0-2), Kian Maynes (0-2), Conall Higgins (1-4, 1 -0 pen, 2f), Michael Higgins
Subs: Ronan Ferris for Caolan Higgins (INJ 44), Michael Lavery for Kerr (55), Ben McCormack for Spiers (59), Cillian McCabe for Conway (63)
Clann Éireann: Conan McCafferty; Lennan McCavigan, Finbar Mallon, Daire Whitmarsh (1-0); James Moriarty (0-1), Daire Young, Tiarnan McDonald (0-1); Sean Geoghegan, Cathal Dorrian; Finn Campbell (0-1), James McCooe (0-1), Adam Furphy; Cohen Henderson (1-2, 1f); Euan McAreavey; Cailean Lavery
Subs: Conor Beattie for McCavigan (44), Joe Beatty for Lavery (55)
Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)
