A late goal from Liam Nugent proved decisive after a fiercely contested encounter in which the Antrim champions pushed the Tyrone representatives all the way.
Ulster Club Intermediate Football Championship – Quarter Final
Naomh Éanna 1-13 Rock 2-14
Sunday 8 November
Brendan McTaggart reports from Thomas Clarke’s, Dungannon
Naomh Éanna’s hopes of emulating their class of 2018 fell to the hands of the Rock on Sunday afternoon but they left Dungannon thinking on what could and possibly, should have been.
The four points between the sides was certainly an unfair reflection on the game and when Ciarán McCavana reflects on this game, he’ll look back on the opening 10 minutes with ruefulness. Three missed goal opportunities that if taken, would certainly have painted a different picture on this game and in a first half that Naomh Éanna dictated.
The Tyrone champions were clinical however and their second half performance was full of intensity and pressure. They asked questions of Naomh Éanna and while the Glengormley side provided answers, they left it too late to get over the line.
Goals from Diarmuid Carroll and Liam Nugent at either end of the second half proved to be decisive but Naomh Éanna showed their determination, belief and a relentlessness in that second half to try and force extra time.
Steven O’Connor put in a captains performance and his final tally of four points, three of those in the second half didn’t deserve to be on the losing team. Senan Nagle produced an outstanding save in the second half when the Rock were looking to turn the screw while James McAuley, Fionn Nagle and Sean McBride all excelled.
Shane Murphy and Liam Nugent were the chief tormentors for the Rock however with Nugent landing three white flags along with his major while Murphy showcased his skills with seven points beside his name.
Naomh Éanna were more than a match for their Tyrone counterparts but they came up against an inspired goal keeper in Oisin Mac Nia.
The game was barely 20 seconds in when Kristian Healy split the posts for the opening score of the contest. Murphy responded for the Rock before Fionn Nagle had a glimpse of the Rock goal. Stevie O’Connor and Healy combining to send Nagle through but his shot was superbly saved by Mac Nia.
Peter Loughran added a second point for the Tyrone men before Odhrán Eastwood passed up on a goal scoring chance. Healy sending him through but once again Mac Nia denied Naomh Éanna.
A third chance came when Stevie O’Connor intercepted a kick out and bore down in goal. He showed plenty of composure and looked to place the ball beyond Mac Nia but he denied him with the best save of the three, denying Naomh Éanna once more.
Just to compound the Naomh Éanna misery, Murphy split the posts from outside the two point arc to give his side a three point lead in the 12th minute.
Stevie O’Connor and Murphy (’45) swapped scores either side of a massive goal chance for the Rock. Senan Nagle denying Conor McGarrity when he was through on goal and this time it was Naomh Éanna who made the most of the reprieve when Fionn Nagle scored their goal in the 20th minute. Padhraig O’Hare and Mickey Morgan combining before sending Nagle through, he made no mistake this time and atoned for his earlier miss to bring the sides level.
A two pointer free from Mickey Morgan followed as Naomh Éanna took an element of control and while Nugent fired over a brace of points to restore parity, Naomh Éanna had the final say of the half. Further scores from Sean McBride and Odhrán Eastwood gave the Glengormley side a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage.
Two points was the bare minimum Naomh Éanna deserved at the break but the Tyrone champions started the second half superbly with their opening goal. Conor McGarrity collecting a long ball into the heart of the Naomh Éanna defence before finding Diarmuid Carroll and he made no mistake.
Sean McBride did respond for the Antrim champions but scores from Nugent and Aiden McGarrity gave the Rock a two point lead just eight minutes after the restart.
Naomh Éanna responded with a brace of points from Stevie O’Connor, restoring parity to the sides once more but the Tyrone men were a different animal in that second half. They were pressing Naomh Éanna further up the pitch and causing turnover ball in more dangerous areas. They opened a three point lead with scores from Odhran Carroll, Murphy and Nugent going into the final 10 minutes as the Naomh Éanna challenge looked to faulter.
To their credit, the Hightown Road men continued to plug away and when scores from Odhrán Eastwood (free) and O’Connor reduced the deficit to the minimum, the game was in the balance with six minutes remaining.
The second Rock goal came in the last minute of the hour however and was a killer blow to Naomh Éanna. Nugent it was who applied the finish as he held off the challenges and gave Senan Nagle no chance with an excellent finish.
With the game ticking into injury time, Naomh Éanna looked to muster one more comeback but scores from Odhrán Eastwood and substitute Cathair McKenna were responded to by scores from Odhran Carroll and a Nugent free with the last kick of the game.
It was a harsh lesson on the ruthless side to Ulster club football for the Antrim champions who had hopes of going deep if not adding a second Ulster crown to their roll of honour. The missed chances in the first half hurt but Naomh Éanna can hold their head high having given an excellent account of themselves on the provincial stage.
TEAMS
Naomh Éanna Starting XV: Senan Nagle; Sean McBride, Diarmuid McNulty, Eoghan O’Hare; Michael McKenna, James McAuley, Fionn Nagle; Cillian Browne, Mickey Morgan; Conan Lyttle, Stephen O’Connor, Conor Eastwood; Padhraig O’Hare, Odhrán Eastwood, Kristian Healy
Subs: Conor McAuley for C Lyttle (40); Sean Murray for F Nagle (41); Cathair McKenna for C Eastwood (44); Ronán O’Neill for C Browne (48); Malachi McGibbon for M Morgan (52); Tomás Gilmour for P O’Hare (60)
Scorers: S O’Connor 0-4; O Eastwood 0-3 (3f); F Nagle 1-00; S McBride 0-2; M Morgan 0-2 (1tpf); K Healy 0-1; C McKenna 0-1
Rock: Oisin Mac Nia; Mark McAleer, Cormac O’Neill, Shea Litter; Odhran Nugent, Martin Ward, Cathal McWilliams; Thomas Mackle, Diarmuid Carroll; Conor McGarrity, Shane Murphy, Aiden McGarrity; Odhran Carroll, Liam Nugent, Peter Loughran
Subs: Aidan Girvan for P Loughran (51)
Scorers: S Murphy 0-7 (1tpf, 1f, 1’45); L Nugent 1-3 (2f); D Carroll 1-00; O Carroll 0-2; A McGarrity 0-1; P Loughran 0-1
Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan)
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