Fona/CAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament semi-final 

Cavan Gaels 1-07-1-05 Mayobridge AET

Kevin Herron reports from St Pauls 

A converted free from Ben Tully and Joshua Shehu’s point- either side of the interval in extra time was enough to see Cavan Gaels book a return trip to the Shaws Road on New Year’s Day to take on Four Masters as they defeated Mayobridge 1-07-1-05 after extra time in Tuesday afternoons semi-final clash. 

A healthy crowd descended on the Shaws Road in the hope of seeing their respective side come out on top in the St Stephens Day last four clash. 

It was Cavan Gaels who drew first blood when skipper Ben Tully was upended, and he was on hand to convert the subsequent free. 

Mayobridge were unable to make the most of their early chances and their best one came when Darragh Poland’s free swung off the large post and into the arms of Ryan Coulter and his low shot was blocked on the line. 

The Gaels doubled their advantage when Tully was again felled and after referee Brendan Toland moved the ball forward for dissent, Joshua Shehu swung the close range free over the bar. 

Midway through the half Mayobridge responded in the form of a Darragh Poland shot that sailed high between the posts, coming 60-seconds after midfielder Daire O’Keeffe saw his low shot squeeze inches past the post. 

Parity was restored on the 23^rd minute after Conor Colhoun popped the ball off to Patrick Woods to steer his shot over the bar. 

Both sides had goal chances before the break, Ben Tully burst through and saw his goal bound effort turned onto the bar by Michael Gallagher.

At the other end Corey Clerkin broke clear and rounded Emiliano Vennettilli, but there was enough pressure from the covering defender to ensure that he ran the ball out of play and behind for a wide ball as a low scoring, but action-packed half ended 0-02 apiece. 

Cavan Gaels regained the lead five minutes after the restart with Tully playing the providers role and Cormac Crotty on hand to produce the point. 

An instant response followed, despite being hauled back as he tried to advance, Corey Clerkin was able to direct his shot over the bar. 

The Breffni men forged ahead again on the 42^nd minute through a well worked Finn Crowe point and Crowe almost found the opening goal shortly after, but the numbers were against him, and his effort was charged down. 

Mayobridge would make them rue that missed opportunity and hit the front for the first time with little over a quarter of an hour remaining. 

Patrick Woods received the ball in the corner and cut inside before his low shot squirmed underneath the dive of Vennettilli and into the net to make it 1-03-0-04. 

Corey Clerkin added a free in the aftermath and the pendulum appeared to swing in the Mourne Men’s direction. 

With 12 minutes remaining Cavan Gaels hit back and levelled. Fionn McNamara intercepted a loose pass and picked out Ben Tully and the Gaels captain showed great composure and kept his cool to fire past Gallagher and into the net to make it 1-04 apiece. 

Tully would drop over a 56^th minute free to edge his side ahead for the fourth time in proceedings. 

Their game management looked to have been spot on in the closing stages but two minutes into injury time Mayobridge turned over a Cavan kick out and went in search of an equaliser. 

Time was elapsing and the ball broke to Darragh Poland- who dropped a terrific, angled attempt over the bar to rescue a draw and ensure that extra time was on the cards after it finished 1-05 apiece. 

Extra-time: 

Cavan Gaels were on the front foot and looked to have rued a series of missed chances in the first period, but on the stroke of the midway point Ben Tully was dragged down and he dusted himself down and kicked the resulting free. 

The insurance score came immediately after the second half restart with Joshua Shehu showing fantastic skill to jink inside and sell a dummy before shooting over and making it 1-07-1-05. 

Mayobridge were unable to breach the Cavan defence thereafter and despite losing substitute Daniel Olude to a late red card, the Breffni outfit held out and booked their place in Monday afternoons decider with Four Masters. 

Cavan Gaels: E Vennettilli, D Sommers, C Doyle, E Griksas, C Galligan, B Hanly, MA McDonagh, B Tully (1-03, 0-03f), M Monaghan, C Crotty (0-01), J Shehu (0-02, 0-01f), F McNamara, J Jaskiewicz, F Crowe (0-01), J Dunne. Subs: S Kolimar for C Galligan (18), D Olude for D Sommers (49), S Clarke for J Dunne (53), M Holko for J Jaskiewicz (53). 

Mayobridge: M Gallagher, R Magone, B Kelly, J Keenan, O De Rose, D McMahon, C Colhoun, D O’Keeffe, C Keenan, D Carr, C Clerkin (0-02, 0-01f), P Woods (1-01), R Coulter, D Poland (0-02), C McPolin. 

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)

Fona/CAB Ulster Minor Tournament

Cavan Gaels v Mayobridge

Flying centre half forward, Joshua Shehu led Cavan Gaels to victory over a battling St. Molaise of Irvinestown in the final quarter final of the fona/CAB Ulster Minor football tournament and the Cavan champions can go one further when they take on Mayobridge of Down in Tuesday’s semi-final at St. Paul’s.

Shehu contributed 0-6 of his side’s total over the hour and his pace and movement made him a constant threat to the Fermanagh champions but he was only one of an excellent Cavan Gaels side who had strong performers in Ben Tully, Michael Monaghan and Jacub Jaskiewicz.

They certainly didn’t get it all their own way against a battling St. Molaise of Fermanagh who were in contention until the closing stages of the game when a Barry Godwin goal with four minutes of normal time closed the gap to three points.

Joshua Shehu eased the pressure with an excellent point under pressure for Cavan Gaels and mid-fielder, Ben Tully ensured there would be no way back for the Irvinestown side with the final score of the game.

In the other quarter-final Mayobridge overcame the spirited challenge of host side St. Paul’s but were forced to fight all the way against the Antrim champions.

St. Paul’s looked to be heading for a rare victory for Antrim clubs in the quarter-final when they led the Down champions, by three points early in the second half.

Mayobridge looked rattled but they responded positively and Corey Clerkin got them on the comeback trail as he fired over after forcing a turnover.

This score provided the Mourne side with a lift and they would hit a further four points without reply as Woods pointed a free and then O’Keefe broke clear but seemed to have lost control but he volleyed over to level with a quarter of an hour remaining.

From the resulting kick-out, Mayobridge again won the break and it was worked to Woods on the right who fired over and with nine minutes remaining, he would add another from distance to put two between the sides.

Daire O’Keefe was excellent for Mayobridge at mid-field with some excellent fielding for the Mourne side and added a score during the second period while Patrick Woods also made a big impact with some fine scores.

Manager, Francis Poland feels that his side will need to improve on that performance if they are to overcome the challenge of Cavan Gaels.

“Our side showed great character to come back against St Paul’s and I honestly thought we were gone but they dug in. They are the sort of team who never gives up”

Ryan Couler’s goal proved pivotal in the Mayobridge comeback against St. Paul’s while Patrick Woods kicked 0-4 (2 frees) and Daire O’Keefe had a solid hour at mid-field for the ‘Bridge’ but they will need to be on their game right from the start if they are to overcome a fancied Cavan Gaels

Danske Bank McDevitt cup final

St Malachy’s Belfast 3-4 St Patrick’s Keady 2-5

St Malachy’s Belfast won the Danske Bank McDevitt Cup on Wednesday when they beat St Patrick’s Keady in the final at St Patrick’s GAC Banbridge.

Ronan Niblock proved the star of the show for the Antrim Road college, bagging 2-1 overall in a man of the match display.

In a closely fought first half there was nothing to separate the sides, Niblock hitting the first goal as they sides ended the half on level terns at 1-3 apiece.

When Niblock got his team’s second goal just after the restart it was always going to be a long way back for the Armagh side. Bryan Cullen grabbed a goal for Keady to keep their hopes alive but St Malachy’s held out to win the game by two points

St Malachy’s: R Niblock 2-1, E Maguire 1-0, T Conway 0-3, 1 free

St Patrick’s: C Carr and B Cullen 1-1 each, R Mullen 0-2, 1 free, J Keegan 0-1