Bank of Ireland Ulster U21 Club Football Tournament
THE semi-final line-up has been finalised for the U21 club football tournament at Creggan, with Donegal’s Gaoth Daobhair the last team through after victory over Aghagallon yesterday.
They will face Glen in the semi-final on Sunday, the Derry champions making it past Ramor United 3-8 to 2-7 in Saturday’s first quarter-final.
Also on Saturday, Crossmaglen marched past Down’s Mayobridge on a 2-14 to 0-13 scoreline to set up a last four date with Stewartstown, who accounted for Donaghmoyne last week.
Glen 3-8 Ramor United 2-7
In Saturday’s first game, champions Glen finished strong against a powerful Ramor United unit backboned by 10 of their senior championship-winning side.
After a well-contested first half, the teams were deadlocked at 0-5 each, with Glen struggling to break down the Cavan defence and Oisin Hegarty getting to grips with James Brady.
A high ball into the Glen defence wasn’t dealt with early in the second half and Ronan Patterson punched to the net after three minutes.
Ramor centre-back Brian O’Connell was dismissed for a second infringement. It had a major bearing on the game, allowing Glen to orchestrate their intricate running game. With Ramor’s Killian Maguire in powerful fielding form over the hour, the extra man allowed Glen keeper McCloy to work the ball out wide.
Then came three goals in three minutes. First it was a Paul Gunning fisted effort after a counter-attack involving Cahir McCabe, Conor Convery and Danny Tallon.
In the next attack it was cancelled out. Another high ball into the box was punched to the net, this time by Jack Doyle at the far post.
The drama continued, when the Ramor defence opened up in front of the marauding Cathal Muholland who struck an early contender for goal of the season and Glen were 2-6 to 2-5 up. It was a crucial score, but still Ramor kept their composure to stem the tide.
James Brady missed two late Ramor chances and Paul Gunning edged Glen ahead going into the final moments. A third Glen goal, this time from Tiarnan Flanagan, put the icing on the cake
Crossmaglen 2-14 Mayobridge 0-13
In the second game, a breathtaking first half scoring blitz from Oisin O’Neill saw Crossmaglen lead 2-10 to 0-6 against Mayobridge at half-time.
The ’Bridge registered two early wides before O’Neill kicked the first of his eight first half points to set the tone for the day. With younger brother Rian fielding well at midfield, Cross had control of the game.
Mayobridge corner-back Darren McPolin made a block on the line to deny Oisin O’Neill a seventh minute goal, but it wasn’t long before the Mayobridge net was bulging. Cathal McNamee’s long ball found O’Neill in the clear and after a neat sidestep he finished to the net.
Shane Annett tried to carry the fight with a running game and the impressive Corey Quinn kept the Down men in touch but a second Cross goal, this time from Ryan McKeever, opened up an 11-point gap.
Mayobridge lost James Casey to a straight red card before the break but made more headway in the second half with Crossmaglen scoring just 0-4 – but they had a significant lead.
Corey Quinn finished with 0-10, but Mayobridge needed goals to turn the game. With 10 minutes to go and trailing 2-12 to 0-9, Quinn played in Shane Smyth for a point but there was a glimmer of a goal on.
The ’Bridge didn’t go down without a fight. Daniel Cunningham made a diving block to deny Corey Quinn, Cross ’keeper Tiernan McConville made three convincing punches and two great saves to keep the clean sheet intact.
Oisin O’Neill capped a fine display with late points, bringing his tally to 1-10 and eased Cross into the last four.
St Mary’s Aghagallon 1-5 Gaoth Dobhair 1-12
GAOTH Dobhair were convincing winners against Aghagallon yesterday.
The game was evenly-contested in the early stages, before Aghagallon grabbed a goal through Eunan Walsh after 14 minutes, which put his side ahead 1-1 to 0-3.
Just before the interval, the Donegal side lost Gavin MacGiolla Bhride to a black card, with the player having already picked up a yellow card.
The sides were tied at half-time, 1-4 to 0-7.
Despite their numerical advantage, Aghagallon only scored once after the break, as Gaoth Dobhair took control of the game.