Sport

The Irish News Archive - Oct 5 1998: Crossmaglen blushes are spared by injury-time free

GOING, GOING, GONE...Crossmaglen’s Jim McConville is fouled by a Mullahoran defender to win the Armagh side a penalty yesterday Picture
GOING, GOING, GONE...Crossmaglen’s Jim McConville is fouled by a Mullahoran defender to win the Armagh side a penalty yesterday Picture GOING, GOING, GONE...Crossmaglen’s Jim McConville is fouled by a Mullahoran defender to win the Armagh side a penalty yesterday Picture

AIB Ulster Club Football Championship quarter-final Crossmaglen 1-8 Mullahoran 0-11

CROSSMAGLEN needed a free from Anthony Cunningham in the second minute of injury-time to prevent Mullahoran from claiming a shock victory in this AIB Club Championship tie in south Armagh.

The Cavan champions weren’t given a prayer to trouble the 1997 All-Ireland winners but it was Cross who were mightily relieved, at the finish, to have a second chance at Breffni Park next Sunday.

Crossmaglen, playing against a moderate breeze, started well by grabbing three unanswered points in the opening 13 minutes.

Indeed, Cross played their best football during this spell with Oisin McConville and Cunningham involved in two slick movements which ended in scores in the 10th and 13th minutes.

But the Armagh champions fluency in attack largely disappeared thereafter with Mullahoran’s harrying style of defending proving very effective against the Cross attack.

McConville hammered over a fine shot on the turn in the 51st minute to restore a Cross lead but the advantage was short-lived with centre half-back Ciaran Brady and Dermot Gannon pointing to put Mullahoran ahead with four minutes left.

With a minute left, Anthony Cunningham showed admirable nerve to knock over a 35-yard free which appeared likely to be the final score of the game.

However, a Mullahoran break down the field was completed with World U19 Handball Champion Paul Brady, who had made his first senior championship start for the club, scoring from 25 metres to apparently close out the match with a minute of injury-time already played.

But Cross, somehow managed to work the ball down-field and a tussle between Jim McConville and a Mullahoran defender saw referee Jim Curran award a 14-yard free.

Cunningham held his nerve to ensure Sunday’s rematch.

Crossmaglen: P Hearty, M Califf, D Murtagh, C Dooley, F Shields, J Fitzpatrick, G McShane, J McEntee (0-1), F Bellew, C Short, A Cunningham (0-4), O McConville (0-5), J McConville (0- 1), G Cumiskey, C O’Neill.

Sub: O McEntee for McShane 52 mins.

Mullahoran: E Brady, G Brady, Pauric Brady, P Galligan, M Smith, C Brady (0-1), DM O’Reilly, S Brady, Damien O’Reilly, E Reilly (0-2), D Fegan, Paul Brady (0-1), D Brady (1-3), D Gannon (0-1), M Fagan.

Sub: S Gannon for Pauric Brady 43

Referee: Jim Curran (Tyrone)

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The AIB Ulster Club Football Championship preliminary round: Bellaghy 2-14 Castleblayney 1-8

Scullion sends Bellaghy through

CATHAL Scullion continued to make up for lost time with two stunning goals and a brace of brilliant points as Bellaghy blasted into the first round proper with an excellent win over the Monaghan champions at Ballinascreen.

At just 22 Scullion has defied two broken legs and cruciate knee ligament treatment to carve out his place as a sharp and direct target-man for the Wolfe Tones.

He demonstrated his class with two superbly taken goals, the first sent crashing into the net after 15 minutes. Scullion’s second goal, a killer, came six minutes after the break.

Bellaghy turned in a fine exhibition of open play scoring, producing 2-11 over the hour, and their ability to translate possession into points with greater economy proved the difference against a determined and battling Blayney side.

The Man of the Match accolade went to corner back Paddy Downey.

Bellaghy: K O’Neill, P Downey, D O’Neill, C Diamond, K Diamond, C McNally, P Diamond, D Quinn, J Mulholland, G Diamond (0-6, 3 from frees), B Lee (0-1), D Cassidy (0-1), E Cassidy, C Scullion (2-2), J Cassidy (0-4).

Subs: L McPeake for E Cassidy (42), N Cassidy for C Diamond (59).

Castleblayney: J Sullivan, E Brennan, E Murphy, D Hughes, S McGeough, A Tavey (0-1), D McArdle, T Millar, D Sullivan, P Connor, D Loughman, R McArdle, P McDonald (1-3), M O’Connor (0-3), P Duffy (0-1).

Subs: K Tavey for Millar (half-time), P Campbell for Sullivan (50).

Referee: Brendan Gorman (Armagh) l

DRIBBLING SKILLS...Bellaghy’s Benny Lee shows off his soccer abilities during his side’s comfortable Ulster Club Championship win against Castleblayney
DRIBBLING SKILLS...Bellaghy’s Benny Lee shows off his soccer abilities during his side’s comfortable Ulster Club Championship win against Castleblayney DRIBBLING SKILLS...Bellaghy’s Benny Lee shows off his soccer abilities during his side’s comfortable Ulster Club Championship win against Castleblayney

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Antrim MFC final Sean Stinson’s 0-9 Rasharkin 0-5

Stinson’s capture minor decider

AHOGHILL’S Paddy Logan, in winning his fourth Antrim Minor Championship medal with combination outfit Sean Stinson’s must have set a record which will take some beating.

Four in a row for the south west men is another feat which few minor sides ever achieve.

Logan, as full-forward was the powerhouse behind this Stinson’s victory and his point contribution – seven from frees – again must rank him among the record setters.

Five pointed first half frees saw the champions go in 0-5 to 0-2 ahead as Rasharkin, despite their efforts to break down the excellent Stinson’s half-back line with Duffin McKeever and O’Boyle could only manage two pointed Gerard Larkin frees.

The second half saw Stinson’s keep their distance, allowing the challengers no closer than two points and, just when Rasharkin looked like getting in there with a Jonathan McAleese point they came thundering back. Logan kicked three more frees and Brendan Convery came close only to be denied by Rasharkin’s best defender Mark Hasson.

A late sending off saw Rasharkin in tatters in the closing minutes but they did manage to salvage something when their midfielder Damien Dunlop got his name on the scoresheet.

Sean Stinson’s: P McAtamney, D Neeson, K Carey, T Neeson, C Duffin, J McKeever, R O’Boyle, M McCarry, B Kelly, D Hardy, J Storie, J Dougan, B Convery, P Logan (0- 8), S Doherty (0-1).

Rasharkin: D McLarnon, M Hasson, P Baird, B Etherson, C O’Kane, M Peacock, T Doherty, D Dunlop (0-1) , C McMullan, J Dougan, M Johnson, A McMullan, J McAleese (0-1), J Crawford, G Larkin (0-3)

Ref: C Drain (Lisburn)