Football

Bundoran face Loughinisland in Ulster final after ousting Glenavy

Bundoran's Christy Keaney celebrates after his side defeated Glenavy in the AIB Ulster Intermediate Football Club Championship semi-final. Pictures by Philip Walsh
Bundoran's Christy Keaney celebrates after his side defeated Glenavy in the AIB Ulster Intermediate Football Club Championship semi-final. Pictures by Philip Walsh Bundoran's Christy Keaney celebrates after his side defeated Glenavy in the AIB Ulster Intermediate Football Club Championship semi-final. Pictures by Philip Walsh

BUNDORAN manager Brian Gavigan wasn’t mincing his words after Sunday’s hard fought semi-final win over Glenavy and insisted their target is firmly on winning the Intermediate Ulster Club Championship title.

“Look, we are here to win it, simple as that and we are not going to hold any grudges against any team that is trying to stop us, but they are going to have a tough game on their hands to come up against us,” said Gavigan.

Played in Pairc Esler Newry, the long journey didn’t deter the Donegal champions from playing fast, energetic, free flowing football.

But despite a bright start they struggled against a lively Glenavy in the opening half before dominating the second, with the impressive Chris Keaney scoring an injury-time goal to bring his tally to 1-5.

It was an exciting start with both teams playing direct attacking football and indeed after 10 minutes the sides were level.

In fact Fergus Cunningham’s tenth minute turned the game as up to that time Bundoran looked to be in control with the nippy Christy Keaney causing the Glenavy defence havoc.

The Donegal side took the lead through captain Tommy Hourlhane’s converted free and although Conor Hamill replied with a point, Keaney brilliantly robbed Glenavy defender Oisin Hamill and kicked high and over.

However Bundoran’s tendency to push high up the pitch gifted Glenavy a chance at goal and the quick thinking Niall McCann cleverly chipped over Peter McGonigle for Cunningham to squeeze his close range shot past the keeper.

Kearney tagged on another two cracking points from play but it was the Antrim side that had the bit between their teeth and made the next seven attacks, although not all successful.

James Gallagher and McCann tagged on points and Glenavy should have bagged another goal when Owen Gallagher played a sweet pass to McCann, but this time Bundoran keeper Johnny Keenan was quick off his line and he pulled off a great save to keep Glenavy’s lead to only two points at the break, 0-5 to 1-4.

Two converted frees from Bundoran’s Hourihan levelled the score with only 34 minutes gone and they were level for a third time after Bundoran’s Diarmuid Sprat replied to Jonathan Philips’ fine strike.

It was frantic end to end football but the Donegal side were working hard for each other making short but swift passes and drawing frees and Bundoran led heading into the final quarter with that man Heaney grabbing his fourth from play and Hourihane and Gary Clancy also scoring.

Johnny Boyle’s point put the Donegal men four points ahead with 12 minutes remaining but even though Glenavy replied with an impressive long range converted free, any chance of a comeback was made more difficult by Michael Johnston’s dismissal after he made two reckless challenges.

Glenavy did reply with another converted free to leave only two points between the teams but the game was put to bed when Bundoran’s Christy Heaney capped off a marvellous individual performance with a stunning goal deep into injury-time.

Gavigan wasn’t too pleased with Bundoran’s first half performance but never felt the result was in doubt.

“I said to the boys to come off the pitch after leaving everything on the field and they did that,” he said.

“We still weren’t clinical enough with the scores until the goal went in but to be honest I felt comfortable at only two points up, I just felt that they didn’t have the legs to come at us.”

Bundoran face Down's Loughinisland in the Ulster final on Sunday November 25, after they defeated Doohamlet of Monaghan in Armagh’s Athletic Grounds on Sunday.