Football

Down SFC: Brannigan steers Clonduff through

&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;  line-height: 20.8px;">Barry O&rsquo;Hagan</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;;  line-height: 20.8px;">&nbsp;in action</span>
 Barry O’Hagan Barry O’Hagan in action

Morgan Fuels Down SFC: Clonduff 2-10 Castlewellan 1-14

CLONDUFF blasted their way into the semi-finals of the Down Senior Club Championship against a 13-man Castlewellan last night.

Played in Pairc Esler, two goals in as many minutes from super sub Rian Brannigan turned the game in Clonduff’s favour and they never looked back.

Their chance of success seemed to fade after Arthur McConville struck a sensational point before hobbling off.

McConville’s replacement Rian Brannigan, with his first touch, displayed bullish determination to plough through the Castlewellan defence before lashing into the net.

And on 22 minutes Brannigan bagged his second goal following a long delivery from Aidan Carr and Clonduff held their 2-5 to 0-5 lead until the break.

Castlewellan started the second half with three points on the trot from McGreevy, Luke Toner and David Gilmore.

Cahal Crilly closed the gap further before Barry O’Hagan gave Clonduff some much needed relief with a point.

Castlewellan were reduced to 13 men after Aidan Brogan was sent off for dissent on 42 minutes while captain Kevin Duffin followed after receiving a send yellow only six minutes later.

Castlewellan did manage to close the gap but Daniel Morgan’s black card for an attempted strike left a sour note in an otherwise entertaining contest.

Bryansford will join Ross Carr’s men in the last four following their 4-6 to 2-10 quarterfinal win over Downpatrick last night.

Clonduff scorers: R Brannigan (2-1), A McConville (0-1 free), S McConville (0-1 free), J Gribben (0-2), F McConville (0-1), P Lively (0-1), B O’Hagan (0-2), C Carr (0-1).

Castlewellan scores: D McKibbon (0-1), L McKibben (0-1), S Dornan (0-3), F McGreevy (0-2, 0-1 free), D Morgan (0-2, frees), L Toner (0-1), D Gilmore (0-2), C Crilly (0-1), R Lundy (0-1).