Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament: Ghaoth Dobhair 2-12 Ardboe 0-5
A devastating second-half display saw Donegal champions Ghaoth Dobhair overcome the challenge of Tyrone champions Ardboe in the final Paul McGirr Ulster Club Champions quarter final, keeping their opponents scoreless for the final 28 minutes.
Up until that stage a gallant Ardboe, who were missing their midfield colossus Michael Forbes, were very much in the game.
But once Ghaoth Dobhair, who have been out of action since they won the Donegal title in July, shook off their ring rust there was no doubting the final outcome.
Stiofan Mac Pháidín with six points from play from midfield was their scorer-in-chief but it was the performance of Eamon Mac Giolla Bhríde at full back and wing backs Darragh Ó Fearraigh and Johnny Ó Dónaill who were the driving force in the Gaeltacht lads' victory.
Mac Pháidín got into his stride early with the first point before Ardboe keeper Conall Quinn pulled off a superb save to deny Aodhan Mac Gabhann a certain goal.
Midfield pairing Cormac Devlin and Jack Martin, who were on top for most of the first half, notched three points between them to put the loughshore side ahead for the first time and only time.
Fionnán Mac Giolla Chomhaill with two fine efforts and another from Mac Pháidín put Ghaoth Dobhair back in front with a Martin free levelling matters just before half-time as the game remained finely balanced.
Playing with the aid of a slight breeze in the second half as weather conditions deteriorated Ghaoth Dobhair stepped on the gas and the Ardboe rearguard struggled to cope with the constant bombardment from their opponents.
An Eoghan Devlin point from distance in response a Cian Mac a'tSaoi effort at the start of the half was to be Ardboe’s final score.
Two points from Mac Pháidín and one from Cathal De Burca put their side three up before the two deciding moments came with minutes of each other.
Raiding man of the match Darragh Ó Fearraigh goaled after being put through by Mac Giolla Chomhaill and this was emulated shortly after with his fellow wing-back Ó Dónaill getting his sides second goal from close range.
Cormac Devlin and Seadhna Hanna defended well for Ardboe but there was little they could do as Ghaoth Dobhair were dominating the proceedings.
Rian Ó Dochartaigh and Mac Pháidín tagged on a brace of points apiece as the Donegal lads progressed to the semi-final much to the delight of joint-managers John Burke and Michael Ó Fearraigh.
‘‘We are delighted with today’s result especially the second half performance,'' said Ó Fearraigh
‘‘You could see in the first half that we hadn’t played much lately and we really needed that half to settle down.
‘‘I think in the second half the boys showed what they’re capable of and what Tom Beag has been working on in training all year.
‘‘It was tough on a young Ardboe team to lose their main man and it’s never easy to come in after the highs of winning the county title last weekend but they matched us well for two thirds of the match.
‘‘It was a great experience today and the lads will take great confidence from it.
‘‘The whole set up in Dromore was brilliant and we look forward to the return next Saturday for the semi against a massively talented Burren team. Táimid fíor bhróduil as na gasuraí.’'
Ghaoth Dobhair now progress to meet Down champions Burren in what promises to be a great semi-final next Saturday.
Ghaoth Dobhair: Donal Ó Rabhartaigh, Aaron Mac Aoidh, Eamon Mac Giolla Bhríde, Séan Ó Gallachóir, Darragh Ó Fearraigh (1-0), Cian Mac a'tSaoi (0-1), Johnny Ó Dónaill (1-0), Séan Noel Mac Pháidín, Stiofan Mac Pháidín (0-6), Ronan Ó hEifearnáin, Fionnán Mac Giolla Chomhaill (0-2), Rian Ó Dochartaigh (0-2), Aodhan Mac Gabhann, Cathal De Burca (0-1), Niall Ó Doráin,
Subs: Pauric Mac an Gheimhridh for De Burca, Caolan Ó Fearraigh for Mac a'tSaoi, Adam Mac Íomhar for Ó Dochartaigh, Seighean Ó Baoill for Mac Gabhann
Ardboe: Conall Quinn, Ciaran Duffy, Darragh Devlin, Seadhna Hanna, Conan Devlin, Shea O’Hare, Jamie Quinn, Cormac Devlin (0-1), Jack Martin (0-3, 1f), Sean O’Hare, Daniel Quinn, Odhran McMurray, Fintan O’Neill, Eoghan Devlin (0-1), AJ McCann
Subs: Shea Quinn for McCann
Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim)
Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament: Burren 8-15 v Magherafelt O’Donovan Rossa 0-9
In a repeat of the 2017 All-Ireland Feile final, a devastating and ruthless Burren fully justified their favourites tag disposing of the challenge of recently crowned Derry champions Magherafelt O’Donovan Rossa following a display of dazzling attacking football on Saturday afternoon.
Featuring 12 of the starting team from the side that were defeated in last years semi final Burren were no strangers to the confines of Gardrum Park and they used this experience to the maximum as they convincingly advanced to next weekend’s semi finals.
There can be no doubt though that having come through a tough Derry final just three days before this game had a telling effect on Enda Quinn’s Rossa side who can be satisfied with their performance against the tournament favourites.
In Darragh Wade they have one of the most talented upcoming forwards in Ulster football but even a superb performance from Wade was not enough to stem the Burren tide.
Burren’s talisman centre forward Niall Toner who was to finish top scorer with 2-8 to his name was the star of the first half, notching points from an array of distances and grabbing the game’s second goal when he capitalised on a mistake in the Rossa defence, finishing with style past Callum Campbell.
James Duggan who was a constant threat for Burren in his advanced role won a penalty that was converted in emphatic fashion by the stylish Odhran Murdock for the opening goal, Murdock edged an immense midfield battle with the towering Dan Higgins.
Wade knocked over five first half points accounting for all of his sides tally but great defensive work from Patrick McCarthy and Ryan Magill in particular nullified the rest of the Rossa attack leaving Wade fighting a lone battle.
Burren on the other hand had scorers throughout their forward line with two points each from Zach and Aaron Murdock along with one from Duggan leaving them with a commanding 2-12 to 0-5 half-time advantage.
Rossa began to tire as the second half progressed as an unrelenting Burren side began to find holes in their rearguard.
Man of the match Zach Murdock was their tormentor in chief bagging a hat-trick of goals, one of which was an outstanding effort from 25 yards off the bottom of the crossbar.
Two points from Wade and one from raiding half-back Michael Walls were the only response the Derry champions could muster as a well oiled Burren machine never let up.
A telling interception from James Kelly led to Duggan getting a well-deserved goal and further majors from Toner and Michael Murdock put a gloss on the final scoreline in a performance that will send shivers through the remaining sides in the chase for the coveted Paul McGirr title.
Burren manager Neil Coulter while delighted with his sides performance had some sympathy with Magherafelt’s plight.
‘‘We were very happy with the performance and application of the boys but we are only back at the stage we were at last year.'' he said.
‘‘We have a lot to work on for the Ghaoth Dobhair game but we will prepare well and are determined to go one step further this year.
‘‘The game was not a true reflection of this Magherafelt side as I felt the Derry final on Wednesday had a big effect on their game, we have clashed with them a few times before and they are a much better outfit than their performance showed today.
‘‘We were without midfielder Conlin Bradley today so fingers crossed we will get Conlin back for next week for what will be a tough battle.’
Burren: Callum Grant, Shea Downey, Patrick McCarthy, Aaron Cole, James Duggan (1-1), Ryan Magill, Eoin McKernan, Odhran Murdock (1-0 1 Pen), James Kelly, Aaron Murdock (0-2), Niall Toner (2-8, 3f), Tiarnan Ryan, Eoin Loughran, Zach Murdock (3-3, 1f), Michael Murdock (1-1)
Subs: Thomas O’Hare for Loughran, Cian Cunningham for A Murdock, Ben McManus for Kelly, Ronan Kelly for J Kelly
Magherafelt: Callum Campbell, Conor Grimes, Conall Heron, Lorcan Bradley, Ronan Walls (0-1), Eoin McEvoy, Aaron Murray, Dan Higgins, Cormac Bateson, Ben Diamond, John Lavery, Odhran Martin, Darragh Wade (0-8, 3f), Michael McKay, Odhran Crozier
Subs: James Murray for Crozier, Cahir Spiers for Martin, Cahir Quinn for Diamond, Tiarnan Loughran for Bradley, Jarlath Gormley for McKay, Pearse McGurk for Grimes
Referee: Kieran Eanetta (Tyrone)
