Bank of Ireland Paddy McLarnon Cup quarter-final:
Kilcar (Donegal) 0-7 John Mitchel’s, Magheracloone (Monaghan) 0-11
KILCAR lost this Bank of Ireland Ulster U21 club football quarter-final despite having the two best performers on the pitch - they might have won it if they’d had their three best-known players there too.
Magheracloone were good value for their victory, which probably should have come by a wider margin, but there was much discussion about the Donegal side missing their three senior panellists - Ryan McHugh, Eoin McHugh and Stephen McBrearty - who were not released from a county challenge game.
Half-forward Andrew McClean and midfielder Aiden McGinley did their best to keep Kilcar in contention, even though the latter had an early penalty saved, but Magheracloone deserved to overcome them. Indeed, the south Monaghan side were never behind - in fact, Kilcar were only level for about three minutes throughout, mostly between the 49th and 52nd minutes.
Magheracloone mentor Tommy Freeman, who is involved along with his brother Damien and Paudie Finnegan, certainly felt his team got just reward for their efforts, saying: “It was a tough battle, but our lads worked extremely hard, that’s our key philosophy - we believe, if you put in the workrate, the rest of it will fall into place.
“I thought, over the whole match, we were the slightly stronger team. Second-half, we were all over them, but we just couldn’t put it on the scoreboard and Kilcar, in fairness to them, came back and pulled it to a draw. But our boys dug deep and got a great win for us.”
Kilcar seemed more adversely affected by their late arrival - apparently due to their bus breaking down - and Magheracloone made a bright beginning, going four points to one up by the end of the first quarter. Indeed, the Monaghan lads went ahead inside 15 seconds when corner-forward Alan McCaghey, who went on to top score with 0-7 (four frees), opened the scoring and his free-taking helped them to a 0-5 to 0-3 half-time advantage.
Kilcar could have gone in front after 10 minutes, but goalkeeper Jack Kirk leapt to his left to keep out McGinley’s penalty kick after Chris Doogan was adjudged to have been fouled.
Magheracloone made some positional switches at the break, sending the burly midfielder Michael Metzger to full-forward, with wing-back Alan Kieran replacing him at centre-field and they really should have sealed victory early in the second-half. However, they missed a series of chances for scores, including an early goal opportunity for McCaghey, who sidefooted wide on the run after Metzger had soared to catch a kick-pass and lay the ball off.
Kilcar took advantage of those let-offs, with Andrew McClean cleverly working his third point from play before McGinley reeled off three consecutive scores, although he also missed a free. Suddenly, it was seven points apiece going into the last 10 minutes but Magheracloone re-grouped to take the win, with Kilcar unable to add any more scores.
The Monaghan champs’ captain James Lambe put them back in front and McCaghey scored two points and set up another for midfielder Daniel Hand to ensure the victory. Their reward is a dubious one, a semi-final place against holders Glen, Maghera, and the Mitchel’s will know they will have to be much better to reach the decider.
In the other semi-final, Antrim champions St John’s, Belfast were drawn against their Armagh counterparts St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna.
MATCH STATS
Kilcar: M Cunningham; E O’Donnell, J Shovelin, JJ McNelis; C Cannon, J Mooney, E Sweeney; A McGinley (0-3, 0-2 frees), D Lyons; E Byrne, M McClean (0-1 free), A McClean (0-3); C Doogan, J Campbell, N Sweeney; Subs: P McShane for Byrne (35).
Magheracloone: J Kirk; J Carolan, P McArdle, C Freeman; A Kieran, K Rudden, J Lambe (0-1); D Hand (0-1), M Metzger; D Kirk, J Coleman (0-1), P McMahon (0-1); D Babington, P Kirk, A McCaghey (0-7, 0-4 frees); Subs: C McClory for Babington (46).
Referee: E McAuley.
