Donnelly Group Armagh SFC semi-final: Clann Eireann 1-9 Maghery 2-17
MAGHERY qualified for their first county final since 1993 following a comfortable 11-point victory over Clann Eireann at the Athletic Grounds last night.
Shane McConville’s side were far too good for their Lurgan opponents and now await the winners of tomorrow’s semi-final between Crossmaglen and Cullyhanna.
Aidan Forker missed a good early chance and Conor Mackle and Stephen Cusack did likewise before Ronan Lappin’s catch and pass sent Cusack through again and this time he made no mistake to open the scoring in favour of McConville’s men.
Moments later Cusack added another and with James Lavery controlling midfield, Maghery continued to dominate.
Two more wides brought their tally to four but when Paul McKenna hit the upright at the other end when going for a point, Maghery broke up the field and Mackle made it 0-3 to 0-0 after 15 minutes.
Former Armagh attacker Ryan Henderson did his best to drive Clann Eireann on, but Barry Seely fired wide before Mackle produced another classy finish.
Stefan Forker added another before Henderson opened Clann Eireann’s account after 18 minutes.
A Stefan Forker free cancelled that out before Shea Tennyson kicked from distance over the massed orange and white defence to make it 0-7 to 0-1.
The elusive Mackle popped over his third as the game started to get away from Kieran Robinson’s side.
McKenna did have a sniff of goal as he held off his marker and collected Henderson’s free, but his handling let him down and Maghery countered for Tennyson to grab his second score.
Aidan Forker had his shot well saved by Sean Corey before Jack Wilson’s point gave Clann Eireann some hope.
Those hopes were dashed in the final play of the half though. Aidan Forker out-muscled Barry McCambridge to collect Ben Crealey’s Hail Mary. He dummied McCambridge before firing emphatically past Corey to leave the Loughshore men 1-9 to 0-2 ahead at the break.
Clann Eireann needed a quick start to the second half and Henderson provided that with the opening score but Stefan Forker quickly responded with a beautiful point from a sideline kick.
Clann Eireann went in search of a goal, but Jack Wilson was denied by Johnny Montgomery before Chris McCafferty brought the margin back to nine points.
Montgomery was again called into action to deny McKenna, but Henderson did point to make it 1-10 to 0-5.
Mackle grabbed another score before a Tennyson goal effectively ended the contest. The Maghery man showed excellent composure to palm the ball past the advancing Corey before toe-poking over the line.
Crealey and Aidan Forker added scores to make it 2-13 to 0-5 after 45 minutes before Adam Kelly marked his introduction with a fine point for Clann Eireann.
The same player followed that up with a goal in the 49th minute, racing clear before placing the ball in the top corner of Montgomery’s net.
Henderson grabbed two more points either side of a Stefan Forker free before Seamus Forker got his name on the scoresheet to leave it 2-16 to 1-8.
McKenna kicked a late score for the Lurgan men before Conor Forker finished the scoring to leave it 2-17 to 1-9.
