AIB Ulster Club IFC quarter-final: Bredagh (Down) 1-17 Donaghmoyne Fontenoys’ (Monaghan) 2-17 (after extra-time)
DONAGHMOYNE edged out Bredagh after extra-time in an always intriguing, AIB Ulster Intermediate Club Championship quarter-final at Pairc Esler yesterday.
The Down champions though were seconds away from winning as, with mere seconds remaining in injury time, they led by a point.
But Donaghmoyne star corner-forward David Garland kicked a high pressure 25-yard free-kick to take the match into extra-time.
And just 16 seconds into the second period of that extra-time, substitute Darren McElroy fired home a goal that in effect knocked the heart from Bredagh and gave Donaghmoyne the incentive to go on and win their way through to the last four in Ulster.
For all of the 60 minutes of normal time there wasn’t a kick of the ball between these sides with Bredagh’s deadly duo of Alan Davidson and Donal Hughes hitting all but three of their side’s scores.
On the other hand, David Garland fired over nine Monaghan scores, but the man-of-the-match was the blisteringly fast corner-forward Stephen Finnegan who grabbed a classy goal late in the opening half.
Ronan McDonald opening the scoring with a free on three minutes, but 60 seconds later Bredagh replied with a vengeance, Conor Francis setting up Alan Davidson and the former Newry City and Ballymena soccer player checked past a defender before drilling low into the net.
David Garland and McDonald pulled the sides level, but the dangerous Hughes then twice fired over the Monaghan bar with frees.
Bredagh added points from Niall Mulholland and Hughes, while Donaghmoyne replied through Frank Markey, David Garland (0-2) and Padraig Donaghy.
After 22 minutes the teams were all square, but the Belfast side edged in front via Davidson and Hughes.
Padraig Donaghy scored at the other end and the Monaghan men got a further lift when, on 27 minutes, Donaghy played in Stephen Finnegan who scorched down the left before finishing with a wicked low drive into the net.
Davidson, however, then pointed twice to bring the sides level at the break.
On the restart, Hughes and Davidson put Bredagh in front although Donaghmoyne reversed that lead when Garland pointed three times.
Points however, from Bredagh substitute Brain Rice and Joe Shields gave the advantage to the Down champions and there were but eight minutes left for play.
Garland levelled for the Monaghan men, but with three minutes remaining Davidson hit a super score that looked like a winning one.
Two minutes of injury-time were announced and played when Donaghmoyne were awarded a free-kick that Garland lofted over the bar to bring the match into extra-time.
Hughes pointed twice in the first period with Niall Keenan replying at the other end.
But 20 seconds after the teams turned around, substitute Darren McElroy cut in from the left flank and fired into the Down net. And the Monaghan men added three more points in quick succession via Frank Markey, Garland and McDonald.
Bredagh scored a couple of late points though Davidson and Hughes, but it just wasn’t enough.
MATCH STATS
Bredagh: J Duffin; O Costello, D O’Hara, C Savage; M Magee, E Costello, K Dornan; N Kelly, J Shields (0-1); C Francis, A Davidson (1-6), C Toland; D Hughes (0-8, 0-4 frees), N Mulholland (0-1), P McLoughlin Subs: M Robinson for Magee (28), B Rice (0-1) for E Costello (48), K Devlin for Kelly (78). Black card: N Mulholland replaced by S Blaney (62)
Donaghmoyne: S Garland; S Markey, M Murnaghan, S Cunningham; C Coleman, S Kelly, F Keenan; N Keenan (0-1), F Markey (0-2); N Garland, P Donaghy (0-2), R McDonald (0-3, 0-2 frees); D Garland (0-9, 0-4 frees), S McElroy, S Finnegan (1-0) Subs: A Courtney for McElroy (54), D McElroy (1-0) for Cunningham (67) Black cards: D Garland replaced by J Comiskey (80)
Referee: Martin Conroy
