On a glorious summer evening in Edendork, Coalisland weathered a late Clonoe storm to deservedly win last night’s hard-fought derby.
Well-worked goals from Bailey Leonard, in the first half, and tireless veteran Plunkett Kane in the second were the key scores in the Na Fianna side’s victory and although Clonoe were level at the break and fought to the finish, they could have few complaints at the final result.
Normally the ground would have been packed by thousands of frenzied fans. Last night the lucky few who got tickets enjoyed a cracking, attacking game from start to finish and the opposing fans faced each along either side of the pitch, cheering their own scores and cursing their opponents’ with equal vigour.
Na Fianna, without the injured Padraig Hampsey, ran the ball at every opportunity and the industry and pace of their half-forward line of Peter Herron, Bailey Leonard and Cormac O’Hagan allowed them to race into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Leonard scored two of them (one a free) and Tiarnan Quinn got the other.
Meanwhile, Clonoe looked to kick long and direct to full-forward Connor McAlliskey who gave an early indication of his class when he drifted left to take possession turned Michael McKernan and sent a curling right-footed shot over the bar.
Stephen McNulty and PJ Lavery got the O’Rahilly’s back on terms and the sides swapped two more points apiece before Na Fianna seized control of the game when Leonard found a pocket of space under the Clonoe posts and sent a side-foot finish into the corner of Mickey O’Neill’s net.
Quinn’s audacious dummy created the space for veteran Plunkett Kane to send Coalisland four points in front and meanwhile, McAlliskey was looking increasingly frustrated as a succession of hopeful forward punts drifted over his head.
But Clonoe only needed one to work and their persistence paid off when Daryl Magee plucked a long ball out of the air, off-loaded it to McAlliskey and then charged headlong at the Coalisland posts. McAlliskey returned the ball with a clever fist pass and Magee slipped a shot under Peter Donnelly.
Ryan McCabe’s second of the half left it all-square 1-6 to 1-6 at the break.
The second half was more physical and the stakes rose as the minutes ticked by. McAlliskey’s free sent Clonoe ahead for the first time but Stephen McDonnell’s side struggled to match Coalisland’s workrate and quality. Na Fianna hit six points and two of them – Patrick McNeice’s swerving effort from the left touchline and Quinn's point on the run – brought their supporters to their feet in delight.
Jason Carberry’s score left it 1-12 to 1-8 and although Declan McClure replied, Kane swapped passes with Peter Herron and smashed home Coalisland second goal.
When he added a point it looked like Clonoe’s number was up but two McAlliskey frees and a point from Paul Coney reduced the deficit to four. Sean Corr settled Coalisland nerves but McAlliskey and Rhys Quinn ensured the game went right to the wire.
Five minutes of nail-biting injury-time had already elapsed when Clonoe won a late free. Daryl Magee sent it into the square and McClure swung a fist as it dropped. He missed it though and Coalisland scrambled it away as the final whistle blew.
Clonoe: M O’Neill; C O’Neill, R Quinn (0-1), J Taggart; C Corr, P Doris (0-2), R Coney; S McNulty (0-1 free), D McClure (0-1); PJ Lavery (0-1), F McClure, P Coney (0-1); D Magee, C McAlliskey (0-5, 0-4 frees), C Doris
Subs: R McCabe (0-1) for S McNulty (25)
Coalisland Na Fianna: P Donnelly; E Hampsey, L O’Neill, C Doyle; M McKernan, S McNally, N Kerr; P Kane (1-3), J Carberry (0-1); P Herron; C O’Hagan (0-2, 0-1 45), B Leonard (1-2, 0-1 free); P McGahan, P McNiece (0-2), T Quinn (0-3, 0-2 frees)
Subs: S Corr (0-1) for McGahan
Referee S Hurson (Galbally)
