Ulster Club Junior Football Championship semi-final: Stewartstown Harps (Tyrone) 2-15 Letterkenny Gaels (Donegal) 2-5
STEWARTSTOWN had all the hard work done by half-time, and pushed on to rack up a 10-point winning margin as they powered through to the Ulster Club JFC final.
Their teamwork and finishing power proved too much for a Letterkenny side that was always chasing the game, but battled to the end, pulling back two late goals.
Dan Lowe led the Harps attack with aplomb, hitting 1-6, with Gareth Devlin’s six-point haul making a big contribution as the Tyrone champions set up a meeting with Cavan side Drumlane next Saturday at Clones.
Lowe, Devlin and Conor Quinn were all on target as Stewartstown went five points clear, before a defensive error allowed Lowe in for a 26th minute goal.
The Donegal side lacked penetration, with Conor McBrearty hitting their sole first half score from a free, and at the break, they trailed by 1-7 to 0-1.
McBrearty’s place-kicking represented Letterkenny’s only genuine threat, and while he landed a couple more, Stewartstown pushed on to lead by 1-10 to 0-3 at the end of the third quarter.
Despite losing Ronan Frain to a black card, Letterkenny closed the gap when McBrearty slotted home a 52nd minute penalty after substitute Matthew Winter had been fouled.
But Stewartstown responded with their second goal, Lowe and Gearard O’Neill combining for substitute Anton Coyle hitting the net on 55 minutes.
The Gaels battled to the end, pulling back a goal as midfielder Paddy Doherty punched home Frain’s cross, but they had too much to do, and finished with 14 men, following the straight red card dismissal of Ray Quinn.
Stewartstown: G Kelly; J Park, D Devlin, C Quinn (0-1); K Robinson, M Rooney, T Rush; S Talbot, C Devlin; G O’Neill, D Lowe (1-6, 0-1 frees), D McElhatton; T Lowe, M Quinn, G Devlin (0-6, 0-2 frees).
Subs: A Coyle (1-0) for T Lowe, Q O’Neill for Rush, E O’Donnell for G O’Neill, J Mitchell for Park, D Coyle for McElhatton
Letterkenny: R Graham; L McAlarey, N Diver, C Browne; S McDonagh, R Quinn, D O Cathail; B O’Brien, P Doherty (1-0); B Diver (0-1), D Hunter, S Doherty; R Frain, C McBrearty (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-4 frees), C Walker.
Subs: D McBrearty for O’Brien, C Cannon for Walker, K Margey for D McBrearty, P Doherty for McAlarey, M Winter for S Doherty.
Referee: M Moore (Down).
