Clontibret edge St. Gall's
to make Ulster Minor Decider
Clontibret 0-11
St. Gall's (Antrim) 1-07
Publication: Northern
Standard
Date: 10th January 2002
Manager
Damien Moen praised his Clontibret players for a "battling"
display which earned them a place in the final of the Dale Farm Ulster
Club Minor Football tournament at Shaw's Road, Belfast, last Sunday.
Moen's
side bravely held out against St. Gall's of Antrim and in Vincent and
Martin Corey the Monaghan club had the perfect midfield partnership with
the Clontibret manager full of praise for the Corey brothers.
"Vincent
and Martin gave us a foothold in midfield but I thought the whole side
was outstanding and ran their socks off", said a delighted Damien
Moen.
A
14 minutes spell from the 37th to 52nd minutes turned this absorbing
semi-final in Clontibret's way as during that period they hit six
unanswered points to shoot into a 0-10 to 0-06 lead.
The
Corey brothers, Vincent and Martin, gave Clontibret a strong foothold in
midfield during the opening stages but gradually St. Gall's crept back
into the game and the teams were level three times during the first
quarter, Karl Stewart getting two of the losers' three points in that
time.
Kevin
Niblock then put St. Gall's ahead and Stewart extended their lead when
he hit a great free kick in the 18th minute to give the Belfast club a
0-5 to 0-3 advantage.
Chances
were at a premium in the closing ten minutes of the firs half with just
one score before half-time - a point by Paul McGuigan - to leave St.
Gall's 0-5 to 0-4 ahead at the interval. Although it must be said
that Clontibret could well have been ahead but for some poor finishing,
including a 30th minute free-kick that was badly missed, chances that
could have cost them dearly.
The
opening five minutes of the second half were unproductive for both sides
but when Karl Stewart, who finished with four points, converted another
free kick six minutes after the restart it seemed as if the Belfast side
would take control. Clontibret, however, had other ideas, Vincent
Corey made a dazzling run to create a chance for Paul McGuigan who
pointed and then Dessie Moen lofted over a magnificent free from out on
the left wing to bring Clontibret level once more at six points apiece.
Clontibret
now got their second wind and suddenly they slipped into a higher gear
with the Coreys again in midfield control and Brendan Og Magennis
growing in stature at centre-back, cleaning his lines and coming of
telling forays to supplement the attack. He struck a brilliant
long distance point to give his side the lead, Martin Corey added
another from out around midfield and from tout around midfield and from
the same distance. Vincent Corey pointed a great free-kick to put
Clontibret three ahead at this vital time. They extended their
lead shortly afterwards when Vincent Corey was again on target in the
51st minute to put Clontibret 0-10 to 0-6 ahead and looking very
assured.
It
looked good for the Monaghan champions at this stage but St. Gall's
weren't giving up and when a speculative lob in to the Clontibret
goalmouth bounced off a few hands before Sean McAreavey finished to the
net from close range their lead was reduced to the minimum and the game
set up for a nerve tingling finish with eight minutes left for play.
St.
Gall's might well have had a second goal minutes later when another
effort by substitute Paul Higgins came back off a post but this was the
last real chance St. Gall's had of clinching victory as Clontibret
regained their composure. Brendan Magennis sliced through for a
great point to put them two in front. Just on the hour Terry
O'Neill narrowed the gap to one point again but St. Gall's couldn't
breach the strong Clontibret defense in which full-bak Johnathon
McGuigan and Brendan Og Magennis were outstanding. The Corey
brothers in midfield, left half forward Dessie Mone and centre half
forward Paul McGuigan were also superb.
St.
Gall's battled bravely but against superior forces although Anto Healy
at left half-back did everything possible to stem the tide but the
dangerous half forward line of Karl Stewart, Terry O'Neill and Kevin
Niblock was expertly crowded out for the second half by Clontibret who
now meet Derry champions, Ballinderry, in next Saturday's final again at
Shaw's Road.
Clontibret: P McElroy; E Greenan, J McGuigan, C Evans; M McGarrell, B Og Magennis (0-2), P Duffy; V Corey (0-2, one free), M Corey (0-1); S Mulligan, P McGuigan (0-3), D Murphy; N Morgan, D McKeown, D Mone (0-3, one free). Subs: C Duffy for Mulligan (61
mins).
St Gall’s: C O’connor; S Walsh, C Kennedy, S Morrisn; D Sheehan, A McClean, A Healy; K McDonald, G Moore; K Stewart (0-4, three frees), T O’Neill (0-1), K Niblock (0-1); S McAreavey (1-0), J Gilliland, P Gribbon (0-1). Subs: P Higgins for Walsh, inj (45
mins)
Referee:
M. Convery (Derry).
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