Clann Éireann 3-13; Clan na Gael 0-15
The battle of the Lurgan Clan(n)s ended with Clann Éireann claiming the bragging right as they had seven points to spare in winning their fourth county title on Saturday.
In a year when the Orchard County ruled the roost nationally, it was hardly surprising that one of Kieran McGeeney’s stalwarts in capturing Sam Maguire – Conor Turbitt – should prove the difference between the two local sides after weighing in with eight points in a MVP showing at the Athletic Grounds.
This was a real derby affair with both teams going all out for victory. As the game unfolded the difference between the two sides was the fact that Clann Éireann got the first cut with a goal after four minutes and then one near the end to wrap up the final as a contest.
Emmett Magee was the instigator and scorer, having won successive marks and frees to interchange with All Star nominee Turbitt before finding the back of the net.
Shane McParlan and Stefan Campbell got Clan na Gael up and running before once that goal went in, there was no looking back. The losers tried hard and just when it seemed they were working their way back into the fray, Clann stunned them with a green flag.
Turbitt and GPA Player of the Year favorite Barry McCambridge stuck over points and then McPartlan, Campbell and Jack Lavery cut the margin so that coming up to the interval they were very much back in contention.
Until that is that man Turbitt yet again proved his worth when following a long run he found McCambridge with a fisted pass. The defender took the ball on the full and reversed a pass to Jack Conlon, who despite having his back to goal, leveraged the ball past stranded ‘keeper Ryan Conway to give his side a 2-6 to 0-6 advantage going in for the break.
Campbell and McPartlan both tried to get their side back into the ball game with fine points but Turbitt was un-markable and scored at will to keep his side outside of touching distance to their opponents.
When Michael McConville was red carded albeit with time almost up, the Clan squad had a mountain to climb - and that became an impossible task when Conor McConville punched home at the death for his side’s third goal.
Clann Éireann: E Mulholland; S Heffron, M O’Shea, C O’Connell; B McCambridge (0-1), S McCarthy, R Owens; T Kelly, C McConville (1-0); JConlon (1-1), D Magee, A Kelly; R McDonald (0-2), C Turbitt (0-8, 0-2f), E Magee (1-1) Subs: D McCarthy for A Kelly (38’), R Meehan (0-1) for D Magee (38’), J Magee for J Conlon (42’), R Frinse for C O’Carroll (63’).
Clan na Gael: R Conway; S McClarnon, S McCann, J Lavery (0-1); N Loney, M McConville (0-1), J Brady; D O’Hagan; S McPartlan (0-6, 0-5f); B O’Hagan (0-1f), N Henderson, C O’Neill; M Ward, S Campbell (0-5, 0-3f, D Loney Subs: C France (0-1) for B O’Hagan (42’), M Lennon for D O’Hagan (42’).
Ref: P Hughes (Crossmaglen).
Errigal Ciaran 0-12; Trillick 1-8
Revenge was sweet on Friday night for Errigal Ciaran as they won their second Tyrone SF title in three years and made amends for last year’s defeat by Trillick at Healy Park.
Storm Ahsley had intervened the previous Sunday to push the game back to the unusual Friday date but one man who won’t be complaining was Darragh Canavan – he used the extra days to get over his lingering shoulder injury which he picked up at the semi-final stage against Killyclogher.
And while he was an influential player on the night, it was brother Ruairi who stepped up with a MVP display, scoring half his side’s 0-12 points in the course of the hour.
Errigal just shaded the exchanges and led by the minimum 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.
The Canavans were to the fore in this moiety with both getting on the score sheet and keeping the Trillick defense on its toes at all times.
While the losers had initially the better start on the changeover, it was Errigal who slowly took control and only for some heroic defending by county man Rory Brennan, they could have extended their lead.
When Odhran Robinson slotted over a fine point to put them four ahead, it looked as if there was no way back for the holders. However they showed their mettle from there to the final whistle by staging a strong rally with Mattie Donnelly’s inspirational score from way out and an acute angle giving his supporters hope that they could wrestle back control.
That outcome seemed on the cards when Stephen O'Donnell fisted onto Ciaran Daly, who raised the only green flag of the evening by beating keeper Darragh McAnenly with an angled shot.
With the game now in the melting pit, it was Ruairi Canavan who once again stood up by landing a monster point from the right wing - a score fitting of any occasion and one which won this final as it brought down the curtain on the scoring.
Afterwards winning manager and former Tyrone star Enda McGinley
said: “It was probably our best display in this year's championship and it had to be. Our start to the second half pushed us four clear, but we knew that Trillick weren't finished and while they got that goal, I was glad that it came at the time it did and not late on when you would have no time to respond. We have St.Eunan’s next Saturday in the Ulster club, but I have told the lads to enjoy the next few days and take it all in as county titles are special and need to be celebrated,” he stressed.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly: Cormac Quinn, A McCrory, Ciaran Quinn; P Óg McCartan (0-1), N Kelly, T Colhoun; B McDonnell (0-1), J Oguz; P McGirr, P Harte (0-1f), C McGinley; D Canavan (0-2), O Robinson (0-1), R Canavan (0-6, 0-3f) Subs: T Canavan for McGinley, M Kavanagh for Colhoun, E Kelly for McCartan, P Traynor for McGirr.
Trillick: J Maguire; Stephen O'Donnell, P McCaughey, D Gallagher; C Garrity, R Brennan, Sean O'Donnell; R Donnelly, L Gray; C Daly (1-0), M Donnelly (0-2), R Gray (0-2); D Donnelly, L Brennan (0-3f) J Garrity (0-1) Subs: Michael Gallagher for R Gray, D Tunney for Stephen O'Donnell.
Ref: S Hurson, Galbally.
Scotstown 1-10; Clontibret 0-8
Clontibret had Conor McManus and Vinny Corey and also a fierce determination to succeed but then Scotstown had stars in every line and ultimately had too much firepower which saw them retain their Monaghan title with five points to spare at a rain-lashed Clones on Sunday.
The key moment of the game came early in the second half when intercounty star Jack McCarron showed his class and quick-thinking to lob home the only goal from 40 yards with the opposing ‘keeper up the field.
In a low scoring encounter, the holders led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time. They had scored two points to their opponents’ one early in the second half when in the 39th minute McCarron struck. That came after Clontibret were turned over inside their own half, allowing the gifted forward to send an inch-perfect long delivery to the net.
This put his side five points up and thereafter scores were at a premium, with the holder, who have now won nine titles in the past dozen years, keeping that comfortable five-point differential to the end.
Scotstown: R Beggan (0-2, 0-1f, 0-1 ‘45); J McDevitt (0-1), D McArdle (Capt 0-1), S Treanor; S Carey (0-2, 0-1f), K Hughes, C McCarthy (0-1); G McPhillips, M McCarville; D Murray, R O’Toole, J Hamill; M Maguire, J McCarron (1-3, 0-3f), D Hughes Subs: J Carey for Treanor, F Maguire for M Maguire (both 36); M McPhillips for Hamill (56); N Sherlock for Murray, DMorgan for McDevitt (both 59).
Clontibret: D McDonnell; C Doyle, C Boyle (Capt.), J Gormley; D McDonnell, K Lavelle (0-1), A Carey; B Greenan, F Hughes (0-1); K Greenan, D Hughes (0-1m), R McGuigan (0-1); C McCooey, C McManus (0-3, 0- 2f, 0-1 s-l), C Greenan Subs: D Mone (0-1) for C Greenan (39); D McDonnell for K Greenan, V Corey for McCooey (both 42); C Greenan for McGuigan (55).
Ref: M McNally (Corduff).
