Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Clontibret 1-11 Monaghan Harps 1-11 28/9/13
Clontibret and Monaghan Harps finished all-square after an exciting finish to this SFC semi-final in Clones last Saturday. Clontibret led by eight points at one stage midway through the second half when Conor McManus scored his third goal in successive championship matches, but a Shane Smyth strike helped the Harps turn the game around with a strong finish. McManus, Anthony Rooney, Martin Corey and Conor Boyle led the way for Clontibret, while Shane Smyth, Conor Galligan, Dónal Hahessy and sub Fearghal McMahon were central to the Harps comeback.
Clontibret started well with points by Anthony Rooney and Fergal Mone in the opening two minutes, before Rooney linked up with Noel Morgan to double his tally. Dónal Hahessy got the Harps off the mark from a 20-metre free after a foul on Shane Smyth and although Michael McEniff hit back for Clontibret, the scores soon dried up. Smyth got one back for the Harps and Neil McAdam closed the gap to the minimum when he won and scored a 40-metre free, but Fergal Mone won a 20-metre free for Conor McManus to give Clontibret a 0-5 to 0-3 half-time lead.
Vincent Corey hit the first point of the second half and he also had a shot saved by Harps keeper Cónall McKenna at the end of a strong run, with his follow-up effort going wide. Dónal Hahessy replied with a well-taken point, but McManus then took over with a brace of points from frees and a clinically-finished goal.
Shane Coyle got a point back for the Harps and Hahessy converted a brace of frees after fouls on McAdam and sub Fearghal McMahon. Dónal Hahessy then landed a fine score from play, before Shane Smyth got on the end of a high ball from Niall Hahessy to fire to the net. Rooney won a 30-metre free for McManus to restore Clontibret’s two-point lead, but McAdam replied from a 40-metre free, after he had been fouled, before a point from play by McMahon brought the Harps level. A spectacular point by Martin Corey looked set to see Clontibret over the line, but McMahon held his nerve from a 30-metre free after a foul on Smyth to give the Harps another chance.
Clontibret: A Morgan; M Corey (0-1), C Greenan, C Boyle; D Mooney, D Mone, B Greenan; A Rooney (0-2), E Greenan; D Savage, V Corey (0-1), M McEniff (0-1); N Morgan (0-1f), C McManus (Capt., 1-4, 0-4f), F Mone (0-1).
Subs: P McGuigan for C Greenan (42 mins), JP Mone for Mooney (45), R Gorman for F Mone (52).
Monaghan Harps: C McKenna; A Óg McAnespie, D Hughes, K Loughran; C Galligan, N McAdam (0-2f), G Treanor; S Driver, G White (Capt.); N Hahessy, D Hahessy (0-5, 3f), P Rushe; L Hahessy, S Smyth (1-1), N Treanor.
Subs: N Scott for G Treanor (inj., 25), E McArdle for Rushe (H-T), S Coyle (0-1) for Hughes (inj., 36), P Coyle for N Treanor (44), F McMahon (0-2, 1f) for L Hahessy (50).
Referee: M McMahon (Aughnamullen).
By cshalvey Sat 5th Oct
