Clontibret Notes

Senior League

We are due to play Ballybay on Sunday, 13^th July away at 2pm.

Reserve League Division 1

There will be a possible match next Wednesday evening.

McKeown Cup

Clontibret 4-12, Toome 4-9. This was an epic, free-scoring battle against Toome in the first round of the championship. It was end to end all the way but as we entered the final quarter it looked all lost as Toome took a 5 point lead. However, the boys rallied to score a goal and 5 points to win by 3. Well done on a gritty performance.

Reserve League Division 3

In this league, our next outing is against Killanny in the semi-final. Date to be fixed.

U16

We played Donaghmoyne on Tuesday, result next week.

This evening, Thursday, we take on the Harps at home at 7.30pm.

Next Thursday, 10^th July we are away to Scotstown at 8pm.

U14 League

We play Cremartin on Saturday week, 12^th July at 12pm.

U14 Championship

Clontibret 7-19, Corduff 4-13. A huge congratulations to our star u14 team who won the u14 championship title by overcoming Corduff on Thursday last. This was a fabulous achievement by a talented bunch of lads. We were the superior side on the day and led throughout. Corduff fought back bravely but our boys stuck to the task to see us over the finish line to claim the title. Shea Gorman accepted the cup on behalf of his teammates and amid great celebrations. Well done to the boys and their fantastic management team of Shane McMahon, Pauric Boyle and Christopher Tedore.

U14 Feile

Our U14’s travelled to Slaughtmanus in Co. Derry on Saturday last to compete in the Ulster Provincial Feile competition. Fresh from winning the championship, the team travelled in good spirits as the first Clontibret team to compete in this new competition, initiated by the Ulster Council to cater for Division 2 and Division 3 teams throughout Ulster.

The first fixture scheduled for the Boys was against Atticall of Co. Down but following the Down team’s decision not to travel, Clontibret were awarded the points and were fast tracked to the second game where they faced Kildress of Co. Tyrone.

Following a tense opening few minutes where the boys had to get to grips with playing 15-a-side for the first time, as well as having to play on a full size senior pitch, Clontibret started to gain control and following 2 goals, including a cracker from the impressive Conor McCooey, the boys led at the break against a much more physical Kildress side. With captain Shea Gorman following on from where he left off on Thursday evening, ably assisted by the athletic Adam Sylvestre in midfield, Clontibret continued to keep Kildress at arms’ length throughout the second half to record a fantastic victory.

Final Score: Clontibret 3-03 Kildress 1-01

Following a break and some lunch, provided by the very welcoming Slaughtmanus GAA club, the lads now faced into a winner-takes-all game against Naomh Brid of Donegal. Again our lads faced an uphill battle against a bigger, stronger, more physical side plying their trade in the Donegal Division 2 League. Clontibret started off well and again defied the odds with a stunning solo goal from the pacy Darren McMahon laying the foundations for a 9 point lead at the break. McMahon received the ball on the 45m line took his man on and could not be caught as he raced towards goal and finished to the back of the net. After the break, Clontibret found things much more difficult, and with Naomh Brid scoring two goals in quick succession, the lads had to withstand wave after wave of attack in the closing stages. The rock solid defensive unit of Conor Molloy, Michael Mohan and Brendan McCully put everything on the line to ensure their superb goalkeeper David Brennan was protected in the goal. A nervous last few minutes ensued as Naomh Brid cut Clontibret’s lead to 3 points and sought a crucial goal to tie the game. However, following a goal-mouth scramble, Clontibret broke up the field with the ball finally making its way to Conor McCooey who landed a huge point to seal the win. McCooey went on to score a rather fortuitous goal from the restart to put some gloss on the victory and ensure passage to the Quarter Finals.

Final Score: Clontibret 4-02 Naomh Brid 2-01

The lads then had an hour and a half to spare and in the meantime had the chance to view their potential Quarter Final opponents in the game between Slaughtmanus of Derry and Sean Stensons of Antrim. Following a bruising encounter between these two impressive outfits, Sean Stensons came through to provide our lads with what seemed like an impossible task in the next round. The game started with an impressive point from the Sean Stensons midfielder and it looked like a long game was in store for our lads with fatigue seemingly beginning to set it. However, the drama that followed could have never been predicted. It was very much a cagey affair for the next couple of minutes with both sides having attacks that led to nothing. However the game exploded into life 6 minutes in when Clontibret raided down the left. Following a neat exchange between Darren McMahon and Conor McCooey, McCooey blasted to the net to turn the game on its head and keep his impressive streak going. This goal served only to waken up the Sean Stensons team and they started to move through the gears and impose their physical dominance on the game. Clontibret had their ‘keeper David Brennan to thank again when faced with a one on one with the Sean Stensons full forward, David somehow managed to pull off a fantastic save, diving to his right, pushing the ball out with one hand.  Clontibret quickly broke once again and another move was finished to the net to shock the Sean Stensons team and send the traveling Clontibret support into raptures and our lads into the break leading by 2 points. Clontibret came off at the break to massive applause not only from our own support but also from the neutrals from other clubs who had gathered and taken a keen interest in the game, having finished as runners up to both teams in the group stages. The lads emerged for the second half determined to finish the job and points were exchanged by both sides to leave Clontibret leading by four with 5 minutes remaining. At this stage every nail was being bitten and every ball being kicked especially by the parents in attendance with Anthony Molloy trying to block every ball with his son Conor at corner back, Patricia Gorman striving to catch every ball in midfield beside Shea and Gerry Brennan almost standing beside David in nets to prevent any further goals!!! The tension became unbearable when Stensons kicked to the net in the final minutes to leave one between the sides. And then the drama! With time up and everyone on the Clontibret side urging the referee to blow for full time, Sean Stensons advanced up the field for one final attack and from what seemed like a fair tackle, well outside the sqaure, the referee somehow managed to make a decision and award Stensons a penalty and a chance to win the game. With David Brennan dancing on the line, the unlucky penalty taker managed to drag his penalty wide past the right hand post. There was one final heart attack for everyone involved when the referee somehow permitted Sean Stensons to have one final attack and the last kick of the game came down to a sideline ball. Fortunately this came to nothing and the referee finally blew for full time to send the Clontibret support into raptures following a nerve wracking, draining game.

Final Score: Clontibret 3-03 Sean Stensons 1-08

There was no time to waste, however, as we were informed that we had to pack up immediately and make our way down to Dungiven for the semi-final with the lads getting a chance to line out and play at the impressive Owen Beg facilities, home of the Derry Senior County teams. The Clontibret contingent all followed across the mountains and at this stage all thoughts of getting back to Clones for the Monaghan v Armagh match were firmly put to one side and all focus was centered on the semi-final with the boys now sensing they were on the verge of something.

Unfortunately the semi final proved one step too far for our talented young team as we came up against a very impressive Eoghan Rua outfit from Coleraine and the lads bowed out with heads held high following an absolutely unbelievable day where they exceeded all expectations and provided so much entertainment for all supporters.

Squad on the day: David Brennan, Conor Molloy, Michael Mohan, Brendan McCully, Brian Macklin, Ronan O’Reilly, Ronan Boyle, Shea Gorman (Capt.) Adam Sylvestre, Paddy Keenan, Conor McCooey, Kian Quinn, Darren McMahon, Nathan Power, Emmet Walsh, Shane McEneaney, Jack Coyle

What these lads have achieved in the last number of days is nothing short of sensational and following their success in the championship final on Thursday, to back that up with a top four finish in Ulster shows how far this team has come. The club is very proud of them and it is onward and upwards for this team.

U12s

Clontibret 1-10, Donaghmoyne 4-6. We fought gallantly against Donaghmoyne right to the bitter end but were left to rue missed chances as Donaghmoyne ran out winners in the end.

We play Doohamlet on Saturday at 12pm in Clontibret.

Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6.30pm.

U10 Boys

Training continues on Wednesday nights at 6.30pm on the field.

U8 Boys

U6s

Training at the usual time of 6.30pm to 7.15pm on Friday evening. Everybody welcome for fun and skill for all.