AIB ULSTER CLUB JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINAL.
Blackhill (Monaghan) 0-19, Clonmore (Armagh) 0-8.
Monaghan Junior champions, Blackhill Emeralds, staged a scintillating second-half performance to blow away the challenge of Armagh champions, Clonmore, in this entertaining and well contested, if somewhat one-sided in the latter stages, quarter-final that was played in excellent if a little greasy conditions in Clones yesterday.
Clonmore started the better and had three points on the board after just seven minutes from Brendan Donaghy, two from frees, and Raymond McBennett, despite having Paul O’Donnell black carded after just three minutes for a late body check on Blackhill’s James Daly. Blackhill got off the mark through Michael Geehan from a free in the 10th minute and they began to settle better but were playing catch up as a lively Clonmore attack kept the scoreboard ticking over. By the end of the opening quarter Clonmore still led by two but by the 22nd minute Blackhill had fought back to parity with points by Michael Geehan, free, and Tommy Geehan before taking the lead for the first time with Hugh Byrne point in the 23rd minute. They were level twice in the closing stages with Blackhill re-taking the lead in stoppage time through Michael Geehan, free, to leave the half time score Blackhill 0-8, Clonmore 0-7. On the resumption Blackhill took an increasing grip on proceedings to rattle over 5 points without reply in the opening 9 minutes from Dermot Daly, free, Michael Geehan, Darren Woods, Hugh Byrne and Donal Courtney, with a half volley, to open a 6 points lead. Clonmore then registered their only point of the second-half in the 16th minute as Blackhill kept a tight grip on proceedings and had they been able to convert a couple of the goal chances they created they could have won by a greater margin. In the final quarter they kept the scoreboard ticking over through Michael Geehan, Dermot Daly and 2 from substitute Andrew Burns with Clonmore fading increasingly in the latter stages. Teams and Scorers: Blackhill: Michael Shevlin, Aaron Kenny, Donal Courtney 0-1, Thomas Courtney, Tommy Geehan 0-2, Ryan Courtney, James Daly, Anthony Courtney, Dermot Daly 0-3 (1f), Hugh Byrne 0-2, Philip Donnelly, Ciaran Courtney, Michael Geehan 0-5 (4f), Darren Woods 0-1, Colin Woods 0-3. Subs: Jason Finnegan for H Byrne, Andrew Burns 0-2 for D Woods, Eamonn Byrne for T Geehan, Pauric Murphy for C Courtney, Martin Comiskey for C Woods, Gerard McArdle for T Courtney.
Clonmore: Niall Foye, James Mullen, Philip Mullen, Ruairi Cunningham, Ryan Donnelly, Dominic McGeown, Daniel Mullen, James Fox, Caolan Donaghy 0-2, Martin Convie, Cathal Cunningham, Paul O’Donnell, Raymond McBennett 0-1, James Grimley 0-1 (f), Brendan Donaghy 0-4 (3f). Subs: Cathal Molloy for P O’Donnell (Black Card). Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan).
By Mary McEneaney Sun 30th Oct
