Maghery 0-13 Clann Eireann 0-12
For the second occasion during the Senior Championship Quarter Finals, extra time was called upon to decide a winner.
It worked this time around as Maghery clinched a one-point win to book their place in the last four of the competition.
It was anything but convincing. In fact, Clann Eireann should have pushed on and won the game in normal time as they were marginally the better side throughout.
Maghery showed all the grit and experience needed to battle back and they came from three points down to force a draw and eventually earn the win.
The weather conditions denied any free-flowing football with the basic skills of the game a real challenge with the football taking the form of a bar of soap at times.
A slow and ponderous first half saw Clann Eireann just edge ahead, as both sides filled their defence and felt each other out.
The shadow boxing continued in the second half and it was the Lurgan men who looked like landing the knockout punch early on.
The loss of John Magee was detrimental to their hopes, as Magee had been doing great work around the centre of the field.
Conor Turbitt’s pointed free on the 18th minute saw his side lead at the first water break, 0-4 to 0-3, before Tiernan Kelly landed a huge score to stretch the advantage to two.
Maghery tagged on a brace, Oisin Cushnahan striking from the dead ball while Gerard Campbell landed a superb score to tie the game.
Turbitt sailed over his fourth of the opening period before the referee blew the short whistle, Tommy Coleman’s men ahead 0-6 to 0-5.
Two ‘Turbo’ frees opened up a three-point gap and it looked for a while that a shock could be on the cards.
Cushnahan curled over yet another placed ball effort before Brian Fox cut the deficit to a single score.
Magee was then sent to the line for an off-the-ball incident while Steven Fox was black carded for Maghery, the sides numerically equal for the next ten minutes.
A fantastic block in defence denied Conor McConville a match-winning goal and Clann Eireann would have to settle for a Daniel Magee point.
Cushnahan continued to keep Maghery in touch with his accuracy from frees while Conor McConville eventually got on the score sheet, this time opting to fist the ball over the bar.
Heading into the final ten minutes, Clann Eireann held a two-point advantage but just couldn’t do enough to see the game out.
Cushnahan closed the gap while Aidan Forker hit his first of the night, a wonder-point, to bring the game to extra time.
A goal would have been massive in this game, and it was Seamus Forker provided with the chance but couldn’t take it and the game lived on.
A Tiarnan Kelly turnover in the middle saw Clann Eireann break at pace and Barry McCambridge, who was fantastic on the night, pointed after a beautiful through-ball from Conor Turbitt.
Maghery bounced back once again and Aidan Forker swung over a free to level the game at the interval, both sides locked on 0-11 each.
Again, Clann Eireann took the initiative, with Conor Turbitt swinging over a very dubious free kick to lead by one.
The final scores of the game went the way of Finnian Moriarty’s side, with Stefan Forker and Brian Fox both raising white flags.
Clann Eireann had enough chances to win the game, or to at least find an equaliser, but it wasn’t to be and Maghery now march on to face Pearse Ogs in the semi final.
