Clann Eireann 0-12 Maghery 1-7
A coming of age win sealed Clann Eireann’s semi-final spot and dethroned the 2020 champions Maghery.
The Lurgan men went ahead before the clock had reached sixty seconds but wouldn’t get in front again until the 59th minute.
In between times, Maghery led for long periods, thanks to an early Brian Fox goal, coming after two minutes.
The 2020 Club Player of the Year darted through the Clann Eireann defence and found the net from a difficult angle.
Stefan Cusack and Aidan Forker traded scores with Conor Turbitt (one free) before the first water break.
Two Turbitt frees tied the game before he once again exchanged points from the dead ball with Stefan Forker.
A Maghery double, through Aidan Forker and Ben Crealey, put the Loughshore men two up at the interval. 1-5 to 0-6.
Finnian Moriarty’s side only score two second half points while Clann Eireann went on to double their first half tally.
Aidan Forker fired over a free to widen the margin, in a low-scoring third quarter. Scores from Adam Kelly and Ruairi McDonald narrowed the gap to one.
Stefan Forker pointed his second of the evening, but the final ten minutes belonged to the fresher Clann Eireann.
Substitutes Ruairi McDonald and Jack Conlon made a telling difference, with both getting on the scoresheet.
Conor McConville and Conlon curled over beautiful efforts to leave the score all square heading into added time.
Two winning opportunities fell to ‘Turbo’ who slotted over both frees to secure a famous victory for Tommy Coleman’s men.
It’s the first time Clann Eireann have reached the last four of the competition since 2016 and they will take on Ballymacnab in the semi-final.
Clann Eireann Scorers: Conor Turbitt 0-7 (6f), Dan McCarthy 0-1, Adam Kelly 0-1, Conor McConville 0-1, Ruairi McDonald 0-1, Jack Conlon 0-1.
Maghery Scorers: Aidan Forker 0-3 (2f), Brian Fox 1-0, Stefan Forker 0-2 (1f), Stephen Cusack 0-1, Ben Crealey 0-1.
Silverbridge 4-11 Cullyhanna 3-9
It’s going to be hard to top this game for the reminder of the championship, as Silverbridge and Cullyhanna played out a rip-roaring contest.
It was an all-action affair. Goals, cards and a superb comeback from St Pat’s made for a thriller.
The Bridge started and finished brilliantly. Kevin Franklin’s team shot into a seven-point lead as early as the 7th minute, but only lead by one by the time the water break came around.
Paraic Keating’s palmed goal was the highlight of their dominate opening, but Cullyhanna did get back into contention.
Jason Duffy rattled off 1-1 while an Aidan Nugent brace (one free) closed the gap to one at the interval. 1-4 to 1-3.
Nugent levelled the game as Cullyhanna completed a 13-point swing, with two goals in quick succession.
Ross McQuillan’s pace was a huge factor in their comeback. He cut through the Silverbridge defence to set up the his sides second three-pointer.
A soccer-style Phelim Savage finish, where the St Pat’s man scooped the ball past the diving keeper, handed Cullyhanna the lead for the first time.
Phelim Savage netted one minute later, palming into the net to hand his side a 3-4 to 1-4 lead.
Eoin Reel, Sean Conlon and Ronan Reel (free) steadied the ship as Nugent put an end to the first half. 3-5 to 1-7 at the break.
The goal-scoring action continued in the second period, and it was Sean Rock raising the green flags this time.
The youngster buried two goals to level the game and the score remained tied at the water break. 3-8 apiece.
Silverbridge dominated the final quarter and Sean Conlon’s 70th minute goal secured his side spot in the semi-final.
Ross McQuillan was shown the line late on, as Silverbridge marched on to the last four where they will now take on Crossmaglen.
Silverbridge Scorers: Sean Rock 2-1, Sean Conlon 1-1, Paraic Keating 1-0, Ronan Reel 0-2 (1f), Eoin Reel 0-2, Tiernan Murphy 0-2, Jarly Og Burns 0-1, Fionnan Burns 0-1, Aaron Duffy 0-1.
Cullyhanna Scorers: Aidan Nugent 0- 7 (6f), Jason Duffy 1-1, Phelim McArdle 1-0, Phelim Savage 1-0, Shea Hoey 0-1.
Ballymacnab 1-14 Pearse Og 1-13
Ballymacnab survived a late scare from Pearse Ogs in the curtain raiser of a double header on Sunday.
The Nab led by seven-points with ten minutes remaining but took their foot off the gas to leave a nervy finish.
A goal in the dying minutes from substitute Conor Nugent reduced the margin to one. That’s has close as the Ogs could get, however.
Two second half red cards for Anto Duffy and Stephen McManus left the Ogs with an uphill battle.
A stunning Ryan Watters goal from a difficult angle had his side five up by the 8th minute as the Nab threatened to pull away early on.
They were reigned back in however with Odhran Houlahan and Ruairi Duffy causing bother in the city sides attack.
The pair pointed one apiece as the margin was closed to one just before the break. Jack Grugan opened his account to double his sides lead at the interval, 1-6 to 0-7.
It was tit for tat in the third quarter, but Mick O’Dowd’s side took control after the second water break.
Grugan, Paul Kennedy, Fearghal Nugent and Rory Grugan all pointed, to open up a seven-point gap.
The Ogs drifted back into the game with four points on the trot leaving the goal the difference between the sides.
Oisin McGivern nailed a super score to provide some comfort and it ultimately proved to be the winner.
Pearse Ogs had one final say, however. James Freeman’s effort was palmed away by Conor McGivern, but the corner forward nudged the ball across the square to keep the move alive.
The on running Conor Nugent was on hand to tap the ball into the net for an easy finish. That was as close at the game got, with one-point the difference at the final whistle.
Ballymacnab Scorers: Ryan Watters 1-1, Rory Grugan 0-4 (3f), Jack Grugan 0-2, Pauric Gribben 0-1, Kieran Hughes 0-1, Ryan Kennedy 0-1, Paul Meegan 0-1, Paul Kennedy 0-1, Fearghal Nugent 0-1, Oisin McGivern 0-1.
Pearse Og Scorers: Ruairi Duffy 0-4 (1f), Conor Nugent 1-1, Paul Duffy 0-2 (1f), Odhran Houlahan 0-2, Anto Duffy 0-1, James Freeman 0-1 (1f), Shea Freeman 0-1, Callum Murray 0-1.
Crossmaglen 1-15 Killeavy 0-11
While it wasn’t a complete performance by Crossmaglen, they were the better team on display in Sunday’s quarter final.
Killeavy mounted a second half comeback and got back on level terms, but the Rangers pushed on in the last quarter to win the game.
Red cards to Jamie Cosgrove and Lee Rice dented Killeavy’s revival chances as Cross pushed on with their two-man advantage.
It was a slow and ponderous first half, with the game failing to live up to the pre-match billing.
Cathir McKinney opened the scoring when he drifted forward from full back to split the posts, but Cross powered into the lead in the minutes after.
Oisin O’Neill (2), Cian McConville (3) and Rian O’Neill all scored as Cross marched into a five-point lead.
James Donnelly and Conor O’Neill scores, split by the water break, narrowed the margin to two points.
Some superb defending by Killeavy kept them in contention. Jamie Cosgrove pulled off an outstanding diving block, as did Shea Magill and Lee Rice.
Donnelly fired over the final score of the half with two the difference at the break, 0-7 to 0-5.
Cian McConville hit a brilliant, curling effort after the turnaround as Stephen Kernan’s side kept their noses ahead.
Two massive Ciaron O’Hanlon scores left one the margin, while Caolan McConville nailed a mark to level the game for the first time since the 4th minute.
Crossmaglen powered home in the final 15 minutes, outscoring the opposition 1-5 to a single score.
Rian O’Neill completed the day with the games only goal after playing a one-two with substitute Patsy Finnegan.
The Rangers now face Silverbridge in a local derby semi-final, due to take place in two weeks’ time.
Crossmaglen Scorers: Cian McConville 0-6 (1f), Rian O’Neill 1-1 (1f), Oisin O’Neill 0-3, Tony Kernan 0-1, Alan Farrelly 0-1, Caolan Finnegan 0-1, Callum Cumiskey 0-1, Stephen Morris 0-1.
Killeavy Scorers: Oisin King 0-2 (2f), James Donnelly 0-2, Ciaron O’Hanlon 0-2, Cathir McKinney 0-1, Conor O’Neill 0-1, Cathal Boylan 0-1, Miceal McNamee 0-1, Caolan McConville 0-1 (mark).
