Eoghan Rua 1-13 Middletown 0-19
Middletown powered past Eoghan Rua with a phenomenal second half performance to book their spot in the last four of Ulster.
The Armagh champions trailed by four at the half time break, but eventually clawed their way back in front.
An early goals from their Coleraine hosts gave the Eoghan Rua side the initiative, with Niall Holly raising the games only green flag.
The sides traded scores, with Sean Og McGuinness and the accurate Dean Gaffney keeping Middletown in touch.
But they couldn’t close the gap and Eoghan Rua nudged four ahead by the time the half time whistle sounded. 1-9 to 0-8 after 30 minutes.
Paddy McBride got his side up and running for the second half, but Holly restored the four-point margin between the teams.
Three in a row from Gaffney dwindled the difference to just one point with all the momentum now in Middletown’s favour.
Kieran McKernan drove forward to land an inspirational score to tie the game and turn the tide in Middletown’s favour.
Ben Toal and Gaffney nudged the visiting side ahead before Eoghan Rua struck a brace to tie the score once again.
Gaffney popped over another from the dead ball before Nathan Curry and Toal added points towards the end of the game.
Gaffney fired over his 11th of the evening and secured a three-point win for Middletown, who advance to the semi-finals.
It was an emotional day for Middletown following the death of Kieran McKernan’s mother on Saturday evening.
But they played with all the heart and passion that we come to expect from the Orchard kingpins to get over the line.
They’ll now face Eire Og Carrickmore in the last four, who saw off Fermanagh’s Lisbellaw on Saturday.
