Cullyhanna 0-11 Pomeroy 0-10
Cullyhanna booked their spot in the last four of the Ulster Intermediate Championship with a narrow win over Pomeroy.
The sides were evenly matched, and it was a late, left-footed score from Aidan Nugent that finally settled the game.
It was score for score in the opening period, although Cullyhanna failed to take the lead during the first 35 minutes.
Ronan Duffin got things up and running for the Tyrone champions, before Nugent (free) shot back for the visitors.
A defensive splitting pass from 2021 Footballer of the Year Kieran McGeary set up another score. Hugh McNamee fired over a handy mark.
Kieran McCooey tied things up for Cullyhanna with their only score from open play in the first half.
Duffin and Nugent exchanged dead ball efforts before Duffin and Brendan Burns put Pomeroy 5-3 up.
Nugent slotted over another free while Duffin and Nugent cancelled each other out once again before the break.
That left the home side Pomeroy ahead by the minimum of margins when the half time whistle sounded. 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.
A brace from Tyrone star McGeary drove Pomeroy three ahead at the start of the second period and left a real uphill challenge for Cullyhanna.
And it was one they stood up to. Led by the accuracy of Nugent, Stephen Reel’s side stormed into the lead.
Tony Donnelly kickstarted the scoring spree before Nugent narrowed the gap to just one with a free.
Pearse Casey followed it up with an equaliser while Ross McQuillan darted forward to fist Cullyhanna in front.
Nugent doubled the lead before Duffin and McGeary got the Pomeroy men back on level terms.
And with the game hanging in the balance, the weight of the world balanced on Nugent’s shoulders.
But the Armagh joint captain showed a real ruthless streak as he fired over the final score of the game to seal Cullyhanna’s place in the last four.
