Clann Eireann II 1-17 Grange 2-17
An Odhran Rafferty goal late on proved the decisive score as Grange saw off Clann Eireann IIs to make the last four. The two times played out an entertaining affair at Clady on Monday evening.
It was a night where two-point kickers were worth their weight it gold. Ethan Rafferty fired off three two-point frees while Aaron Rafferty nailed one from play. At the other end, Liam Carroll floated over a brace of two-point frees while Finn Creery claimed on from play.
The two teams were evenly matched early on with James McStay and Ben Toal cancelling each other out. Finn Creery and Ethan Rafferty then fired over two-pointers at either end of the park.
Rogan McVeigh then gave the lead back to Clann Eireann with a goal, despite the best efforts of the Grange defence. Andrew Cooper and Rafferty exchanged scores while Colm Rafferty nailed a two-pointer.
Cohen Henderson pointed as did Tiarnan McDonald, after a quick one-two with McVeigh. Ruairi McConville made it a four-point game but Ethan Rafferty claimed a free from outside the arc, along with a 45, to reduce the gap to the minimum.
End to end
Liam Carroll then executed another two-point free while Aaron Rafferty and McVeigh raised white flags. McDonald grabbed his second while Aaron Rafferty hit a two-pointer just before the break, with Clann Eireann II ahead 1-11 to 0-12.
A Daire Mallon two-point free and a Toal single from the dead ball saw things tied up at the start of the second half. Grange then shot ahead for the first time when Toal raised his sides first green flag.
McDonald and McVeigh kept the Lurgan men in touch while Conor Nugent then swapped scores with McDonald. A huge two-point free from Carroll saw the lead switch hands again with Clann Eireann going up by one.
But Grange shot back when Odhran Rafferty rattled the back of the net to put his side two in front. Ethan Rafferty nailed his third two-point free and while Cohen Henderson pulled one back, it’s Grange who advance to the last four.