Clan Na Gael Through To Paul Mc Girr Final

Tuesday 05.11.2019

Championship Football

Clan Na Gael 2-07 v O’Donovan Rossa 0-06

Pre game predictions of a tight encounter proved to be correct as Armagh champions Clan Na Gael and Antrim’s O’Donovan Rossa battled it out in a cracking Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament semi final.  Played in torrential rain and slippy underfoot conditions this was the proverbial game of two halves with Rossa dominating the first and Clan Na Gael eventually prevailing in the second after sixty bruising, lung bursting minutes.

Rossa were simply superb in the first half and will be left wondering how the game turned in such dramatic fashion.  Liam Carr despite being double marked was once again a huge threat for them inside and he wasted no time in getting his side’s first point.  Playmaker Barra McCafferty was immense for Rossa, roaming deep into his defence for ball and carrying it forward with purpose.  A pointed free and one from play from McCafferty gave the West Belfast men a three point lead before Ronan O’Hagan strode forward from his sweeping role to finally get a misfiring Clan Na Gael’s first score.  Michael McDade restored the margin but the highly talented Clan Na Gael centre forward Matthew Lennon capitalised on more good work by O’Hagan to get the first of his tally. Lennon, who finished with 2-05 to his name, had a titanic battle with Rossa captain Conor Boyle and despite his impressive scoring return was well shackled throughout.

One more each from McCafferty and Carr in response to Lennon’s second score left the Rossa men with a 0-6 to 0-3 half time lead.

Whatever Laurence McGuiness and his management team said at half time certainly paid dividends as a revitalised Clan Na Gael took the game by the scruff of the neck right from the restart. Their defence shut up shop to keep Rossa scoreless for the remainder of the game. Niall Magennis had a great game at corner back and it was their half back line in particular who provided the spur for their team’s victory with tenacious man of the match Michael McConville having a superb game constantly snuffing out dangerous attacks and providing an attacking threat that Rossa struggled with.

It was McConville’s well struck 45 that caused mayhem in the Rossa defence ending up in the net to give Clan Na Gael the perfect start to the second half.  A full length diving block from McConville denied Rossa’s Ruairi Murray a certain goal as Rossa sought the perfect response.  Two Lennon points put the Armagh men in the lead for the first time and an outstanding outside of the boot effort from the wing from Cian McCrory gave them a bit of breathing space.

John MacRory presenting Man Of Match to Michael McConville of Clan na Gael

Exchanges were intense at this stage as referee Dan Mullan did well to keep a lid on proceedings, both sides showing high levels of commitment and desire in a hugely entertaining tussle.  A Lennon free stretched the lead to four in the dying minutes and he then put the final nail in the Rossa coffin tapping in soccer style from a James Austin pass to send an ecstatic Clan Na Gael support home happy.

Clan Na Gael manager McGuiness was understandably delighted with how his side responded in the second half .‘We were very disappointed going in at half time but at the same time we knew we hadn’t played and were still in the game. We really stepped up our workrate after half time and thankfully we got the goals to get us over the line. It was an immense battle against a very talented Rossa side as we knew it would be, but our lads really stepped up to the plate.  We know our first half performance will not be good enough in the final and hopefully the lads have learned from that. We have a huge battle ahead but what a feeling it is for our club to be back in an Ulster championship final after all these years. We are a very young team but the boys have hearts of tigers and will be mad keen to get going and give their all next weekend.’

The final scoreline did not do justice to a great Rossa effort and there is no doubt a few of their lads will be instrumental in the future of Antrim football. Clan Na Gael on the other hand will be looking forward to an epic battle with Down rivals Burren as they chase the coveted Cúchullain trophy.

Clan Na Gael – Shea Murphy, Pearse Scullion, Shea McCann, Niall Magennis, Callum O’Neill, Brendan O’Hagan, Michael McConville (1-0), Odhran Reid, Cian McCrory (0-1), Oran O’Kane, Matthew Lennon (2-5, 2f, 45), Odhran McGivern, Matthew King, James Austin, Ronan O’Hagan (0-1)

Rossa – Se McCashin, Pearse McCashin, Patrick Moyes, Barry McBurney Hegarty, Matthew McKernan, Conor Boyle, James Boyle, Pearse Short, Ben McAuley, Ruairi Murray, Michael McDade (0-1), Diarmaid Rogan, Barra McCafferty(0-3, 1f), Eoin Treanor, Liam Carr (0-2, 1f)

Referee – Dan Mullan (Derry)