Clarkes Into League Final

Sunday 20.10.2024

All County League

Dungannon 1-7 Galbally 0-9

A Ryan Jones goal at the beginning of the third quarter proved to be the crucial score at O’Neill Park on Saturday afternoon as Dungannon edged past Galbally in the first of the Senior league semi finals. Both sides struggled to play the football that they are capable off but its the Clarkes who will meet either Carrickmore or Trillick in the decider.

In the opening half scores proved difficult to come by and that was reflected on the scoreboard with the visitors leading 0-3 to 0-2 at the break despite playing against the wind. John Hetherington and Daniel Kerr  put the Pearses into an early two point lead before Paddy Quinn opened Dungannon’s account. Conor Donaghy and Oisin Cowan then traded points but that was the end of the first half scoring with Dungannon in particular guilty of a number of wides.

Lorcan Mallon levelled matters on the restart before a brilliant brace from defender Liam Rafferty had Galbally two points to the good. A Paul Donaghy free closed the gap before midfielder Matthew Quinn sent over the equaliser. A second point of the afternoon from wing half back Hetherington had the visitors back in front but then came Jones’s well taken goal as he lashed the ball into the roof of the net. Kerr and Kevin Barker exchanged points before Mark Donnelly and Darragh Donaghy both registered to leave it all square going into the last ten minutes.

Galbally looked to have the momentum at this stage but they missed a couple of chances and in those closing stages the only score registered was a Paul Donaghy free which proved to be the winner. Galbally though battled away and came perilously close to forcing extra time but Conor Quinn’s shot with the last kick off the game came back off the upright.