Donaghmore Push Clarkes All The Way

Sunday 08.09.2024

Championship Football

Dungannon are safely through to the quarter final of the senior championship but they had to withstand a spirited fightback from local rivals Donaghmore in Plunkett Park.

Despite playing against the elements in the first half Dungannon dominated proceeding and playing some fantastic football, seizing the initiative from the outset Paul Donaghy converting a first minute free after Ryan Jones had been fouled. Donaghmore levelled the game minutes later with a long range Lorcan Quinn free. A seventh minute mark kicked by Noah Grimes gave the St Patricks the lead for the only time.

The first goal arrived in the ninth minute. Once again Ryan Jones was involved his centre was fisted goalwards by Kevin Barker, Quinn making a good stop but Barker fisted the rebound to the net. With Jones and the Mckearney brothers controlling the tempo Dungannon eased further in front through a second Donaghy free and a Ciaran Barker 45. Patrick Quinn was proving difficult to handle and a brace of points from Quinn stretched the lead to six with 25 minutes on the clock.

Donaghmore had struggled in the opening period but received a lifeline near the interval when they forced a turnover, Grimes passed to midfielder Peter McKenna who finished superbly to the net. Ronan Cassidy tapped over a free with the final play and remarkably only two points separated the sides at the break.

Still buoyed from the goal Joey Clarke drove forward and reduced the lead to the minimum, within two minutes of the restart, but this was cancelled out by a long range Donaghy free. Conor Cush claimed a mark before Patrick Quinn’s third left the gap at 2 entering the final quarter.

Ryan Cush kicked a nice point as Donaghmore were now right in the contest and when Noah Grimes equalised with ten remaining, it was anyone’s game. Paudie McNulty restored Dungannon’s lead with a thumping effort but Conor Cush levelled the match once again. An outrageous Paul Donaghy point edged the Clarkes back in front. In the final minute of normal time Ryan Cush equalised and many in the large crowd thought we were witnessing the first draw of this yea’s championship.

Dungannon had other ideas and forcing the turnover they raced forward. Paudie McNulty bore down on goal but was upended in the square and a penalty was awarded. Paul Donaghy wasted little time and smashed it to the net. Donaghmore tried in vain by launching a few high balls in, but to no avail and Dungannon held on for a deserved victory.