Donaghmore Through After Extra Time

Friday 23.09.2022

Donaghmore 0-16 Greencastle 0-12

Donaghmore won their first championship game since 2015 when they got past the challenge of Greencastle at O’Neills Healy Park on Friday night in a contest that required extra time to decide.

 

It was a game that was close throughout and in normal time a late converted free from Greencastle substitute Cahir McCullagh looked like it was going to be the winner. Time wasn’t on Donaghmore’s side but they won a late free on the left which Conor Cush held his nerve to knock over to force extra time.

 

Greencastle led 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval and they were full value for that advantage. Sean Warnock and Cormac McCann exchanged early quality points before Greencastle moved two clear thanks to a brace of frees from Mark Carson.

 

Ryan Cush and Tiarnan Drayne helped bring Donaghmore level but Greencastle were looking the better side and they moved two in front once again with a superb effort from midfielder Warnock as well as a mark from John McCullagh.

 

Former Tyrone player Niall McKenna then closed the gap when he split the posts from distance before the impressive McCullagh and Carson made it a three point game. It was Donaghmore though who had the final say of the half from a Conor Cush mark.

 

Twice in the opening stages of the second half Greencastle moved three clear with efforts from McCullagh and Carson but by the end of the third quarter it was level after a brace of McCann frees and an excellent effort from Ryan Cush. A Cahir McCullagh free edged Greencastle in front but Conor Cush forced extra time with a free with the last kick of the game as it ended 0-10 each.

 

A Carson free opened the scoring in extra time but after Donaghmore were the better team. Shea Hamill, Conor Cush and McCann all registered as they turned around leading 0-13 to 0-11. McCullagh reduced the deficit but crucially Greencastle hit three wides and Donaghmore punished them to the full. Ronan Donnelly, Tom Grimes and Conor Cush all weighed in with points as Donaghmore set up a quarter final date with Clonoe or Moortown.

 

Donaghmore: Lorcan Quinn, Peter McCann, Peter McKenna, Dermot McCann, Shea Hamill (0-1), Dan Toner, Phillip Donnelly, Ryan Cush (0-3), Aidan McCluskey, James McCann, Niall McKenna (0-1), Ronan Cassidy, Cormac McCann (0-4, 3F), Tiarnan Drayne (0-1), Conor Cush (0-4, 2F, 1M). Subs: Tom Grimes (0-1) for Cassidy, Brannon Molloy for Drayne, Ronan Donnelly (0-1) for McKenna, Feargal Donaghy for Donnelly, Niall McKenna for Ryan Cush, Deasun Quinn for Toner

 

 

Greencastle: Dara McDermott, Miceal McCann, Seamus Warnock, Peter McKenna, Barry McGarvey, Conor Carson, Chrissy Gillen, Mark Conway, Sean Warnock (0-2), Ryan Gumley, Sean Fox, Dan Tuohey, John McCullagh (0-4, 2M), Patrick McElhatton, Mark Carson (0-5, 4F). Subs: Cahir McCullagh(0-1, 1F) for McElhatton, Peter Teague for Tuohey, Shane McCullagh for Gillen, David Morris for John McCullagh, Dan Tuohey for Cahir McCullagh, Cahir McCullagh for Conway, John McCullagh for Morris, Patrick McElhatton for McKenna

 

Referee: Cathal Forbes, Ardboe