Errigal Into 5th Provincial Final

Sunday 24.11.2024

Championship Football

Errigal Ciaran 0-14 Clann Eireann 1-10

Errigal Ciaran are through to their 5th Ulster Senior Club Final after they edged past Armagh champions Clann Eireann in a gripping encounter at Pairc Esler in Newry on Sunday afternoon. It was a contest that flowed one way and then the other with the outstanding Ruairi Canavan winning it for the Tyrone champions right at the end with a score that was worthy of winning any game.

This was a good all round team display from Errigal Ciaran but in Canavan they had a man at the top of his game who gave a masterclass in the art of scoring taking on his way to a personal haul of 0-9, five of which were sublime efforts from play. Clann Eireann struck for te only goal of the game in first half injury time with a penalty conversion from All Star attacker Conor Turbitt but crucially a brace of Canavan frees left Errigal Ciaran on level terms at the break. The Armagh champions landed the opening three scores of the second half but a major turning point arrived in the 40th minute when they lost County player Tiernan Kelly to a second yellow. Within eight minutes of the midfielder’s dismissal Errigal Ciaran had their noses in front. To their credit Clann Eireann showed great resolve to get back on level terms but just when we looked set for extra time that man Canavan took centre stage again with that wonderful winner. They now face Down champions Kilcoo in the decider in two weeks time.

Kelly opened the scoring with a long range point for Clann Eireann but Errigal Ciaran drew level in the 5th minute when Canavan turned sharply to dissect the posts. Conor McConville and Conor Turbitt then edged the Armagh men two in front but Errigal Ciaran were level by the 12th minute thanks to a Ruairi free and a brilliant point from play from the right wing from Odhran Robinson. Dan McCarthy and Daniel Magee helped put the Armagh champions two in front again before an outstanding brace from team Captain Darragh Canavan had the sides level before Ruairi from distance put them in front. Niall Kelly came to Errigal’s rescue with a clarence of the line but two minutes into injury time they were behind when Turbitt converted from the spot. Errigal Ciaran though finished the half strongly with a brace of frees from Ruairi Canavan the second of which was from all of 47m out to leave it all square at the short whistle 0-8 to 1-5.

Magee opened the second half scoring and after Ruairi McDonald had squeezed one over from a tight angle a Turbitt free left three between the sides. Clann Eireann were on top after the perfect start to the second half but all that changed in the 40th minute when Kelly received his marching orders. Substitute Tommy Canavan converted two frees after his cousin Darragh had been fouled on both occasions before  Ruairi levelled matters via the post at the end of the third quarter. A Ruairi Canavan free put Errigal in front as they hit four points in a blistering eight minute spell before Clann Eireann ended their barren spell through McCarthy.

It was anybody’s game at this stage with Rio Quinn and Darragh Canavan making timely blocks while the strong running of Peter Og McCartan and Joe Oguz began to really come to the fore. An outstanding dummy and point from Ruairi Canavan looked to have won it for the Tyrone champions but a minute into injury time it looked like we were set for extra time when Clann Eireann substitute Rioghan Meehan pointed but the scene was set for man of the match Ruairi Canavan to win it and he did just that with aplomb.

Errigal Ciaran scorers: Ruairi Canavan 0-9 (4F), Darragh Canavan 0-2, Tommy Canavan 0-2 (2F), Odhran Robinson 0-1

Clann Eireann scorers: Conor Turbitt 1-2 (1-0 pen, 2F), Daniel Magee 0-2, Dan McCarthy 0-2,  Tiernan Kelly 0-1, Conor McConville 0-1, Ruairi McDonald 0-1, Rioghan Meehan 0-1

Referee: Joe McQuillan, Cavan