First Round Wins For Clogher And Gortin

Sunday 24.09.2023

 

The double header of Intermediate championship games at Healy Park on Sunday evening resulted in wins for Clogher and Gortin. The style in which the games were won contrasted significantly as Clogher snatched victory right at the end of their game while Gortin eased through against Strabane without getting out of second gear.

Clogher were deep into added time when Mark Bogue stepped up and landed the match winner for his side from distance while Gortin on the other hand were comfortable winners over an understrength Strabane Sigersons side.

Results: Clogher 0-12, Killeeshil 0-11

Gortin 2-19, Strabane 0-4

The Clogher v Killeeshil game was close throughout so it was no surprise that it went right to the wire before the Eire Óg side managed to snatch victory.

Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance and good form and were level three times in the first half. Tomas Hoy, Luke Donnelly, Micheal Carty and Michael O’Neill were all on target during the first half for Killeeshil but despite enjoying lots of possession they went in at the break trailing to a late Ciaran Shields point just before the short whistle. Ciaran and Mark Bogue and Ryan and Michael Mc Caughey were on target for Clogher during a very competitive first thirty minutes.

The second half saw Killeeshil play some fine attacking football in spite of the difficult conditions. Points from Hoy, Cormac Donaghy and Matthew Mc Cusker put the hoops two clear 0-8 to 0-6. Clogher responded with a point apiece from Sean Bogue and Mark Bogue to tie the game again ten minutes into the second half.

A fine point from Hoy and a brilliant save from Killeeshil goalkeeper Darragh Loughran had them one in front midway through the second half. Hoy doubled that lead with a free on forty eight minutes and when Paul O’Neill made it a three point game two minutes later it looked like it was Killeeshil’s game to lose.

Clogher dug deep and showed patience and resilience with Ryan Mc Caughey leading the way. The big target man hit three fine points to level the scores at 0-11 apiece. Both sides had chances during added time but it was Clogher and Mark Bogue who went home the happiest when the wing back landed a superb winning scores fifteen seconds from full time.

Final score 0-12 to 0-11 in favour of Clogher.

Few of the several hundred spectators in Omagh on Sunday evening were expecting the game between Gortin and Strabane to be a close encounter with Roger Keenan’s side tipped to win comfortably.

That was how it turned out as the St Patrick’s produced a commanding display and eased to a 2-19 to 0-4 win.

With the diamond of Ruairi Keenan, Peter Keenan, Ciaran Brolly and Odhran Brolly pulling the strings and Sean Óg Mc Aleer, Liam Og Mossey and Brian Mc Garvey leading the charge up front Gortin cantered through to the quarter finals.

By half time Gortin were 1-9 to 0-3 in front following a Cian Mc Connell goal and points from Mc Aleer, Mossey, Mc Garvey, Keenan and Brolly while Oran Mc Grath and Gavin Molloy pointed for Sigersons.

Things continued in the same manner after the break with points from Patrick Mc Cullagh, Ruairi Keenan, Brian Mc Garvey, Sean Óg Mc Aleer and a goal and a point from Liam Og Mossey. a flurry of late points from Ciaran and Odhran Brolly, Mc Aleer and Brian Mc Garvey kept the umpires busy as they made it through to the quarter finals.

On a disappointing night for Strabane a solitary Oisin Mc Gillion point was all they had to show for their efforts during the second half.

Full time score Gortin 2-19, Strabane 0-4.