Killeeshil Exit Ulster in Owenbeg

Sunday 27.10.2024

Championship Football

Ulster Junior Football Championship Rd 1
Craigbane (Derry) 1-9 Killeeshil 0-8

It could be argued that it was a case of not converting opportunities or worse turning opportunities to shoot down in Owenbeg on Saturday evening as Killeeshil exited the Ulster Junior Football Championship at the first hurdle.  Played in tricky conditions the Tyrone side had their chances to win the game.

The Tyrone men playing in the Tyrone kit will rue the missed opportunities as their opponents struck when it mattered most.  The Derry side finished hit Killeeshil for 1-3 to no score inside the last fifteen minutes of the contest to turn a two point deficit into a four point victory.

The opening quarter provided some excellent championship football with both sides level at 0-3 apiece after twenty minutes.  Dillon O’Neill, Tomas Hoy and Cormac Donaghy all on target for Killeeshil with Craigbane’s point coming from David Lowry, Jude Og Moore and Jude McLaughin. A Conor McLaughlin point had the Derry side one ahead in the 21st minute but Killeeshil finished the half strong adding two points of their own from Tomas Hoy and a Bernard O’Neill 45 to leave the half time score Killeeshil 0-5 Craigbane 0-4.

That one point lead became two points in the 42nd minute when Cormac Donaghy landed another free.  Blain Gormley cancelled that score out a short time later but Killeeshil eased the gap back to two in the 48th minute.  That score would prove to be their last point of the game.  Fergal Mortimer, Brian Rainey and Conor McLaughlin hit three points without reply for Craigbane and a breakaway goal in the 62nd minute from Lee Moore ended the contest.

Final Score – Craigbane 1-9 Killeeshil 0-8

Referee – Enda Mallon – Armagh