fonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Championship semi-final: Magherafelt 3-10 Clann Éireann 2-6
THREE first-half goals put Magherafelt on their way to a first final since 2010 on Sunday at St Paul’s.
From the moment Conall Higgins stormed forward for the opening point, after just 11 seconds, the Derry champions were never behind.
Clann Éireann had been hit with the blow of goalkeeper Liam Carroll’s injury. A reshuffle saw midfielder Conan McCaffrey donning the number one jersey.
Magherafelt were without Emmett Spiers and a hamstring injury to Caolan Higgins is another concern ahead of the final.
A gale-force wind blowing across the pitch favoured the Rossa side in the first half.
They bagged the game’s first goal. Cathir Spiers cut through the Lurgan defence before hammering to the net for a 1-2 to 0-0 lead with 10 minutes gone.
Kian Maynes and Lorcan Higgins kicked Magherafelt seven clear before Clann Éireann scored.
When it came, it was a much-needed goal. Daire Whitmarsh kept a Cohen Henderson cross in play before beating Campbell with a precise finish at the near post.
A three-minute burst put Magherafelt firmly back the driving seat. With Clann Éireann struggling to secure the ball from their kick-outs, Maynes and Beattie tagged on points.
When Cathair Kerr won a third kick-out, he played in Callum Leacock who blasted to the net.
It got even better for Magherafelt when Conall Higgins who was fouled for a late penalty. He took the kick himself to notch a third goal for a 3-7 to 1-1 lead.
“Our first-half performance was really good,” said Magherafelt manager Ciaran Higgins.
“We controlled the game, controlled their kick-outs. They struggled to get the ball out beyond halfway and we won a lot of breaking ball.”
A high ball into the Magherafelt defence forced a double save from Campbell in the opening minutes of the second half before Henderson fired over the bar.
With seven minutes gone, Clann Éireann added their second goal after the game’s second penalty. Up stepped Henderson who was denied by Campbell before poking home the rebound.
Ulster Minor Semi Final
— RossaGaelsDerry (@RossaGaelsDerry) December 22, 2024
(1st half, 29min)
Magherafelt 3-7
Clann Eireann 1-1
GOAL! Conall Higgins pic.twitter.com/67JBJ9sJ61
With nine points between the sides, Clann Éireann went down to 14 men after Adam Furphy’s 41st-minute black card.
Magherafelt, beaten by eventual champions Four Masters last year, never looked in any trouble with Finn Campbell and Tiarnan McDonald tagging on late Clann Éireann points.
Magherafelt will play the winners of Thursday’s semi-final between Four Masters and Cookstown.
The Derry men have a chance to do an Ulster double after their U-16s won the Paul McGirr Cup seven days earlier.
“We had six starters that are U-16s,” Higgins said of their youthful minor team.
“It’s a huge opportunity to hopefully go on and do a historic double. It’s 14 years since we were last in the (minor) final here.
“We’ve won three of the last four minor championships in Derry which hopefully is a reflection of the work we’ve put in.
“To be in a minor final, with the potential of doing a double is a reflection of all the work that’s been put in by a lot of people in the club. To be back here on New Years Day will be really special.”
Magherafelt: K Campbell; T Cartin, Z Gavigan, R Conway; M Higgins; M McKenna, R Small, C Kerr; J Beattie (0-1), Conall Higgins (1-4, 1 -0 pen, 2f), C Spiers (1-0); C Leacock (1-0), L Higgins (0-2), K Maynes (0-2), Caolan Higgins (0-1)
Subs: R Ferris for Caolan Higgins (INJ 44), M Lavery for Kerr (55), B McCormack for Spiers (59), C McCabe for Conway (63)
Yellow card: C Kerr (54)
Clann Éireann: C McCafferty; L McCavigan, F Mallon; J Moriarty (0-1), D Young, T McDonald (0-1); S Geoghegan, C Dorrian, A Furphy; F Campbell (0-1), J McCooe (0-1); C Henderson (1-2, 1f); E McAreavey; D Whitmarsh (1-0), C Lavery
Subs: C Beattie for McCavigan (44), J Beatty for Lavery (55)
Black card: A Furphy (41)
Yellow card: C Henderson (57)
Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)
