Connollys of Moy Tyrone SFC round one
Dungannon 2-9 Donaghmore 1-9
WHEN a derby game is in the melting pot you want big games from your big names – and Dungannon Clarkes got those from their captain and their star forward.
Skipper Paudie McNulty struck a superb score moments after Donaghmore’s fightback had drawn them level with less than 10 minutes to go – then won the penalty in added time which was belted home by Paul Donaghy to separate the sides.
Yet the confidence with which the Dungannon number 15 blasted the crucial spot kick to the net was not matched by his team or his manager for most of the second half as a young Donaghmore side threatened to overcome their neighbours.
Dungannon had seemed in complete control late in the first half, but Donaghmore’s goal from midfielder Peter McKenna turned a seeming stroll into a torrid tussle, as winning boss James Slater acknowledged:
“It’s a kick of a ball between us and Donaghmore, it went down to the last couple of plays, which is nothing more than you’d expect of us and Donaghmore and Tyrone championship football.
“I’m just delighted we came out the right side of it because for large periods of the second half it didn’t look like that, it looked like we would get pegged back and maybe lose it. Delighted to get over the line.”
Although they led briefly early in the game, Donaghmore could never get their noses in front again, despite drawing level on three occasions in the second half.
After going ahead 2-1 in the sixth minute, Donaghmore were playing catch-up following the first of three game-changing goals.
The pace of Ryan Jones was shown in the very first minute when he won a free for the opening score and the Clarkes’ number 10 continued to torture the left flank of the Donaghmore defence.
Jones again burst through to supply Kevin Barker and although his initial effort was parried high by the goalkeeper the midfielder followed up to palm the ball to the net.
From then on the Clarke’s appeared to be in cruise control, registering the next four scores, including a couple of beauties from big Paddy Quinn.
However, an equally stunning score transformed this tie with the half hour almost up. Noah Grimes turned over possession and the ball was swiftly transferred to McKenna, who made the most of the opportunity, sweetly bending the ball low to the bottom corner with the outside of his right foot.
Yet another forward foray by Shea Hamill brought a free converted by Ronan Cassidy and suddenly the game was tight, Dungannon only leading by 1-5 to 1-3.
Donaghmore came out with much more fire in their bellies in the second half, and with Tom Grimes, brought on for Ciaran Donnelly, adding more bite around midfield.
Even playing into the wind, their attack began to function better, while Ben Hughes was sticking tightly to Donaghy, aided by sweeper Philip Donnelly.
With wing-backs James McCann and Conor O’Neill continuing to drive forward, the scores came, and when Grimes won and scored a free after 50 minutes the sides were level, at 1-7 apiece.
Up stepped McNulty, to send over a wonderful right-foot point on the turn, although that was soon cancelled out by an even better effort from Conor Cush, drawing inside the right-hand upright against the wind to the astonishment and then delight of the Donaghmore dug-out.
The large crowd at the excellent Plunkett Park venue knew any outcome was possible now. Donaghy delivered a fabulous score but Donaghmore didn’t give in, working the ball for Ryan Cush to equalise yet again.
Donaghmore had been paying very close attention to Ryan Jones but after a rare mistake by Hughes the Clarke’s speedster seized on the ball and sent McNulty powering towards goal.
O’Neill had little option but to drag him down, but Donaghy made sure that Dungannon still got the goal to win this cracking contest.
Clarke’s manager Slater would have welcomed any winning scorer, but was particularly pleased that McNulty had made a major contribution: “I’m delighted for Paudie – it’s well-documented about his injuries for Tyrone and it took him a long time and many operations to get there, but he’s now in good shape, he’s enjoying his football. He’s a great captain and leader for this team.”
Dungannon D Martin; B Gormley, C Barker (0-1 45), O Cowan; P McKearney, C Devlin, M McKearney; P McNulty (capt.) (0-1), K Barker (1-0); R Jones, D Jones, M Quinn; L Mallon, P Quinn (0-3), P Donaghy (1-4, 0-3 frees, 1-0 penalty).
Subs C Corrigan for Mallon (53); J Quinn for Cowan (47).
Donaghmore: L Quinn (0-1 free); D McCann, B Hughes, J Clarke (0-1); J McCann, S Hamill, C O’Neill; C Donnelly, P McKenna (1-0); R Donnelly, P Donnelly, R Cush (0-2); N Grimes (0-2, 0-1 mark, 0-1 free), R Cassidy (0-1 free), C Cush (0-2, 0-1 mark).
Subs T Grimes for C Donnelly (h-t); N McKenna for McCann (44); J McNally for D McCann (46).
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Omagh)
