Bank of Ireland Paddy McLarnon Cup quarter-final:
Clonduff Shamrocks (Down) 2-6 Watty Graham’s, Glen (Derry) 2-11
THE that fact Glen are still holding onto the Paddy McLarnon Cup is particularly impressive given all the circumstances.
The dreadful rainy conditions were the same for both teams, but it was the way the Maghera lads responded to the two goals from a very good Clonduff side that caught the attention. First, Stephen McConville opened the scoring for the Hilltown club inside 20 seconds, but just over 10 minutes later Glen also netted, through Conor Glass, and that meant they led by 1-3 to 1-1.
Then, when Ross Carr’s team got themselves back in front midway through the second-half, with another goal, from midfielder Jamie Curran, Glen’s retort was even more deadly. Not only did they prevent Clonduff getting on the scoresheet again, they rattled off 1-3 themselves, albeit the 57th minute goal appeared to be put into his own net by defender Brendan Britton. However, the lively Paul Gunning was very close to seizing on that loose ball, and he did add another point to bring his personal tally to 0-6.
Watty Graham’s captain Ciarán McFaul had put his team back in front even before that last goal, though, with his third point from play, which along with his kick-pass for the opening goal earned him the man of the match award.
Glen manager Enda Gormley was delighted with the character displayed by his side in conditions that made it very difficult to play good football, saying: “The big thing was that we showed great heart in a game that was coming down to battle and heart. The conditions were a great leveller… We kept going, pushed on in the second-half, and got stronger and stronger.
“They’ve been along the tracks these boys, they’ve had it both ways - won games easy and come from behind. They’ve a great mindset: we try to beat into them to play the 60 minutes - if you go four up or four down, don’t get carried away, just keep playing the next ball.”
Glen did go four down on Saturday as Clonduff got off to a flying start, netting inside 20 seconds, Rian Branagan and Charlie Carr combining to set up Stephen McConville, who side-stepped goalkeeper Callum Mullan Young to score. Branagan soon added a point to that, but then Glen showed their class and character, battling back to go in front before 11 minutes were on the clock.
Paul Gunning contributed two points and then McFaul accurately kick-passed into the square from the right wing and Glass rose highest to direct the ball into the net. Yet a well-struck 45 and a great point, both from Clonduff midfielder Patrick O’Hagan made it all square at the interval, 1-4 apiece.
Glen then made a storming start to the second-half, points from McFaul sandwiching a score from Danny Tallon – and a good save by Mark Bradley to deny Tiarnan Flanagan a goal for the south Derry side.
O’Hagan and his midfield partner Curran both pointed for Clonduff and they might have gone in front only for Young to save from centre half-back Conor Brown. However, a minute later Clonduff carved Glen open in similar fashion and this time Curran did beat the goalkeeper.
Glen sent on attacker Conall Darragh for defender Conor Gallagher and he was immediately involved, with the Maghera lads putting on most of the pressure late on. When Conor Convery sent a free in towards goal it was fumbled by a defender and Britton appeared to knock it past his own ’keeper as Gunning closed in.
Gunning then had the final say - and Glen will be strongly fancied to make the final again, meeting Monaghan’s Magheracloone in the semi-finals.
MATCH STATS
Clonduff: M Bradley; C Brown, E Grant, K Smith; B Britton (own goal), C Brown, R McQuaid; J Curran (1-1), P O’Hagan (0-3, 0-1 45); C Carr, D Quinn (0-1), D Burns; S McConville (1-0), R Branagan (0-1), L McGreevy; Subs: C Murray for Burns (46); J Brown for Quinn (55); D Gribben for Grant (58).
Glen: C M Young; C Gallagher, C McDevitt, O Hegarty; R McDonnell, C Carville, C Mulholland; C Glass (1-0), C McFaul (0-3); T Flanagan, J Doherty, C McCabe; P Gunning (0-6, 0-2 frees), D Tallon (0-1), C Convery (0-1 free); Subs: C Darragh for Gallagher (47).
Referee: M Conroy.
