Donnelly Group Junior Football Championship final replay: Robert Emmet’s, Clonmore 1-10 St Patrick’s Cullyhanna II 0-10
CLONMORE’S centenary celebrations take place in the Hillgrove Hotel on November 19 and it is fitting the Sean Quinn Cup will be the guest of honour following Sunday’s impressive win over Cullyhanna II, writes Sean Mahoney.
But the north Armagh side will be in Co Monaghan before then as they take on Castleblaney side Blackhill in the Ulster Club JFC quarter-final in Clones on Sunday, October 30, with a 2.30pm throw in.
In their Armagh decider, James Grimley’s 45th minute converted penalty made the significant difference to earn Clonmore the Junior title.
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County star Brendan Donaghy put in an exceptional second half performance and his bustling runs drove his team forward and his sharp kicking steadied the ship when needed.
Having conceded a late equalising goal the previous week to force a replay, Clonmore defended a nervy final 10 minutes with a packed defence although Cullyhanna II played into their hands by routinely kicking into the square, despite being outnumbered.
Clonmore ruled the opening quarter and led 0-4 to no score thanks to points from Raymond McBennett and three in a row from Cathal Cunningham. Kyle Reid and Cathal McGlade replied for Cullyhanna II but Clonmore looked comfortable with a 0-6 to 0-4 lead at half-time.
And Clonmore continued to keep their cool even when Cullyhanna edged into the lead with Paul Donnelly, Peter McKeever and Reid the scorers.
The reliable captain Donaghy got Clonmore back in track with a converted free before Grimley tucked his spot-kick neatly into the Cullyhanna net.
The south Armagh side cut the gap to the minimum but a super long-range point from Grimley and two more converted frees from Donaghy ensured the Sean Quinn Cup will play a key role in Clonmore’s centenary celebrations.
Clonmore scorers: J Grimley (1-1, 1-0 pen), C Cunningham (0-3), R McBennett (0-2), B Donaghy (0-4, 0-4 frees).
Cullyhanna II scorers: K Reid (0-3, 0-1 free), B Nugent (0-1), C McGlade (0-2, 0-2 frees), S McKeever (0-3, 0-3 frees), P Donnelly (0-1).
