Emmetts fight back
Referee Martin Mohan quickly settles a dispute INTT3112-193JS
A stirring second half fightback from Brocagh saw the Emmetts just about get the better of Clogher at Pairc Chormaic, Eglish on Friday evening, writes Seamus Donnelly.
In what was a fascinating and sometimes fractious encounter, Michael Hughes and Paul O’Neill led the charge for Brocagh kicking 1-7 between them, 1-5 in the second half as they advanced to the last eight of the Junior championship.
Clogher received a late boost with the news that Damien Connolly had returned from his honeymoon a few hours early, just in time to take up his position at centre half back.
Brocagh got off to the better start, midfielder Ciaran Donnelly opening the scoring from play with just 72 seconds gone.
Playing into the wind the Emmetts extended their lead when Michael Hughes and Donnelly combined to allow Hughes to fire over from 35 metres, before he slotted over a free in the eight minute to make it three points to no score.
Mark Bogue was on hand to open the Eire Óg account following a sloppy kickout from Chris Scullion.
Seconds later the Clogher men may well have had a goal when Emmet McConnell’s rasping shot came back of the post before Matty Callaghan knocked the rebound over the bar to narrow the gap.
Brocagh came close to getting the first goal in the 15th minute of the half when Paul O’Neill was put through but he saw his effort saved by Paul McCaughey.
Clogher dominated the last 10 minutes of the opening half with Ciaran Shields and Darragh Kavanagh in particular causing Brocagh no end of problems.
Shields and full forward Paul Tierney shared the Eire Ógs next three scores both of Shields’ efforts coming from placed balls.
Kavanagh rounded of the scoring and gave Clogher a three point lead as the half drew to a close with a point following a short 45 allowed him the room to turn and shoot.
Brocagh took steps to change their fortunes at half time with Barry Donnelly replacing is brother Pól and lining out at midfield for the second half.
The change allowed Paul O’Neill to move to operate at full forward for much of the second half and this reaped dividends for the Emmett’s as Donnelly became influential at midfield and O’Neill would claim a game winning tally of scores.
In spite of the changes, it was Clogher who started quicker, Kavanagh finishing up where he left off, kicking an early free.
Kavanagh and Michael Hughes exchanged points as the second half action heated up.
After a foul in the midfield area, a quick free from Barry Donnelly found his brother Cathal who played in the through running O’Neill who just got to the ball in time to palm past Paul McCaughey in the Clogher goal
Michael Carolan and Emmet McConnell traded scores as he restored parity between the sides once again before substitute Declan Hughes gave Brocagh the lead.
There was controversy moments later when referee Martin Mohan disallowed what looked like a perfectly good Brocagh goal after Padraig Bell was adjudged to have handled on the ground seconds before he slotted to the net.
Clogher took full advantage of the let off when Kavanagh and Ciaran Shields scored points within a minute each other to give Clogher a one point lead with just 4 minutes remaining.
But Brocagh refused to be beat and Paul O’Neill kicked an excellent before Michael Hughes kicked his fourth point of the game.
Hughes was extremely influential all evening for Brocagh and rounded of his display with a brilliant long distance point to give the Emmett’s a two point cushion as the time wore down.
The game boiled over in the final minutes, with Paul Tierney and Marc McConnell deservedly receiving red cards after a couple of altercations.
Darragh Kavanagh got a late Clogher point but it was too little, too late as Brocagh held out for victory.
Clogher: Paul McCaughey, Paul McElroy, Dominic McKernan, Barry McKenna, Cillian Barkley, Damien Connolly, Barry McElroy, Emmet McConnell, Marc McConnell, Mark Bogue, Barry McKenna, Matty Callaghan, Darragh Kavanagh, Paul Tierney, Ciaran Shields Subs: Ciaran McGlone for Barry McElroy
Scorers: Darragh Kavanagh 0-5, Ciaran Shields 0-3, Mark Bogue 0-1, Matty Callaghan 0-1, Paul Tierney 0-1, Emmet McConnell 0-1.
Brocagh: Chris Scullion, Conan Dorman, Barry Daly, Sean Campbell, Eugene Ryan, Paul Mulholland, Pól Donnelly, Paul O’Neill, Ciaran Donnelly, Ciaran Campbell, Michael Hughes, Michael Carolan, Cathal Donnelly, Justin Campbell, Padraig Bell. Subs: Barry Donnelly for P. Donnelly, Declan Hughes for J. Campbell, Glen Scullion for Daly.
Scorers: Michael Hughes 0-5, Paul O’Neill 1-2, Ciaran Donnelly 0-1, Michael Carolan 0-1, Declan Hughes 0-1.
Referee: Martin Mohan
Attendance: 450, approximately
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Weather for Dungannon
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
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Temperature: 4 C to 11 C
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