Clontibret Reach Ulster Final

Clontibret 0-11

St. Gall's (Antrim) 1-7

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Clontibret put in a great second half performance to book their place in this year's final of the Dale Farm Ulster Club Minor Football tournament as they edged out Antrim winners St Gall's by 0-11 to 1-7 at Shaws Rd., Belfast on Sunday last and just about deserved the close margin of victory.

A 14 minutes spell from the 37th to the 52nd minutes turned this absorbing semi-final in Clontibret's way as duing that period they hit six unanswered points to shoot into a 0-10 to 0-6 lead.

The Corey brothers, Vincent and Martin, gave Clontibret a strong foothold in midfield during the opening stages but gradually St Gall's crept back into the game and the teams were level three times during the first quarter, Karl Stewart getting two of the losers' three points in that time. Kevin Niblock then put St. Galls ahead and Stewart extended their lead when he hit a great free kick in the 18th minute to give the Belfast club a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage.

Chances were at a premium in the closing ten minutes of the first half with just one score before half-time a point by Paul McGuigan to leave St Gall's 0-5 to 0-4 ahead at the interval although it must be said that Clontibret could well have been ahead but for some poor finishing, including a 30th minute free-kick that was badly missed, chances that could have cost them dearly.

The opening five minutes of the second half were unproductive for both sides but when Karl Stewart, who finished with four points converted another free-kick six minutes after the restart it seemed as if the Belfast side would take control. Clontibret however had other ideas, Vincent Corey made a dazzling run to create a chance for Paul McGuigan who pointed and then Dessie Mone lofted over a magnificent free from out on the left wing to bring Clontibret level once more at six points apiece.

Clontibret now got their second wind and suddenly they slipped into a higher gear with the Coreys again in midfield control and Brendan Og Magennis growing in stature at centre-back, clearing his lines and coming of telling forays to supplement the attack. He struck a brilliant long distance point to give his side the lead, Martin Corey added another from out around midfield and from the same distance Vincent Corey pointed a great free-kick to put Clontibret three ahead at this vital time.

They extended their lead shortly after wards when Vincent Corey was again on target in the 51st minute to put Clontibret 0-10 to 0-6 ahead and looking very assured. It looked good for the Monaghan champions at this stage but St Gall's weren't giving up and when a speculative lob into the Clontibret goalmouth bounced off a few hands before Sean McAreavey finished to the net from close
range their lead was reduced to the minimum and the game set up for a nerve tingling finish with eight minutes left for play.

St. Galls might well have had a second goal minutes later when another effort by substitute Paul Higgins came back off a post but this was the last real chance St Gall's had of clinching victory as Clontibret regained their composure.

Brendan Magennis sliced through for a great point to put them two in front but just on the hour Terry O'Neill narrowed the gap to one point again but St Gall's couldn't breach the strong Clontibret defence in which full-back Jonathan McGuigan and Brendan Og Magennis were outstanding.

The Corey brothers in midfield, left half forward Dessie Mone and centre-forward Paul McGuigan were also superb. St Gall's battled bravely but against superior forces although Anto Healy at left half-back did everything possible to stem the tide but the dangerous half-forward line of Karl Stewart, Terry O'Neill and Kevin Niblock was expertly crowded out for the second half by Clontibret who now meet Derry champions, Ballinderry, in next Saturday's final again at Shaw's Road.

Clontibret - P McElroy; E Greenan, J McGuigan, C Evans; M McGarrell, B Og Magennis, P Duffy; V Corey (0-2, one free), M Corey (0-1); S Mulligan, P McGuigan (0-3), D Murphy; N Morgan, D McKeown, D Mone (0-3). Sub: C Duffy for S. Mulligan..

St Gall's - C O'Connor; S Walsh, C Kennedy, S Morrison; D Sheehan, A McClean, A Healy; K McDonald, G Moore; K Stewart, 0-4, T O'Neill 0-1 K Niblock 0-1, S McAreavey 1-0, J Gilliland, P Gribbon 0-1. Sub: P Higgins for S. Walsh. REFEREE - M. Convery (Derry).