ST NAUL’S hopes of making an appearance in the final of the Ulster Club IFC were dashed when they were comprehensively beaten by Galbally Pearses at Celtic Park.
St Naul’s 0-11 Galbally Pearses 1-22
It was a demoralizing conclusion for St Naul’s, bringing down the curtain on a memorable year. However, they can have few complaints today after being well-beaten by a fine team from Dungannon, who saw Mark Donnelly score four from play and Conor Donaghy getting the same total with half his from frees.
It was the Tyrone champions who made the more fruitful start, with three points posted inside of the first 10 minutes. Mark Donnelly, county panelist Liam Rafferty and Conor Donaghy at full-forward establishing the good start.
St Naul’s didn’t have much of the ball initially, although did kick three wides. However, after goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany opened their account for the day from a free on 12 minutes, Stuart Johnson pulled another one back to 0-3 to 0-2.
Daniel Kerr’s free edged the gap out to two and then Conor Donaghy made it 0-5 to 0-2 after a patient build-up.
Ian Campbell was only on the field 20 seconds when he got on the ball for St Naul’s and scored instantly, although Sean Murphy got in at the other end moments later to punch over, a peach from Mark Donnelly and Conor Donaghy’s third made for a 0-8 to 0-3 lead on 20 minutes.
Galbally were dominant and deserving of their five-point lead. Stephen Griffin got off the mark in the 26thminute but Kerr’s second free reaffirmed Galbally’s cushion.
Cormaic Donnelly nipped in at the back post behind Mulreany to slap in a goal in the second minute of injury time, following a ball into the square by Conor Donaghy.
Earlier in the day, at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh, Magheracloone from Monaghan enjoyed a 0-13 to 0-7 win over Derry’s Glenn to seal their final berth. At half-time, the side from Mountcharles had it all to do, as they trailed 1-9 to 0-6 with Conor Quinn and Enda McGarrity looking strong at centre-field and Conor Donaghy up top.
St Naul’s had reached the last four having went away to Belast’s Corrigan Park to face Antrim champions St James and came away with a three-point victory, 2-10 to 1-10. However, full-forward Daniel Brennan was sent off that day and as a result was suspended at Celtic Park.
Peadar Mogan’s free and a sublime effort from the left came either side of a free from Kerr as the second half began to take shape. Mark Donnelly’s score on 27 maintained the seven-point gap.
Johnson was looking the busiest of the St Naul’s forwards and when he got in, goalkeeper Liam Og McAuley saved. It was 1-13 to 0-7 on 40 minutes.
Galbally were coming from all angles and St Naul’s couldn’t stop the avalanche. Kerr scooted his fifth point, this first from play, to make it an 11-point game at 1-15 to 0-7.
St Naul’s needed a goal – or two – and were frustrated when referee Barry Cassidy didn’t play advantage and ball eventually found its way to Johnson. Moments later, Barry Griffin was denied a goal by a brave block from Rafferty, as Mogan put over a couple of frees.
Galbally kept St Naul’s at more than arm’s length. Every time the team managed by Barry Meehan made any sort of inroads, they’d to keep an eye on the wing-mirrors as the breaks at the other end were always potent with so many of the Donegal champions’ players forward.
Declan Murphy’s score made it 1-20 to 0-10 as St Naul’s were like a jelly-legged boxer just hoping the referee would end the fight. Soon it would, with the margin 14 points in the end.
St Naul’s:Gavin Mulreany (0-1, 1f); John Rose, Brendan McCole, Diarmuid Gallagher; Conor McBrearty, Caolan Gaffney, Peadar Mogan (0-4, 3f); Lee McBrearty, Barry Griffin; Daniel Gallagher, Michael Coughlan, Martin Breslin; Shane Conneely (0-1), Stephen Griffin (0-2, 2f), Stuart Johnston (0-1). Subs: Ian Campbell (0-2) for Coughlan (21), John Relihan for L McBrearty (42), Coughlan for Gallagher (53), Cathal Lowther for Conneely (55).
Galbally Pearses:Liam Og McAuley Aidan Carberry, Kieran McCrory, Shea Hurson; Liam Rafferty (0-1), Ronan Nugent, Seamus Óg Mulgrew (0-1); Conor Quinn (0-1), Enda McGarrity (0-1); Mark Donnelly (0-4), Daniel Kerr (0-5, 4f), Cormaic Donnelly (1-0); Sean Murphy (0-3), Conor Donaghy (0-4, 2f), Declan Murphy (0-2). Subs: Michael Murphy and Marc Lennon for Donaghy and Carberry (52), Paul Rafferty for McGarrity (54), Cathal Brannigan for S Murphy (60).
Referee:Barry Cassidy (Derry).
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