Bradley stars as St Mary’s advance to league final (Match Report Courtesy of The Tyrone Herald)
COALISLAND 0-10
KILLYCLOGHER 2-10
BY KEVIN KELLY
KILLYCLOGHER qualified for the division one league final when they produced arguably their best performances of the season to beat a fancied Coalisland side at Fr Campbell Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Fianna went into the game as warm favourites having ended Killyclogher’s unbeaten record in the league with a nine point success at the same venue just over a month ago, but on the day the St Marys were worthy winners. In Mark Bradley they had the best player on the pitch, the former county minor hitting 1-5 from play as well as converting an early second half penalty. That goal from the spot doubled Killyclogher’s halftime lead to six points and after that the hosts had a real mountain to climb.
To their credit, Coalisland fought back to close the gap to three with time running out but as they pressed for an equalising goal their challenge imploded as they had two players sent off in the space of thirty seconds, before they were hit on the counter attack by the visitors, with Bradley bagging his second goal right at the end of the game.
This was a fine all round display from Killyclogher with Martin Swift, Danny Gorman and Tiarnan McCann standing out in defence; Micheal Meenagh and Conal McCann edging the midfield battle against Stephen McNally; and Philip Toner with Bradley getting good support up front from Niall McFadden and James Carlin.
Coalisland on the other hand will be bitterly disappointed with the way that they played. After enjoying a consistent league campaign that saw them finish second in the table they failed to play the football that they are capable of when it mattered most.
They were sluggish throughout the first half and when they fell six behind after conceding that early second half penalty they never looked like pulling the game out of the fire. Louis O’Neill and Cormac O’Hagan were Coalisland’s best players on a day when too many of them underperformed.
Cathair Quinn fired over an outstanding point in the second minute but that was to be the only time that the Fianna would have their noses in front throughout the contest. Both sides were guilty of missed chances in an error ridden opening quarter at the end of which Killyclogher led with Bradley on target twice. A well struck long range free of the ground from teenager O’Hagan levelled matters but from the 19th to the 25th minute Killyclogher seized control with four unanswered points. Conal McCann surged through from midfield to split the posts with Niall McFadden hitting a gem from out on the right wing after Bradley had begun the scoring sequence.
Coalisland midfielder Philip Toner helped stop the rot with a splendid effort from distance but it was Killyclogher who had the final say when Carlin blasted over to leave it 0-7 to 0-4 in their favour at halftime.
The second half got off to an explosive start when Leo Meenan won a penalty, which Bradley despatched in style to the roof of the net past keeper Johnny Curran. The hosts were in trouble but they responded with a point from play from O’Hagan as well as a forty metre free off the ground from the same player. Killyclogher though maintained their cushion with Tiarnan McCann and Meenagh combining for Carlin to take a fine score before Bradley took on and beat his marker for another terrific score to leave it 1-9 to 0-7 with a dozen minutes left on the clock.
Dermot Thornton escaped the attention of Gorman to fire over a much needed Fianna point but back came Killyclogher with that man Bradley firing over again after exchanging passes with Gabhan Sludden. With three minutes of normal time to play Coalisland centre half back Niall Kerr took a good point from distance and when the home side won possession from the next kick out good work from Philip Toner saw him find Thornton who cut the deficit to three.
After being subdued for most of the game the Fianna were coming with a late surge but the Killyclogher defence stood firm with McCann, Gorman and Swift to the fore. Two minutes into injury time Stephen McNally was sent off and seconds later he was followed to the line by Stephen Curran, both for straight red card offences.
That ended the Coalisland challenge and right at the end Conal McCann played the ball to Bradley who dummied keeper Curran before shooting to the back of the net to make sure of victory.
MATCHSTATS
THE SCORERS
Coalisland
Cormac O’Hagan 0-3, Dermot Thornton 0-2, Cathair Quinn 0-2, Niall Kerr 0-1, Philip Toner 0-1, Brian Toner 0-1
Killyclogher
Mark Bradley 2-5, James Carlin 0-2, Tiarnan McCann 0-1, Conal McCann 0-1, Niall McFadden 0-1
THE TEAMS
Coalisland
Johnny Curran, Daniel Fee, Louis O’Neill, Conor Bayne, Jason Carberry, Niall Kerr, Paddy O’Farrell, Stephen McNally, Philip Toner, Brian Toner, Plunkett Kane, Cormac O’Hagan, Kevin Corr, Dermot Thornton, Cathair Quinn. Subs – Michael McKernan for Bayne, Stephen Curran for O’Hagan, Paddy McNiece for Corr, Peter Donnelly for O’Farrell, Sean Corr for McNiece
Killyclogher
Sean Fox, Martin Swift, Danny Gorman, Carl Donnelly, Tiarnan McCann, Dermot Carlin, Gabhan Sludden, Micheal Meenagh, Conal McCann, Niall McFadden, Mark Bradley, Aidan Kelly, Leo Meenan, James Carlin, Emmett McFadden. Subs – Niall Bradley for Dermot Carlin, Declan Leonard for James Carlin, Dermot Carlin for Kelly
Referee
Simon Brady, Moy
