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13 Sept 2025

Craigbane book their place in Ulster semi-finals with thrilling victory over Knockbride

Craigbane

Craigbane have booked their place in the Ulster semi-finals.

Reporter:

Staff Reporter

03 Nov 2024 7:02 PM

Ulster Club JFC quarter-final
Craigbane 1-10
Knockbride 1-7
Craigbane booked an Ulster semi-final spot with a spirited performance to see off a fancied Knockbride side in a thriller on Sunday afternoon.
Lee Moore hit 0-5 for the winners with Eoin Coll holding star forward Lorcan Reilly scoreless from play.
It was a win built on hunger, an electric start and having all the right answers when Knockbride came knocking the door at key stages in the second half.
The Derry champions led by five points before Lorcan Reilly tapped over the Cavan side’s first score with 27 minutes on the clock.
It was 48th minute goal from Jude McLaughlin that shot Kevin Moore’s side back into the driving seat, 1-6 to 0-4, after the home side dug themselves back into the game.
Before that, Ben O’Kane made a save to deny Liam Fay as Knockbride enjoyed their spell.
The ‘keeper breathed a sigh of relief when Matthew Traynor failed to even register a score with a goal for the taking with a later chance.
In a frantic second half, it was Craigbane who had all the answers in the big moments with Ben Mulvey’s late goal not enough to turn the tide.
Lee Moore – who hit 0-5 overall – and Jude McLaughlin set the tone with early scores as Craigbane tore into the game from the off.
Two Fergal Mortimer points doubled their lead with Moore adding two scores for a 0-6 to 0-1 interval lead.
Points from Ciarán Smith and Fay cut the Craigbane lead to two points by the end of the third quarter before the game’s crucial first goal.
After an Oisin O’Donnell turnover, Jude Óg Moore ferried the ball upfield and after Aaron Sharkey’s shot came back off the bar, Jude McLaughlin slotted cooly to the net.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued but Moore and Conor McLaughlin shot two points in a minute to open a 1-9 to 0-6 lead.
When Bliain Gormley blocked a certain goal, Knockbride hit the net from the resultant 45 with Mulvey applying the finish.
Possession was the key word and when Jude Óg Moore fielded from the kick-out, experienced duo Gormley and Brian Rainey began the attack that led to Jude McLaughlin’s insurance point from a free.
Scorers:
Craigbane: Lee Moore 0-5 (2f), Jude McLaughlin 1-2 (1f), Fergal Mortimer 0-2 and Conor McLaughlin 0-1
Knockbride: Ben Mulvey 1-0, Lorcan Reilly (2fs), Ciarán Smith (f), Liam Fay 0-2 each and Michéal Smith 0-1
Craigbane: Ben O'Kane; Fintan Lynch, Eoin Coll, Oisin O'Donnell; Conor McLaughlin, Rory Moore, James McLaughlin; Bliain Gormley, Jude Óg Moore; Jacob McElhinney, Niall Feeney, Fergal Mortimer; Brian Rainey, Lee Moore, Jude McLaughlin
Subs: None used
Knockbride: James Lynch; Michéal Smith, Mark Magee, Daniel McGuinness; DJ Cassidy, Philip Nulty, Roy Donohoe; Kyle McCabe, Patrick Rogers; Patrick Smith, Liam Fay, Niall McCabe; Ciarán Smith, Lorcan Reilly, Matthew Traynor
Subs: Ben Mulvey for N McCabe (INJ 22), Fergal Smith for P Smith (39), Declan Nulty for Cassidy (58), Niall O’Reilly for K McCabe (59),
Referee: Shane Murphy (Armagh)

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