Newbridge edge past competitive Dunloy side at Owenbeg

Newbridge 1-14 ... Dunloy 0-11

Newbridge pulled clear of Dunloy in the last 10 minutes to book their place in Sunday’s Ulster quarter-final.

The Derry champions will take on Madden with a place in the last four up for grabs.

A six-point margin didn’t reflect a competitive game that began to turn on Callum McGrogan’s goal, his second in as many games.

There were two other key swings in the game. Leading by three points, Aodhan McGarry passed up a fisted point chance and when Shea McAteer blocked their attempt at a half goal chance, Newbridge shaved the lead back to two points.

It could’ve been closer in that moment had Newbridge been awarded a penalty. Referee Kieran Eannetta took his time over the decision and after consulting his umpire, deemed Mark Doherty not have been fouled, with his brother Óisín tapping over a free awarded earlier in the move.

The second turning point came when the sides were level with 10 minutes to go. Nigel Elliott raced goalwards with a goal chance. In the end, he decided not to shoot for goal and his attempted squared pass didn’t meet the in-rushing Deaglan Smith.

It was perhaps justice on the ‘Bridge after Elliott appeared to have take double the number of steps in the buildup.

Brady hails McGrogan goal as key score in Newbridge's win over Dunloy

“It was never comfortable, let’s put it like that, but it was a good battle” - Brady

IN PICTURES: Newbridge book place in last eight

Newbridge have set up Ulster quarter-final clash with Madden

Within seconds of the goal chance Paddy McMullan, who assisted 0-6 of Newbridge’s tally, passed to Conleth McGrogan for a two pointer. Seconds later an Óisín Doherty two-pointer broke the game and Newbridge were safely through.

It was an excellent game of championship football, played in the right spirits with both teams wrestling for supremacy until the late Newbridge charge.

Keelan Molloy landed six points for the Antrim champions but Newbridge’s key component was their array of different scorers outside the half dozen kicked by Óisín Doherty.

On a day when Conor McAteer was scoreless, he played his part with assists and turnovers, Conleth McGrogan, Sean Young and Conor Doherty kicked points two apiece.

Newbridge could’ve rued the goal chances they missed in the first half, one as the result of a breathtaking save from Chrissy McMahon to deny Óisín Doherty.

At the other end, Nathan Rocks and Paudi McGrogan made a vital double interception when Luke McFerran punched Seaan Elliott’s dropping ball goalwards.

Dunloy will be left to ponder their exit after an historic season in Antrim and chat will turn to who may take up any invitations to join the county squad under new manager Mark Doran.

For Newbridge, it will be a week with Madden under the radar and a glorious semi-final spot up for grabs. The names of Niall Grimley and Darragh McMullen will be prominent after their exploits in annexing their first Armagh title.

Saturday will stick to Newbridge, a game that saw the teams locked on level terms four times in the opening half and again with 10 minutes to go.

Óisín Doherty tapped over an early free with Keelan Molloy responding during a well contested opening quarter.

Sean Young finished off a fine run with a score before Molloy was on the end of a neat passing move to level matters again.

Conor Doherty was important for Newbridge over the hour and his two points helped them into a two-point lead on two separate occasions.

Newbridge passed up four possible goal chances. One was clearcut with McMahon making that brilliant save. The McGarry brothers – Ryan and Aodhan – made blocks.

Dunloy came with two key two-point scores from Molloy and Smith to put them 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time. It could’ve been more if Shane McGrogan hadn’t got hands on Nigel Elliott’s squared pass to Keelan Molloy with the last action of the half.

Molloy kicked a monster score into the wind, just inside the 40-metre arc, to push Dunloy three clear early in the second half.

There was a Mark McGrogan response, after another assist from the everywhere man Paddy McMullan, but a Smith catch from the kick-out led to a Ryan McGarry point.

It put Dunloy 0-10 to 0-7 ahead but they only managed one further point in the remaining 22 minutes, Seaan Elliott’s 50th minute equaliser.

Dunloy did have that important chance to go four up they didn’t take. Would it have tipped the scales? Possibly, but Newbridge began to get a grip.

Callum and Paudi McGrogan began to pick up vital possession and the game took its first turn on the kick-out after Óisín Doherty cut the margin to two points.

Reece Cunning won the ball from McMahon’s restart but ran into a tackle. There was also a rob by Shane McGrogan when Dunloy managed to get the ball back. McGrogan’s tackle changed the game.

Still in this vital move, Paudi McGrogan and Eamon Young were involved until the ball ended up on the hands of Óisín Doherty. Boxed in, he managed to squeeze a fist pass off his less preferred left hand and Callum McGrogan palmed home for a 1-8 to 0-10 lead.

Seaan Elloitt did manage to level the game but when Dunloy failed to convert their last goal chance of the game, the Conleth McGrogan two pointer turned Newbridge towards Sunday’s clash with Madden.

Scorers

Newbridge: Oisin Doherty 0-6 (1tp, 4f), Callum McGrogan 1-0, Conleth McGrogan (1tp), Sean Young, Conor Doherty 0-2 each, Mark McGrogan and Mark Doherty 0-1 each

Dunloy: Keelan Molloy 0-6 (1tp, 2f), Deaglan Smith 0-2 (tp), Eoin O'Neill, Ryan McGarry and Seaan Elliott 0-1 each.

Teams

Newbridge: Nathan Rocks; Paudi McGrogan, Shane McGrogan, Mark McGrogan; Callum McGrogan, Shea McAteer, Conor McGrogan; Conor Doherty, Conleth McGrogan; Patrick McMullan, Mark Doherty, Conor McAteer; Eamon Young; Sean Young, Óisín Doherty. Sub: Jude Diamond for E Young (60)

Dunloy: Christopher McMahon; Reece Cunning, Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella; Aodhan McGarry, Ryan McGarry, Tom McFerran; Eoin McFerran, Deaglan Smith; Eoin O’Neill, Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning; Seaan Elliott; Luke McFerran, Keelan Molloy. Subs: Kevin McQuillan for L McFerran (60), James Scally for N Elliot (59)

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)