Clogher prove too much for Slaughtmanus

Clogher 5-15 ... Slaughtmanus 2-08

In the end it was pretty emphatic as Tyrone champions lived up to their pre-tournament tag as favourites by defeating Derry kings Slaughtmanus by sixteen points on Sunday afternoon.

A couple of late goals in the dying embers of the contest splashed a little more undeserved blood on the scoreboard, but the men from St Mary’s will know they were well bettered by a highly impressive club that really should go on and clinch the provincial title.

The Eire Og’s held most of the ace cards, from the livewire Ciaran Bogue who hit 3-3, to fellow forwards Ryan McCaughey and Marc McConnell (who shared 1-6 between them). Slaughtmanus simply could not contain Clogher’s potency up front. Few teams could.

Indeed Clogher, hoping to continue Tyrone club’s rich and successful history in this competition, arrived at Owenbeg among the favourites to lift provincial silverware if not go on further. Since its inception in 2001, teams from the O’Neill County have lifted the Paul Kerr Cup seven times. And despite Craigbane’s appearance in last year’s final - a feat emulating Limavady (twice), Ballerin, Lissan and Faughanvale – Oakleaf clubs have yet to win a provincial title at Junior level.

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Freshly minted Derry champions Slaughtmanus, hoping to break that unwanted duck, having plied their trade at the intermediate league level this season last lifted the county Intermediate Championship back in 1988, had collected the Derry junior title for the first time in their history with that recent comfortable win over Doire Trasna.

Opponents the Eire Ogs, Tyrone champions back in 2000, regained their county junior title a quarter of a century later putting Drumragh to the sword 1-21 to 0-12 last month.

Despite a bright opening from the underdogs, the favourites ran in four to the good at half-time, leading 2-5 to 1-4. Trailing 1-4 to 0-1 after the first quarter, the Derry men fought back well to maintain some skin in the game and but for the concession of a second goal late in the half would have been well in contention.

Star man Connor McGee opened the afternoon’s scoring but after that Eire Og hit five in a row to take a firm grip of proceedings at a heavy Owenbeg pitch. Clogher danger man Ciaran Bogue accounted for the key score in the 11th minute when he skinned two men and rifled the ball into the back of the Slaughtmanus net.

Free-taker Ryan McCaughey worked three points before the St Mary’s men staged a much needed revival. Connor McGee’s 20th minute free was Slaughtmanus’ first score for 18 minutes. Two minutes later Connaire Molly drilled home a goal from close range after great build up work from first David Quigg then Killene Thornton. Barry Lyons proceeding point left the Derry champions just a point adrift at 1-4 to 1-3.

However, a Marc McConnell goal just before half-time left the Tyrone men running in the happier at the interval.

Slaughtmanus enjoyed the better restart. McGee sped in on goal in their opening attack only to be upended as he pulled the trigger. The ace front man dusted himself down before wiring his penalty into the back of the net to leave the scoreboard reading 2-5 to 2-4.

St Mary’s lost a vital layer in their defensive shape when the influential Cahir Cooke failed to appear after the break.

Stung into action Clogher responded both emphatically and lethally.

The Tyrone champs hit an unanswered 1-8 to all but seal the deal. Bogue and McCaughey did most of the damage, but in truth Clogher were excellent all over the pitch.

Oran Cartin produced a lovely run and point in the 58th minute – Slaughtmanus’ first score since that 31st minute penalty. McGee slotted over another free and the industrious David Quigg nailed a fine late two pointer. Eire Og helped themselves to two more injury time goals and that was that.

The bigger picture, of course, is one that shines a light on an outstanding season for the north Derry club. A fine campaign where they certainly didn’t look out of place in the Intermediate league culminated in lifting the Joe Brolly Cup for the first time in their history. The future’s bright…

Clogher: Ruairi McElroy, Eoin Mellon, Dominic McKernan, Cillian Barkey (0-3), Conor Shields (1-1), Matty Callaghan, Mark Bogue, Barry McKenna (0-1), Darragh Mellon, Sean Bogue, Ciaran Bogue (3-3, 2f), Michael McCaughey, Ryan McCaughey (0-5, 2f), Mark McConnell (1-1), Finbarr McCaughey. Subs: Emmett Hagan for D McKernan (46), Jamie Callaghan for M McCaughey (46), Eoin McCarron for F McCaughey (50), G McKenna for M Callaghan (52), Paul Callaghan (0-1) for M Bogue (55)

Slaughtmanus: Gavin McShane, Corin McMonagle, Cathal Deery, Cahir Cooke, Oran Carton (0-1), Jude Mullan, Eoghan Cassidy, Conaire Molloy (1-0), David Quigg (0-3), Rian McCormick, Caolan Hargan, Conor Lyons, Killene Thornton, Connor McGee (1-3, 2f), Barry Lyons (0-1). Sub: Eamon Deery for C Cooke (HT), Gerald McCormick for K Thornton (51), Shay Crawford for B Lyons (54), Jason Ferguson for C McMonagle (58)

Referee: Eoin Murphy (Fermanagh)