Clarkes pip Loughmacrory at the post to reach semis

Loughmacrory 2-9  Dungannon 1-13

A CLASH which highlighted all that is best about modern gaelic football climaxed in the most dramatic manner when Dungannon pipped Loughmacrory right at the finish of a compelling Senior Championship quarter-final tussle on Saturday afternoon.

Everything seemed set for the St Teresa’s to clinch their place in a Tyrone semi-final for the first time ever. Two great goals from Gareth Donaghy and Eoin McElholm enlivened their challenge and they looked set for victory.

But the Clarkes found reserves of sheer steel to find their back. They outscored the Lough by 1-6 to 0-2 in the final quarter, and reserved the best to the very last when Conor McKee somehow scrambled the ball into the net.

That gave the Clarkes a vital two point cushion and they held out in what really was a match to remember. The Dungannon men progress at the expense of opponents who can do nothing but curse their cruel luck in the tension-filled final moments at Plunkett Park.

This was a really intriguing tussle right from the start. Loughmacrory’s ability to cut the space available to the Dungannon attack was their clear tactic right from the start, and their defensive patience was soon paying dividends. Pearse Grimes, Nathan Kelly and Dara Curran worked well together, but they were helped as the likes of Pauric Meenagh, Eoin Donaghy and Aodhan Donaghy dropped back. It was clear, then, that scores were going to be at an absolute premium and that’s exactly how things turned out.

A long range point from Matthew Quinn saw the Clarkes open their account. But their lead didn’t last long as Eoin McElholm raced through to fire over for the St Teresa’s.

It was then, though, that the Lough really began to exert their authority on the game. Points courtesy of Aodhan Donaghy and Pauric Meenagh edged them two ahead, 0-2 to 0-1, and their defensive effectiveness was having an even more telling impact.

They successfully thwarted the ability of Paul Donaghy, Matthew Quinn and Lorcan Mallon to get space. Dalaigh Jones tried hard to create openings, but they were consistently pushed back, or forced to take shots from difficult angles.

To be fair, the Clarkes were equally adept at curbing the space available to Loughmacrory. Patrick McKearney, Conall Devlin and Mark McKearney worked hard at achieving turnovers, and there was little sign of the stalemate easing as that first half progressed.

Kevin Barker raced through on goals for the Clarkes, drawing a foul which Paul Donaghy converted. Moments later, Paul Donaghy jinked past two defenders before registering a brilliant long range score.

The teams were now level at 0-3 apiece, and it was an equally impressive piece of brilliance from Eoin McElholm which edged the St Teresa’s ahead at half-time. His agility and accuracy were vital as he put them 0-4 to 0-3 ahead.

They held onto that lead until half-time, continuing to frustrate Dungannon in the process with a top notch display of defensive teamwork and counter-attacking. The big question for them, of course, was whether they’d be able to maintain the momentum on the resumption.

Matthew Quinn briefly reduced the deficit for the Clarkes on the restart. However, they were rocked as Loughmacrory came with a scoring blitz that emphasised their qualities throughout the field and brought them to the brink of a famous win.

It was corner back Pearse Grimes who forged forward on the counter-attack. The space opened up in front of him, he found Eoin McElholm and within seconds the ball was in the back of the net. That Eoin McElholm goal confirmed the Lough’s control and they weren’t finished yet.

Moments later Eoin McElholm turned provider for Aodhan Donaghy who fired over with the goal at his mercy. This was some stuff from Loughmacrory and, while Patrick Quinn and Kevin Barker were to respond for the Clarkes, this game was threatening to become a one-sided romp to the win.

A quick kick-out for Dungannon went astray and Ronan Fox intercepted before placing Gareth Donaghy. Once more, the Clarkes defence was nowhere and Donaghy confidently fired to the net. That score left Loughmacrory 2-5 to 0-6 ahead and in the tightest of tussles their fans dared to dream.

It all appeared to be a mere formality. But the Clarkes had other ideas and slowly but surely clawed their way back. Paul Donaghy and Eoin McElholm swapped points, Oisin O’Kane pulled off a brilliant save from Lorcan Mallon and the neutrals relished what they hoped would follow.

Ciaran and Kevin Barker, Conall Devlin amd Padraig McNulty upped the tempo. Now they were matching Loughmacrory’s earlier intensity, and the dividends began to follow. The final quarter was a good one for them as they scrambled for every turnover, tackle and scoring opportunity.

Substitute, James Quinn scored, Ryan Jones raced through to set up Paul Donaghy for another, Dara Curran maintained Loughmacrory’s lead at 2-7 to 0-9. However, the tide was turning and the question now was whether the Lough could hold on.

A brace in quick succession from James Quinn reduced the deficit to three, and then two more frees courtesy of Paul Donaghy brought Dungannon to within one point right at the end of normal time. This was Tyrone championship football at its finest, and the stage was set for yet another brilliant finale. It was now or never for the Clarkes and a high ball into the square broke. Loughmacrory desperately tried to clear, and in the melee of chaos which followed Conor McKee was on hand to hit the net. The goal wasn’t pretty, but the score put Dungannon by 1-13 to 2-8.

Loughmacrory battled for the equaliser and Diarmuid Gallagher reduced the deficit to one again. A last attack offered them the chance, but the Clarkes defence piled on the pressure as the final whistle brought sharply contrasting emotions for the players, management and supporters of both clubs.

The Scorers
Dungannon
Paul Donaghy 0-6 (3f, 1 OM), James Quinn 0-3 (1OM), Conor McKee 1-0, Matthew Quinn 0-2, Kevin Barker 0-1, Patrick Quinn 0-1.

Loughmacrory
Eoin McElholm 1-2, Aodhan Donaghy 0-2, PaurIc Meenagh 0-1, Dara Curran 0-1, Ruairi McCullagh 0-1, Diarmuid Gallagher 0-1.