Donaghmore Minors see off Trillick in semi-final

Donaghmore 0-14   Trillick 0-6

HOLDERS Donaghmore are only sixty minutes away from what would be an historic three-in-a-row after they proved too strong for Trillick in the 2003 Minor championship semi final at Father Devlin Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was a game that the hosts never trailed in but after a confident start they found themselves only a point in front going into the final quarter. Their experience at this level stood to them however, as they didn’t panic and went on to outscore their opponents 0-8 to 0-1, emerging comfortable winners in the end and setting up a final meeting with Cookstown.

The St Patricks were into their stride quickly with centre half back Joey Clarke opening the scoring inside 60 seconds before the impressive Noah Grimes doubled their advantage with a fine effort from distance in the fourth minute.

Grimes then landed a superb brace either side of a quality effort from midfielder Conor O’Neill as Donaghmore raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after a dozen minutes. In the 14th minute, a free from Charlie Donnelly opened Trillick’s account but that was soon cancelled out by a well struck ‘45’ from Donaghmore keeper Conan McGarvey.

That left Donaghmore 0-6 to 0-1 in front but that score in the 16th minute also proved to be their last of the contest. McGarvey was forced into a good save to deny Fintan Doyle a goal as the St Macartans enjoyed a good spell of pressure. Liam Corry narrowed the gap from a free but despite having the better of things, their shooting let them down with five wides in as many minutes in the closing stages of the half leaving the scoreboard reading 0-6 to 0-2.

Donnelly narrowed the gap on the restart with a superb point before the same player took a pass from Corry to leave just two between the sides. The momentum was now with Trillick and when Donnelly knocked over his fourth of the contest there was just the minimum between the sides going into the final quarter.

That was as good as it got for Trillick though as Donaghmore assumed control again with O’Neill and Grimes to the fore.

Substitute Ultan Quinn palmed over a rebound after an O’Neill shot for a goal was parried by Trillick keeper Caionn Kelly before Grimes (2) and Ronan Molloy both converted frees.

Joseph Kelly then got his name on the scoresheet and while Donnelly responded at the other end of the field, it was Donaghmore who now had the bit between their teeth. Grimes converted another two frees with Molloy also on target from a well-placed ball as Donaghmore made it safely through to the decider.

THE SCORERS

Donaghmore

Noah Grimes 0-7 (4F), Ronan Molloy 0-2 (2F), Joey Clarke 0-1, Conor O’Neill 0-1, Conan McGarvey 0-1 (45), Ultan Quinn 0-1, Joseph Kelly 0-1.

Trillick

Charlie Donnelly 0-5 (2F), Liam Gray 0-1 (F).

Referee: Shane Meehan, Glenelly.