ANTRIM SFC
St Gall’s are county senior football champions once more after claiming a 1-11 to 1-5 success over St John’s in last night’s decider in Casement Park. The victory grants St Gall’s their sixth successive crown and their 11th title in 12 years.
The winners lead by 1-8 to 0-2 at the interval with CJ McGourty grabbing the early goal that set them on the road to triumph. Despite St John’s second-half fightback, St Gall’s were able to hold and could celebrate for the second successive weekend following their Kilmacud Sevens win last Saturday.
The Antrim kingpins, who won Ulster crowns in 2005 and 2009, now go forward to represent the county in provincial action on November 4th. There they will face a quarter-final tie in Brewster Park in Enniskillen against the winners of tonight’s Fermanagh county final between Tempo Maguire’s and Lisnaskea Emmets.
DOWN SFC
There will be new senior football champions in the Mourne County after Longstone dumped Burren, who were chasing a third consecutive title, out of the competition at the quarter-final stage in Páirc Esler in Newry last night. Longstone produced a remarkable comeback after trailing by seven points at the interval to eventually win by 1-13 to 2-8 as they limited Burren to only two points in the second-half.
Burren raced into an early 1-3 to 0-0 lead after seven minutes with Eamonn McGovern raising the green flag and a Gerard McCartan goal from a penalty ensured they were ahead 2-6 to 0-5 at the break. But inspired by county men Mark Poland and Ambrose Rogers, and the accurate point-taking of Michael Ireland, Longstone chipped away at the Burren advantage.
Six points inside the first 13 minutes of the second-half reduced the deficit to a single point but Burren recovered to lead 2-8 to 0-11 entering the closing stages. But the critical score arrived in the 57th minute a Burren player diverted the ball into his own net for a Longstone goal. And the winners secured glory with late points from Rogers and Ryan Kelly.
In the first game at Páirc Esler last night, Mayobridge booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 0-17 to 1-11 win over Saval. Mayobridge, who have won eight of the last thirteen titles in the Mourne County, lead by 0-10 to 0-3 at the interval and 0-15 to 0-8 with seven minutes remaining before they had to withstand a late fightback by Saval that was ignited by a goal from Fergal McConville.
A Niall Madine point in injury-time for Saval reduced the margin to two points but Mayobridge were able to breathe easy when Ryan Brady tapped over the insurance score at the finish. Cathal Magee kicked 0-7 for the winners with county star Benny Coulter, Shane O’Hare and Kealon Gallagher firing a brace apiece.
(See @OfficialDownGAA for more)
Benny Coulter (right) was in action for Mayobridge last night. Pic: INPHO/Presseye
TYRONE SFC
Dromore made no mistake at the second time of asking by defeating Killyclogher by 2-6 to 0-6 in last night’s semi-final replay in Healy Park in Omagh. Dromore, who have won three of the last five Tyrone senior football titles, will now face Errigal Ciaran in this year’s showpiece.
The winners lead 1-4 to 0-2 at the interval with Ronan McNabb’s goal setting them on their way in the 15th minute and Paddy Montague’s 45th minute strike to the net effectively sealing their success. Killyclogher, who were inspired in attack by Leo Meenan and Simon O’Neill, trimmed the margin to five points at one stage but the last score of the game from Dromore substitute Thomas McCarron confirmed their success.
(See @MoysPhillyMc for more)
