CAVAN
BALLINAGH made history this afternoon in Kingspan Breffni Park as they won their first county senior football title with a 0-12 to 0-11 win over Cavan Gaels.
Ballinagh upset the odds against a Cavan Gaels side who were the hot favorites after winning seven of the previous ten Cavan county championships.
County senior attacker Niall McDermott helped point the way for Ballinagh who had lead by 0-8 to 0-5 at the break.
The teams were tied at 0-3 apiece by the 14th minute before Ballinagh accelerated clear with McDermott on target from frees and Damian McInerney also chipping in with a point.
But Cavan Gaels fought back strongly in the second-half with Martin Dunne and Michael Lyng hitting over the points to tie the teams at 0-10 apiece by the 52nd minute.
Ballinagh regained the initiative with points from Thomas Moore and McDermott, and they held on for a famous win despite Seanie Johnston popping over a late point for Cavan Gaels.
Pic: @CavanCoBoardGaa
MONAGHAN
SCOTSTOWN ended their 20-year wait for a county senior title with a comfortable 2-16 to 0-7 win over Clontibret in today’s decider in Clones.
Scotstown gained an early grip on the game as they lead by 0-10 to 0-5 at the interval against a Clontibret side who had won four of the last seven titles.
But Clontibret had also lost last year’s decider and they had no answer in the second-half to a rampant Scotstown team who bagged two goals from Shane Carey as they eased to victory.
Scotstown, who included county seniors Darren and Kieran Hughes along with net minder Rory Beggan in their ranks, ran out victors by 15 points and the club of GAA Director-General Paraic Duffy now advance to represent Monaghan in the Ulster championship.
TYRONE
CLONOE claimed to a 3-8 to 0-12 final win over Carrickmore in today’s decider in Healy Park in Omagh.
Their goal scoring prowess proved crucial as they landed their 8th county senior crown. Ex-Derry boss Damien Cassidy was on the sideline as he added his second Tyrone crown as a manager after they had previously won in 2008.
The teams were level at the break, 1-3 to 0-6, with Paul Coney firing home Clonoe’s goal. Clonoe added their second goal after the interval when Dan McNulty fisted the ball to the Carrickmore net.
Carrickmore hit back with a string of points and Michael McCallan sent them in front by 0-10 to 2-3. But then Clonoe equalized through Conor McAliskey and PJ Lavery grabbed their third goal of the game.
From there Clonoe managed to close out the game with the accuracy of McAliskey and Stephen McNulty key to their success as they advanced to an Ulster club quarter-final tie with Derry champions Ballinderry next Sunday.
