Coalislandtakebigstepclosertofinalfling

COALISLAND Fianna booked a Tyrone senior football championship semi-final meeting with Edendork following a thrilling quarter-final win over Errigal Ciaran yesterday (0-15 to 2-7), while Killyclogher and Ardboe will cross swords in the other semi-final.

It’s nine years since Coalisland last captured the title and on yesterday’s evidence they could re-enter a sporting paradise.

Even though Peter Harte and Ronan McCrory hit goals for Errigal Ciaran, Plunkett Kane, Michael McKernan and Paddy McNeice led the Coalisland cavalry charge that saw points flow.

In a tense finish, Coalisland just managed to hold out as Errigal Ciaran sought to salvage the game.

Killyclogher, meanwhile, who were crowned champions in 2016, are back on the glory trail again and their fine 1-12 to 0-9 win over title-holders Omagh St Enda’s yesterday suggests that they could make further progress.

Substitute Luke Murnaghan’s opportunist goal and Mark Bradley’s accuracy from play bolstered the winners who led at half-time by 0-6 to 0-4 before they went on to impose their authority even more after the break.

Omagh’s cause was not helped, though, when the normally influential Conor Meyler was sent off at a critical juncture. It was in the closing stages that their challenge fell away as Killyclogher roared home.

Trillick, who beat Killyclogher in the 2015 final, had their ambitions of repeating that title succhampionship cess jettisoned by an Ardboe side that is gaining in confidence and flair.

A late Shay McGuigan point gave the lough shore team the narrowest of victories (2-8 to 1-10) over a Trillick outfit for which Lee Brennan proved a rich source of scores.

But David Mulgrew’s authority — he scored 1-3 — and McGuigan’s artistry were to prove central to Ardboe’s strong finish after it looked as if Trillick might nose past them.

Edendork earned their semi-final place following a hardearned 0-15 to 1-10 win over Galbally.

Tyrone goalkeper Niall Morgan, who fulfils an outfield role for Edendork, was among their scorers while Daniel Kerr’s goal and eight points from Sean Murphy underpinned Galbally’s stubborn resistance. A SUPERB display of finishing from James McNaughton helped Loughgiel hurdle Dunloy (0-14 to 0-8) in yesterday’s semi-final of the Antrim senior hurling championship.

But they will have a to wait a little longer to discover the identity of their opponents in the decider as Cushendall and St John’s finished all–square (1-16 each) in the other semi-final.

Loughgiel certainly needed McNaughton’s scoring touch against a defiant Dunloy who were only one point in arrears at the break (0-7 to 0-6).

It was in the second half, though, that McNaughton with assistance from Joey Scullion and Shay Casey in particular turned up the heat.

In the other semi-final, pas- sion, tension and commitment were the dominant elements as flair was sacrificed to a great extent in the draw between Cushendall Ruairi Og and St John’s

There was little between the sides at any stage of the game with Cushendall ahead by a single point at the break (0-9 to 0-8).

It was seasoned veteran Neil McManus who kept Cushendall ticking over by scoring eight points in all while the accurate Johnston duo, Ciaran and Conor, shared ten of St John’s points.

Cushendall’s greater experience looked as if it would tell a tale in a tempestuous finish but St John’s marksman Ciaran Johnston held his nerve as he stepped up to convert a last-gasp longrange free which earned his side the right to fight another day.

In the Antrim senior football quarter-final replay Erin’s Own Cargin overcame current champions Lamh Dhearg by 0-11 to 0-5.

Cargin led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time with Tomas McCann to the fore when it came to putting points on the board while Paddy Cunningham was the essence of accuracy for Lamh Dhearg.

But when Erin’s Own lost midfield dynamo Michael McCann to a second yellow card, it appeared initially that they might lose their grip.

Instead, the side became reinvigorated. Justin Crozier marshalled the defence superbly well, and Tomas McCann continued to pick off points in the second half.

Lamh Dhearg were restricted to a solitary point after the break as Damian Cassidy’s side began to focus even more firmly on a return to their glory days.