McGoldrick steers Eoghan Rua home

HOT favourites Eoghan Rua had to pull out all the stops in Kingscourt to seal their place in the semi-finals of the Ulster club SFC.

The Derry champions controlled much of the game against a Castlerahan side who trailed by 0-6 to 2-6 at the interval and were reduced to 14 men in first-half injury-time.

In perfect playing conditions, the Cavan champions never gave up the ghost and they got to within a single point (0-11 to 2-6) of their opponents by the 52nd minute.

Ultimately, it was two first-half goals scored by inspirational team captain Colm McGoldrick which laid the foundations for victory.

McGoldrick was a constant thorn in Castlerahan’s side and his two majors opened a wound for the Cavan side which was compounded by the loss of midfielder David Wright to a second yellow card in first-half injury-time.

McGoldrick’s palmed major on 23 minutes and a point-blank finish on 29 minutes looked to have buried the hosts’ chances of causing an upset.

However, the Coleraine crew failed to unleash a killer punch and, instead, it was the chasing team which enjoyed the momentum for large tracts of the second-half.

Indeed, despite losing countyman Fergal Reilly to injury in the 37th minute, Castlerahan managed to cut their deficit to just a single point after Oisín O’Connell’s effort went over the bar off the upright in the 52nd minute.

However, with their extra man and powered by midfield maestro Niall Holly, the Oak Leafers belatedly grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

As Castlerahan understandably tired, the winners reeled off five unanswered points to seal it.

SCORERS – Eoghan Rua: Colm McGoldrick 2-1; Ciaran McGoldrick, L McGoldrick (2f), G McWilliams (1f) 0-2 each, C Mullan, R Mooney, D Mullan, M McTaggart 0-1 each

Castlerahan: S McSweeney 0-3, C Mackey (1f), O O’Connell, S Brady 0-2 each, P Smith, G Daly 0-1 each

EOGHAN RUA – R McGeough; C Lagan, L McGoldrick, B Daly; C Mullan, B McGoldrick, C Lenehan; N Holly, P Daly; R Mooney, S L McGoldrick, G McWilliams; D Mullan, Colm McGoldrick, Ciaran McGoldrick. Subs: M McTaggart for P Daly (38); R Carey for C Lenehan (51). CASTLERAHAN – J Leahy; S Cooney, F Reilly, E O’Connell; P Smith, C Daly, E Flanagan; D Wright, P Smith; S McSweeney, O Kiernan, C Mackey; O O’Connell, R Flanagan, S Brady. Subs: B Ennis for E Flanagan (inj, 14); G Daly for C Daly (B.C, 18); K Cosgrave for F Reilly (inj, 37); S O’Reilly for B Ennis (58); F Flanagan for O O’Connell (62).

REF – C Branagan (Down)