Wily Freeman rolls back years

MAGHERACLOONE 1-15 GALBALLY 0-13

MONAGHAN SFC finalists just two years ago, Magheracloone return to the top tier as provincial champions following their convincing Ulster IFC final win over Tyrone’s Galbally.

Former All Star Tommy Freeman rolled back the years, while Pádraig McMahon hit 1-4.

“Tommy is a wily old character and he knows how to create space,” said boss James Kieran. “The pace of that game was serious, so space was always going to open up.”

The sides were deadlocked on 0-3 each at the end of the opening quarter, but Freeman’s three delightful scores from play gave Magheracloone the edge.

Daniel Kerr kept Galbally in touch, but the Monaghan men took a 0-8 to 0-6 lead into the interval, and maintained a hot pace after that, with McMahon’s goal crucial.

SCORERS – Magheracloone: P McMahon 1-4; T Freeman 0-4; A Kieran 0-3; B Kieran, G Doogan, J Ward, R Farrelly 0-1 each.

Galbally: D Kerr 0-4 (3f); L Rafferty, S Óg Mulgrew 0-2 each; D Murphy, S Murphy, R Nugent, E McGarrity, M Murphy 0-1 each.

MAGHERACLOONE – D Kirk; M Jones, P Ward, P McArdle; C McKeown, J Ward, K Rudden; J Kieran, G Doogan; B Kieran, A Kieran, P McMahon; A McCahey, M Metzger, T Freeman. Subs: J Doogan for McKeown, R Farrelly for McCahey, L Óg Murray for Metzger, J Lambe for B Kieran, N Marron for Freeman.

GALBALLY – L Óg McAuley; S Hurson, K McCrory, A Carberry; M Donnelly, C Quinn, S Óg Mulgrew; R Nugent, E McGarrity; L Rafferty, D Kerr, C Donnelly; S Murphy, C Donaghy, D Murphy.

Subs: M Lennon for Hurson, M Murphy for Donaghy, C Donnelly for Carberry, F McGarrity for M Donnelly, P Rafferty for S Murphy.

REF – K Faloon (Armagh).