Gaelic Games

Conor McManus point puts Clontibret through in Ulster club championship

Antrim champions St Galls edged out in tense battle in Clones

Clontibret’s Conor McManus’s late point proved to be the difference in Clones yesterday. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inphp
Clontibret’s Conor McManus’s late point proved to be the difference in Clones yesterday. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inphp
Sun Nov 02 2014 - 19:10

Clontibret (Monaghan) 0-10 St Galls (Antrim) 0-9

A point by Conor McManus with literally the last kick of the game saw Monaghan champions Clontibret sensationally dump St Galls out of the championship in this tough, hard-hitting yet always fascinating battle in Clones yesterday.

The finish was in total contrast to the start of the game when St Galls started in whirlwind fashion and opened a six-point lead inside 10 minutes, with the Monaghan men chasing shadows.

Michael Pollock hit two of those scores, one from a free, while Jackson McGreevy, Terry O’Neill, Conor McGourty and Aodhan Gallagher also got their names on the scoreboard.

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Clontibret came to the fore in the second quarter, establishing a foothold around midfield and finding their range.

By half-time they had reduced the deficit to three, thanks to points from Conor McManus, Vincent Corey and Brian Greenan.

Clontibret got off to a great start to the second half with four unanswered scores in the opening nine minutes, all frees and all from the trusty boot of McManus.

St Gall’s were then dealt a blow when they were reduced to 14 players after wing back Jason McGreevy was given his marching orders.

But the Antrim side were in no mood to roll over and the sides were level again at the end of the third quarter, Pollock hauling his team level, before a pointed-free from McGourty saw them re-take the lead in the 19th minute.

That was the last time were to be in front, however, as Clontibret reclaimed the initiative with scores from McManus and substitute Aodh Curran.

With six minutes left, St Galls did draw level again through Pollock.

But Clontibret showed nerves of steel to absorb everything the Antrim champions could throw at them and find the winner almost on the stroke of full-time.

CLONTIBRET: C Fadian; D Mooney, C Greenan, D Savage; D Mone, C Boyle, P McGuigan; V Corey (0-1), E Greenan; M Corey, C McManus (0-7, 0-5 frees), P Boyle; C Lavelle, B Greenan (0-1), R McGuigan. Subs: F Mone for P Boyle, A Curran 0-1 for R McGuigan, JP Mone for E Greenan. ST GALLS: C Kerr; R Wilson, C Burke, C Brady; A Healy, S Kelly, J McGreevy (0-1); N O'Neill, A Gallagher (0-1); T O'Neill (0-1), C McGourty (0-2, frees), Kieran McGourty; K Niblock, M McGowan, M Pollock (0-4, 0-1free). Subs: M Kelly for A Healy, Kevin McGourty for M McGowan, A Gribbon for R Wilson, S McAreavey for N O'Neill. Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).