Sport

St Gall's lead from back

St Gall's 0-11 Glenullin 0-7 Antrim champions St Gall's made it through to their second Ulster final in three seasons at Omagh…

Mon Nov 19 2007 - 00:00

St Gall's 0-11 Glenullin 0-7Antrim champions St Gall's made it through to their second Ulster final in three seasons at Omagh yesterday. They were superior to a hesitant Glenullin but hit 19 wides over the hour to effectively keep the Derrymen in the game right up to the dying moments.

With the wind in their backs, St Gall's quickly established a tried and trusted pattern: men in support and a swarm defence when they lacked possession.

Karl Stewart added to Terry O'Neill's early point, and a couple from Kevin Niblock had the Gall's faithful in fine voice, while Ruairí Boylan kicked a free over at the other end.

Glenullin claimed another point from a placed ball from Paddy Bradley, but St Gall's got as many as 12 men inside their own 21-yard line to squeeze the Bradley brothers out, and on the breakaway they added two more points, both long-range gems from midfielder Mark McCrory.

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On the stroke of half-time, however, they were reduced to 14 men, midfielder Seán Burke picking up a second yellow card.

Numerical parity was restored within 10 seconds of the restart when Ruairí Boylan received a straight red card for a high challenge on Seán Kelly.

Glenullin enjoyed their best spell midway through the second half. Two Paddy Bradley points, one from Damien Hasson and a superb effort from Eoin Bradley reduced the deficit to two.

But the city side added late points through Conor McGourty and Anto Healy to seal a place in the provincial decider.

ST GALL'S:R Gallagher; S Kennedy, A McClean, C Brady; P Veronica, S Kelly, A Healy (0-1); M McCrory (0-2), S Burke; T O'Neill (0-2, one free), K Niblock (0-3),A Gallagher; K Stewart (0-1),Kevin McGourty, Kieran McGourty. Subs: C McGourty (0-2)for Kieran McGourty; Kieran McGourty for Gallagher; C Gallagher for McCrory.

GLENULLIN:S O'Kane; E O'Kane, Brian Mullan, Barry Mullan; S Mullan, J O'Jane, G O'Kane; R Boylan (0-1, one free),N Mullan; D McIlvar, D Boylan, C Bradley; D Hasson (0-1), P Bradley (0-4, 3 frees), E Bradley (0-1). Subs:J Heaney for S Mullan; B Rafferty for D Boylan; D McNicholl for C Bradley; J McNicholl for G O'Kane.

Referee: M Hughes(Tyrone).