CLAN NA GAEL GET THE JOB DONE AT LAST
CLAN NA GAEL 2-8 MULLABRACK 1-9
Richard Bullick
After agonising defeats by Granemore and Derrynoose in the last two Intermediate deciders, Clan na Gael got the job done at the third time of asking with a somewhat nervy victory over Mullabrack in the Athletic Grounds.
A goal deep in injury-time arguably gave the final scoreline an artificially close look, but Mullabrack battled bravely after falling four points behind in the first eight minutes of the match against strongly fancied Clan na Gael.
Despite finishing as runners-up to Clan na Gael in Division Two this season, Mullabrack came into this Buttercrane Intermediate Championship showpiece as clear underdogs against Lurgan opponents desperate to get over the line this time.
And although it would be wrong to say last Sunday was a case of ‘third time lucky’ for Clan na Gael, their deserved victory was hard-earned and Mullabrack made it a real contest unlike when well beaten by Ballyhegan in the same stadium three years ago.
This long-awaited win was sweet for Clan na Gael, and after those heartbreaking losses in the last two finals at St Paul’s in Lurgan and Silverbridge respectively, it was a bonus that they eventually got to claim the silverware at Armagh headquarters.
In addition to the painful lessons of previous seasons, the experience acquired along the way and the sharpened hunger, this is still a youthful Clan na Gael group who are continuing to develop all the time.
Lara Marsden, daughter of Armagh great Diarmaid Marsden, is coming off the back of her first season in the senior county set-up and she stamped that authority from the off, coming away with the throw-in and getting the ball back to open the scoring just 13 seconds in.
She and co-captain Aoife Reid were a formidable midfield duo, with the latter’s sister Ella Reid at centre half forward and former county panellist Angela Loughran at centre half back also influential figures at the heart of Christy Furphy’s team.
The other co-captain Clodagh Robinson eclipsed that quartet for the Player of the Match award, full forward Maeve McShane struck for Clan na Gael’s first goal in first half injury-time and their defence did a good job too.
But Mullabrack came close enough to hold their heads high in defeat while also looking back with some sense of what might have been but for a slow start, a couple of straightforward frees not converted and a Katie-Rose Pickering shot hitting the base of a post.
Nicole O’Reilly scored four of her five points in the second half, the first two of those from frees, Shauna Gallogly got that late goal to go with her earlier point, Amy Gribben pointed either side of the interval and midfield Aoife Farrell also raised a white flag.
Clan na Gael were the better team overall and will be relieved to have won the Intermediate title for the first time but there are work-ons ahead of the impending provincial campaign, including greater security on their own kickouts and improving their conversion rate.
Marsden’s first score of the afternoon was quickly followed by a couple of points from Robinson sandwiching a spectacular effort from Ella Reid way out on the right as confident Clan na Gael went four up in the autumn sunshine.
Having failed to get Mullabrack on the board with a relatively easy free late in the first quarter, O’Reilly raised her team’s first flag with a point from play in the 21st minute just after Ella Reid had registered Clan na Gael’s fifth following good work by Loughran.
Gallogly got another point for Mullabrack three minutes later, though the underdogs soon survived a goal chance at the other end thanks to a crucial intervention by defender Annie Rice.
The women in blue also kicked several wides but hit a quickfire 1-1 at the start of injury-time, Aimee Brady converting a free and McShane hitting the net after Loughran had picked off the subsequent Mullabrack kickout.
Amy Gribben pulled a point back but Clan na Gael still led by six at the interval, though experienced campaigner Gallogly should have reduced that by one with a very kickable free which she somehow missed four minutes after the resumption.
Marsden promptly replied to a nice point from Amy Gribben with a tasty score of her own but O’Reilly gave Mullabrack fresh hope by kicking two frees, the first from long-range, in the space of a minute towards the end of the third quarter.
City of Armagh RFC player Pickering hit the post low down in the 48th minute just before exciting Clan na Gael sub Riley Little was sinbinned for a rugby style hand-off having already come to the referee’s attention twice.
O’Reilly left just three between the teams with a point from distance but Clan na Gael then struck with what felt like a significant goal, Ella Reid shooting low into the left corner of the net after being played in by her sister Aoife.
Mullabrack weren’t done yet though and responded with a fine point by O’Reilly but full back Niamh Murphy hit a shot wide and an attempted quick free from Gallogly went wrong before Ella Reid extended the gap to two goals.
Aoife Farrell raised another white flag on 59 minutes and the last score of the game was what proved a consolation goal by Gallogly, who tucked the ball away with aplomb after imposing sub Naoise Hughes had dropped it into the danger area.
CLAN NA GAEL: N Murphy; E Magill, H Dummigan, S Haughian; C Kelly, A Loughran, A Brady (0-1; 1f); A Reid, L Marsden (0-2); C Robinson (0-2), E Reid (1-3), C McCrory; N Henderson, M McShane (1-0), C Campbell. Subs used: Colma O’Hagan for Haughian (27mins), R Little for Henderson (36), A McCavigan for McCrory (57), E Morrow for McShane (57), Cara O’Hanlon for Robinson (62).
MULLABRACK: K Donnelly; M Rice, N Murphy, E Rice; Annie Rice, M McLaughlin, N Farrell; E Murphy, A Farrell (0-1); Aine Rice, S Brennan, N O’Reilly (0-5; 2f); Amy Gribben (0-2), KR Pickering, S Gallogly (1-1). Subs used: Aine Gribben for Brennan (38), N Hughes for Aine Rice (45), M Crilly for Eimear Rice (58).
Referee: Shane McKeown (Moy).
