AIB Ulster Club SFC Quarter-Final

GLEN: 3-10 ERRIGAL CIARAN: 1-12

By Declan Bogue at Celtic Park

Derry's Glen booked their place in the Ulster semi-final with a commanding performance in the second half to sprint past Errigal Ciaran in a frantic finish.

The Tyrone champions looked the better side throughout the first half, though they never got away from Malachy O’Rourke’s men due to the concession of two goals; the first for a questionable challenge on goalkeeper Darragh McAnenly for the first score of the game, knocked home by Conor Convery.

O’Rourke admitted afterwards that it had been an uncomfortable afternoon for him, after playing on an Errigal team that won Tyrone Championships and having managed them to the 2006 title.

Nonetheless, he had made a commitment to Glen at the start of the season and they now have an Ulster semi-final against Antrim champions Cargin.

In scoring seven of the last eight points of the first half, Errigal at times looked irresistible with Ruairí and Darragh Canavan a treat to watch.

However, the Ulster Club Championship depends a lot on physicality. From the first half began, it became apparent that Errigal had massive problems in securing possession from their own kickout. At one stage, they had only gathered three of their first ten kickouts.

Up against the wall of green and gold and with Conor Glass growing more into the game, Glen could put together their scores in doubles, while Errigal struggled to get the ball into meaningful positions, while the wind caused havoc with their shooting.

With the benefit of a big wind sweeping in from Lough Foyle suiting Glen in the second half, a solo run by Ethan Doherty when he got in behind the Errigal cover and backed it up with a dummy past McAnenly before a shot to the net, put them in front again.

Despite a late goal being disallowed from Eoin Kelly that would have left one point in it, Glen finished the stronger with two brilliant points from substitute Stevie O’Hara, and the final score of the game belonging to Alex Doherty.

It also extends a record that Tyrone clubs find difficult to swallow, in that it has been six years now since their county representatives have won a game in the senior Ulster Club Championship, Killyclogher beating Cargin back then.

From when they won the Derry Championship, Glen have been rated as favourites for Ulster. It appears that they may well justify the tag.

Scorers for Glen: A Doherty (1-1), C Convery, E Doherty (1-0 each), S O’Hara (0-2), E Bradley (0-2), T Flannagan, J Doherty, C McGuckian (0-1 each), D Tallon (0-1f), C Glass (0-1 ‘45’)

Scorers for Errigal Ciaran: T Canavan (1-4, 3f), D Canavan (0-3, 1f), R Canavan (0-2), P Óg McCartan (0-2), P McGirr, M Kavanagh (0-1 each)

GLEN: C Bradley; C Mulholland, R Dougan, C Carville; A Doherty, M Warnock, E Mulholland; C Glass, E Bradley; E Doherty, J Doherty, C Convery; C Gallagher, D Tallon, C McGuckian. Subs: T Flannagan for C Gallagher (HT), S O’Hara for C Convery (47m), A McGonigle for A Doherty (62m)

ERRIGAL CIARAN: D McAnenly; Ciaran Quinn, A McCrory, D Morrow; Cormac Quinn, N Kelly, P Óg McCartan; M Kavanagh, P Harte; B McDonnell, T Canavan, P McGirr; R Canavan, D Canavan, J Oguz. Subs: C Corrigan for McGirr (44m), P O’Hanlon for Morrow (44m), E Kelly for Kavanagh (49m), O Robinson for Ciaran Quinn (60m)

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)