McManus powers Clontibret to second title in row

A GOAL and five points by 20-year-old Conor McManus helped Clontibret to their second championship in a row, when they had three points to spare over Castleblayney at the end of an absorbing contest.

In a match that attracted a crowd of just over 4,000 to Clones yesterday, McManus got his side off to the perfect start with a goal after just two minutes. It was that goal that separated the sides at the finish, but his overall performance saw him named as man of the match. The sides were level three times during a very closely contested first half, Castleblayney playing catch-up twice, although they did briefly take the lead for the only time in the game when Ciaran Tavey pointed a free three minutes into stoppage time.

After a half-time score of Clontibret 1-4, Castleblayney 0-7, Clontibret extended their lead eight minutes into the second half with points by Fergal Mone and Conor McManus.