Glen beat 14-man Cargin to move one step closer to Ulster Senior title defence

On a day when Scotstown edged out Kilcoo, Glen will play the winners of Gowna and Naomh Conaill in the last four

ONE STEP CLOSER: Erin’s Own Cargin's James Laverty and Paul McCann tackle Jack Doherty of Glen Watty Graham's. Pic: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Ulster Club SFC Quarter-Finals: Glen 0-11 Cargin 0-7 

Glen did enough to step over the first hurdle of their Ulster title defence against 14-man Cargin at Celtic Park.

Watties’ boss Malachy O’Rourke was “just delighted” to get through a battle he fully expected.

The Ulster champions missed a host of chances but never trailed with Ethan Doherty sealing the deal with a late point as Cargin came in search of the goal they never looked like getting to save the game.

There was controversy late in the first half with the Cargin camp incensed following Tomás McCann’s sending off in the 26th minute.

His high tackle was deemed a red card offence by referee Conor Dourneen and Cargin were down to 14 men.

It changed the complexion of the afternoon but Cargin hung in all the way to their unsuccessful late rally.

“It wasn’t perfect by any matter of means, but it was enough to get through,” O’Rourke said of Glen’s performance.

“We knew Cargin were going to put up a serious battle and they did. They are a very physically strong team and when they get the ball, they don’t give it up too easily.” After their assured start and with their misfiring attacking game bringing frustration, Glen were able to delve into their growing bank of experience in tight corners.

“The boys have been through this type of game before and knew how to hang tough,” O’Rourke added.

“They kept their composure and we just ground out the victory. It was very similar to the game last year, Cargin are a very hard team to play against.

The incisiveness of brothers Jack and Ethan Doherty combined to keep the Watties on the front foot enough to see them stay ahead.

Glen had the ball over the bar within 10 seconds with Jack Doherty on the end of a Eunan Mulholland move for the game’s first score.

Danny Tallon (twice) and Pat Shivers exchanged frees as Glen pushed 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.

Cargin ‘keeper John McNabb was on the ball as much as anyone in the opening half and he made a point for Paul McCann, a sweet outside of the right boot curler.

Indeed, it was McNabb’s booming kick-outs that helped peg Glen back until they made an adjustment at the break. With Conor Glass and Emmett Bradley sitting deeper, they won three vital Cargin kick-outs to help swing the momentum of the game.

The Derry champions registered five first half wides but looked assured in most of the other departments. Doherty notched a second point late on as Glen led 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

“We are disappointed with our own conversation rate,” O’Rourke said of the dressing room mood, highlighting how virtually every attack yielded a shot.

“We had a lot of chances and didn’t take them, but the boys stuck at it. We felt we were getting the opportunities but it was about being that bit more clinical and taking an extra step (closer to goal).” Glen sprung Alex Doherty from the bench early in the second half and he almost found the net.

First, his point attempt came down off the post and when he gathered the ball again, his snapshot was turned onto the post by goalkeeper McNabb’s leg.

A goal at this point would’ve killed in a game that morphed into a gritty encounter with 10 cards of different colours and a litany of frees.

Emmett Bradley and Mick McCann had frees at the either end but Cargin never looked like getting the goal they needed to salvage the game before Ethan Doherty tagged on the insurance point.

Glen now face a semi-final showdown with Naomh Conaill who pulled victory from the jaws of defeat against Gowna.

Scorers for Glen: E Bradley 0-4f, J Doherty 0-2, D Tallon 0-2f, C McFaul, M Warnock and E Doherty 0-1 each. 

Scorers for Cargin: P Shivers 0-3f, M McCann 0-2f, K Close and P McCann 0-1 each. 

GLEN: C Bradley; M Warnock, R Dougan; C McFaul; D McDermott, C Carville C Mulholland; C Glass, E Bradley; C McGuckian, E Mulholland; E Doherty, J Doherty, C Convery; D Tallon.

Subs: A Doherty for C Convery (36), T Flanagan for C Mulholland (50), S O’Hara for D Tallon (57), T Higgins for J Doherty (65) Yellow cards: C McFaul (40), M Warnock (43), E Doherty (53). 

CARGIN: J McNabb; J Crozier, K McShane, K O’Boyle; J Laverty, P McCann, S O’Neill; J Carron, G McCann; M Kelly, T McCann, R Gribbin; P Shivers, M McCann, Conhúir Johnston.

Subs: B Kelly for G McCann (45), D Johnston for M Kelly (45), K Close for P Shivers (53), P McLaughlin for J Crozier (53), C Donnelly for P McCann (61_, Black card: S O’Neill (63) Yellow cards: J Carron (12), P Shivers (22), J Crozier (47), K McShane (53), M McCann (57) Red card: T McCann (26) Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan).