Clann Éireann get better of Newbridge in tight Ulster quarter
Barry McCambridge of Clann Éireann assisted by Jack Conlon pushing forward during the Ulster Club SFC quarter-final against Newbridge. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile
In game that was level five times in the second half, it was always going to come down to the fine margins.
That was the difference between Clann Éireann and Newbridge. The last play of the game summed it up.
The Armagh champions defended narrowly and tempted Newbridge runners down the dark alley of their central channel.
Mark Doherty, who ran himself to a standstill, tried to go through the eye of a needle. Newbridge were one down and chasing the game.
When Doherty released the ball, Conor McConville was on him like a flash. And away they went on the break. McConville rejoined the move before man of match Jack Conlon kicked the insurance score.
With Conor Turbitt reduced to one point from play, in the opening seconds, Clann Éireann proved they had more around the edges.
“When you've got players like Turbo, he'll obviously get maybe some of the attention from the opposition in terms of where they mark him, where they double up on him, where they play a sweeper,” Clann Éireann manager Ruairi Lavery said about his team’s spread of scorers.
“One of the things that we've identified this year is that there's 14 other players on the field If you want to get to this stage of the competition, you have to have contributions from all over the field.” This was a novel pairing. Newbridge were out of Derry for the first time in 35 years. Clann Éireann had two games in 2021 before being undone by the Derrygonnelly eye for goal.
It was open. It was sporting. It was end to end. There were no out an out sweepers. It was a case of, well, if you score then we’ll score. Neither team were going back down the Glenshane pass wondering.
Aside from the Newbridge spell of control after half-time, Clann Éireann found their scores that bit easier to come by and feeding of turnovers energised them.
Newbridge deployed Killian Burke on Turbitt. Odran McGlone was tagging Barry McCambridge in the middle third when Newbridge were out of possession before then pushing forward when they had the ball.
Sean McCarthy picked up Conor Doherty before McCambridge moved across to the derry star in the second half when he was wreaking havoc Barry McCambridge fed Turbitt for the opening score. If that set the tone, then Newbridge’s response was like looking in the mirror. The directness of Conor McAteer and Conleth McGrogan’s point.
As the first half stretched out, Newbridge were chasing the game for the first time. When Emmet Magee dropped a high ball into the box, James Gribbin was commanding on the punch with Conlon doing well to squeeze over from an acute angle.
Ruairi McDonald boomed over a sweet score but a short Newbridge kick-out was worked up field for Callum McGrogan to pop over the bar.
Conor McConville hit a point after initially peeling wide to pick up Mulholland’s kick-out for one of scores of the half.
The one goal chance of the game feel to Ruairi McDonald but Gribbin got down well to make the save at his near post.
When the Lurgan side stretched their lead to three points, Conor Doherty kicked a vital score on the shoulder of half-time to cut the gap, 0-8 to 0-6, at the break.
Killian Burke won the first ball pumped into the Clann Éireann attack with Conor Doherty getting upfield to score.
The sides were level within three minutes of the restart. Conor Doherty fed Mark Doherty wjo was hauled down on the edge of the penalty area with youngest brother Oisin tapping over.
Conor Doherty’s run won a free seconds later and Newbridge ahead for the first time in the 35th minute.
After a scoreless 10-minute spell, Clann Éireann had steadied the ship with McDonald levelling matters before Conor McGrogan getting forward to kick the Derry men back into the lead at 0-10 to 0-9 after 44 minutes.
It was the last time they led. Clann Éireann brought in Rioghan Meehan to freshen up their attack with McCambridge now keeping tabs on Conor Doherty.
Tiernan Kelly’s booming effort put Clann Éireann ahead again but Newbridge were relentless as they chased the game. With three minutes to go, Conor McAteer fisted over and extra-time was a reality.
The game changed for the final time after a Tiernan Kelly wide. With no short option, goalkeeper Gribbin kicked the ball to a Clann Éireann overload.
And with the ball back in their hands, the Armagh men held the trump cards. An aimless Turbitt shot bounced loose before Ryan Owens put them ahead from close range.
Chasing the game, Newbridge were caught in possession in the last play with Conlon hitting a fourth point to book a semi-final spot against Errigal Ciaran.
J Conlon 0-4, R Owens, R McDonald (1f), C Turbitt (1f), C McConville 0-2 each, T Kelly and S Heffron 0-1
O Doherty 0-4f, C Doherty, C McAteer 0-2 each, Conor McGrogan, Conleth McGrogan 0-1, Callum McGrogan 0-1 and M McGrogan 0-1
E Mulholland; S Heffron, M O’Shea, C O’Carroll; B McCambridge, E Magee, R Owens; S McCarthy T Kelly, C McConville; J Conlon, D Magee, A Kelly; R McDonald, C Turbitt
R Meehan for A Kelly (42), A McConville for McDonald (54), R French for Owens (62) Yellow card: T Kelly (49)
J Gribbin; C Brooks, K Burke, Conor McGrogan; M Doherty, P McMullan, M McGrogan; C Doherty, S McGrogan, Conleth McGrogan; S Young, Callum McGrogan, C McAteer; O McGlone, O Doherty
J Diamond for O McGlone (50), A McGlone for Young (61)
P Faloon (Down)
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