Clogher Éire Óg produce best to thwart Kiltimagh and book All-Ireland JFC final spot

Ciaran Bogue put on a stellar showing in Carrick-on-Shannon. File picture

All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final: Clogher Éire Óg 2-13 Kiltimagh 0-9 

Clogher Éire Óg produced their best performance of the season to see off Kiltimagh and book a place in next weekend’s All-Ireland Club JFC final.

Played in a frosty Carrick-on-Shannon, the Ulster champions were the better team throughout the game, but they could not shake off a stubborn Mayo outfit in the first quarter.

After two early wides, Clogher had a big chance on goal after a ball in by captain Conor Shields was flicked on to Ciaran Bogue, but his effort was well saved by Jamie McNicholas. 

Goalkeeper Rory McElroy converted the resulting 45’, but Clogher were pegged back almost instantly by Oisín Mulderrig.

Ryan McCaughey and Thomas Keegan exchanged frees before Clogher opened a two-point gap thanks to scores from Ryan McCaughey and another Rory McElroy placed ball.

A Thomas Keegan point from play was countered by Ciaran Bogue’s first point of the day when Kiltimagh had a golden chance of their own to raise a green flag on 21 minutes. Aiden Cosgrove’s quick free picked out Oisín Mulderrig, but McElroy was quick to read the situation and got out quickly to save.

A minute later, Ciaran Bogue made up for his missed goal chance from earlier when he held off Mattie Cummins and drove his shot low into the bottom corner. The Tyrone side finished the half strong with two of the next three points through Bogue and Vincent Lowry to lead 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time.

Kiltimagh got the first point of the second half thanks to Conor Mallee, but Clogher stretched their lead to seven thanks to Ryan McCaughey and Ciaran Bogue.

Paul Kelly gave the Mayo and Connacht champions hope with a huge two-pointer on 41 minutes, but his game would be cut short minutes later after he sustained a head injury when blocking Ciaran Bogue’s fourth point.

Any faint hopes for Kiltimagh were ended with ten minutes of normal time remaining when Ryan McCaughey played in Ciaran Bogue for his second goal of the afternoon. 

That ended the game as a contest and Clogher tagged on late points from McCaughey (two) and Conor Shields to set up a meeting with either Ballymacelligott or Grangenolvin in Croke Park next Sunday.

Scorers for Clogher Eire Óg: C Bogue 2-4 (0-1f), R McCaughey 0-5 (1f), R McElroy 0-2 (1 ’45, 1f), V Lowry 0-1, C Shields 0-1.

Scorers for Kiltimagh: T Keegan 0-4 (3f), P Kelly 0-2 (1tp), O Mulderrig 0-1, C Mallee 0-1f, A Cosgrove 0-1.

CLOGHER ÉIRE ÓG: R McElroy; S McCaffrey, D McKernan, Ruairí McCaughey; C Shields, C Barkey, M Bogue; B McKenna, D Mellon; S Bogue, C Bogue, J Callaghan; Ryan McCaughey, M McConnell, V Lowry.

Subs: E Mellon (for McKernan 37), M McCaughey (for Lowry 55), F McCaughey (for R McCaughey 60), G McKenna (for McCaffrey 60+3), E McCarron (for B McKenna 64).

KILTIMAGH: J McNicholas; M Cummins, K Mulderrig, E Cosgrove; J Niland, L Kelly, D McGovern; P Kelly, B Gallagher; S McDonnell, C Mallee, O Mulderrig; F Burke, A Cosgrove, T Keegan.

Subs: L Smyth (for S McDonnell h/t), D Cosgrove (for E Cosgrove 37), D Lydon (for Gallagher 42), J Mahon (for P Kelly 50-60+4 temp), E Lavin (for O Mulderrig 54), R Carroll (for J Mahon 60+4).

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan).