Tiarnan Colhoun, Errigal Ciaran, and Jack Conlon, Clann Éireann, in AIB Ulster Club SFC action. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
AIB Ulster Club SFC Semi-Final
Errigal Ciaran 0-14 Clann Éireann 1-10
By Francis Mooney at Páirc Esler
Ruairi Canavan struck pure gold at Pairc Esler to fire Errigal Ciaran into a first Ulster Club SFC final since 2002, hitting nine points, including a glorious stoppage time winner.
Armagh champions Clann Eireann had been down to 14 men since the 40th minute, but they battled right to the end, thwarted only by the brilliance of the younger of the Canavan siblings.
The loss of Tiernan Kelly to a second yellow card was a crucial turning point in a gripping battle in the Marshes, and while they fought back to twice go level following his dismissal, they were just edged out by Tyrone’s finest.
It was Clann Eireann, playing into the wind, who started on the front foot, going 0-3 to 0-1 ahead with early scores from Tiernan Kelly, Conor McCarville and Conor Turbitt.
Errigal were struggling to get to the pace of the game, but a nervous defnece gave Ruairi Canavan the opportunity to keep them in touch with a couple of converted frees, before Odhran Robinson broke away on the left to curl over the 12th minute equaliser.
Just when it looked like the Red Hand title-holders were about to impose themselves on the contest, they came up against a solid defence, turned back by the excellence of Barry McCambridge, Sean McCarthy and Micheal O’Shea.
And it was the Lurgan men who got back on the attack to go two clear through Daniel Magee.
Ben McDonnell and Joe Oguz stepped up the output around the middle third to get Errigal going forward again, and the magic of the Canavan brothers did the rest, Darragh with two brillaitn points from play and Ruairi with a long range gem, as they went ahead for the first time.
But the attacking threat was always there from a hungry Lurgan outfit, who created a couple of goal chances in the closing stages of the half.
Turbitt’s attempt for a point dropped down off a post into the arms of Daniel Magee, but when a goal seemed certain, Niall Kelly got back to make a dramatic clearance off the line.
However, in stoppage time, they did get the net, Magee involved again as he was fouled in the act of receiving a pass from Emmet Magee. Referee Joe McQuillan awarded a penalty which Turbitt slotted to the bottom corner of the net.
But there was still time for Ruairi Canavan to send over a couple of frees to bring the sides level, 1-5 to 0-8 at the end of a compelling opening half.
Daniel Magee scored from Conan O’Carroll’s offload and Ruairi McDonald was also on target from Jack Conlon’s return pass as the Orchard men restored the two points advantage.
And they protected the lead with tenacious tackling that frustrated an Errigal attack starved of the oxygen of space and clean possession.
The discipline of Clann Eireann’s resistance was impressive right up until the point when All-Ireland winner Kelly, a towering figure in their midfield, picked up a second booking on 40 minutes
Errigal seized advantage, with a couple of Tomy Canavan frees and two from cousin Ruairi edging them ahead.
But the Lurgan men got their defence reorganised and pinged accurate passes to isolated front man Turbitt, who twice created equalisers for Dan McCarthy and substitute Rioghan Meehan.
But the brilliant Canavan was to have the last say as he split the posts from wide out on the left wing to set up a meeting with Kilcoo for provincial honours.
Scorers for Errigal Ciaran: R Canavan 0-9 (4fs), D Canavan, T Canavan (2fs) 0-2 each, O Robinson 0-1.
Scorers for Clann Eireann: C Turbitt 1-2 (1-0 pen, 2fs), D McCarthy, D Magee 0-2 each, T Kelly, R McDonald, C McConville, R Meehan 0-1 each.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; N Kelly, A McCrory, Ciaran Quinn; T Colhoun, Cormac Quinn, P Og McCartan; B McDonnell, J Oguz; P McGirr, P Harte, C McGinley; R Canavan, O Robinson, D Canavan.
Subs: M Kavanagh for McGirr (27), T Canavan for McGinley (h-t), P Traynor for Kelly (57)
Clann Eireann: E Mulholland; S Heffron, M O’Shea, C O’Carroll; B McCambridge, S McCartney, E Magee; T Kelly, C McConville; J Conlon, D Magee, R French; R McDonald, C Turbitt, D McCarthy.
Subs: A Kelly for McCarthy (20), R Meehan for McDonald (41), A McConville for French (51), E McKenna for Conlon (57).
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).
