Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League

Magheracloone 0-14 Monaghan Harps 0-11                       29/4/11

Magheracloone continued their good form in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League with a three-point win at home to Monaghan Harps on Friday. Magheracloone bossed the opening 20 minutes, racing into a five-point lead, and although the Harps rallied to cut their deficit to the minimum with ten minutes left, the hosts deservedly closed the game out.

The Freeman brothers were central to Magheracloone’s victory, as they hit 0-11 between them, with Damien particular impressive, scoring six from play. James and Pete Ward and Niall Babington were also to the fore for the Mitchells, while Gary White, Stephen Driver, Dean Fanning, Gareth Treanor and Conor Galligan were best for the Harps, who were without county men Neil McAdam and David Hughes, as well as Mark McCaughey.

The only three scores of the first ten minutes all came from placed-balls. Tommy Freeman tapped over a couple of close-range frees for Magheracloone, both after fouls on Paudie Finnegan, while Dean Fanning converted a 25-metre effort for the Harps, following a foul on Donal Hahessy. Damien Freeman got the first point from play on 12 minutes, before Paul Jones gave Magheracloone a three-point lead after a pass from Pete Ward. Tommy Freeman added a left-footed point from play and although Ashley White got one back for the Harps, Jones linked up with Paudie Finnegan to kick his second point. James Ward kicked a mighty point at the end of a lung-bursting run down the sideline, but Donal Hahessy replied after good work by Conor Galligan and Gareth Treanor.

Emmett McArdle added another point for the Harps, who cut their deficit to two when Hahessy converted a 20-metre free for a foul on his brother Liam. A well-taken point by Damien Freeman was cancelled out by an equally good effort from McArdle and Fanning combined to create a good point for Ashley White and the Harps were back to within a point when Fanning converted a free for a foul on Nicholas Scott, but another nice score by Damien Freeman had Magheracloone ahead by 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time.

The Harps had a goal chance early in the second half when Liam Hahessy and Scott combined to put Fanning through, but his shot was blocked by Pete Ward and Damien Freeman finished Magheracloone’s counter-attack with a point. Fanning tapped over a 13-metre free for a foul on McArdle, but Damien Freeman hit back once again after he had been well-placed by Gerry Finnegan.

Fanning won and scored a free, but a left-footed point by Tommy Freeman restored Magheracloone’s three-point advantage. Fanning converted another brace of 20-metre frees after fouls on himself and Gareth Treanor, but Tommy Freeman latched onto a Gerry Finnegan pass to fist over from a tight angle. Tommy Freeman was also involved, along with Paudie Finnegan, in setting up Damien Freeman to kick his sixth point of the game in the final minute of normal time. That was enough to seal Magheracloone’s fourth win from five games, which has them second in the SFL table, a point behind leaders Ballybay.

Magheracloone: S Duffy; C Burns, P Farnan, M Jones; N Tuite, J Ward (Capt., 0-1), N Babington; G Finnegan, P Ward; F Kindlon, P Jones (0-2), D Freeman (0-6); K Gilsenan, P Finnegan, T Freeman (0-5, 2f).

Subs: P Tuite for Farnan (inj., 33 mins), J Hand for Kindlon (44), P Kirk for Gilsenan (56).

Monaghan Harps: M Hughes; C Galligan (Capt.), S Driver, N McKenna; N Hahessy, S Smyth, G Treanor; P Coyle, G White; D Hahessy (0-2, 1f), A White (0-2), N Scott; L Hahessy, D Fanning (0-6f), E McArdle (0-1).

Sub: P Kelly for L Hahessy (48).

Referee: P Caulfield (Blackhill).