Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League

Clontibret 1-8 Monaghan Harps 0-9                         15/6/11

Clontibret joined Magheracloone in second place in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League thanks to a narrow win at home to Monaghan Harps on Wednesday. An early goal by Conor McManus laid the foundations for Clontibret’s victory, which continues their recent good form. McManus, Pauric Boyle and Fergal Mone were lively for Clontibret, while Conor Galligan, Stephen Driver and Niall McKenna were best for the Harps.

The Harps took an early lead with a point from Paul Kelly, who had been well-placed by Shane Coyle, but Clontibret drew level when Fergal Mone sent over after a pass from Johnny McKenna. The hosts struck for what would prove to be a crucial goal on five minutes when Conor McManus burst through and fired home at the end of a well-worked move involving Daithí McKeown, Rodney Gorman and Fergal Mone. Pat Murphy linked up with Kelly to get a point back for the Harps, before both sides missed goal chances. First, McManus dragged a shot wide after a one-two with Fergal Mone, before Stephen McAleer was blocked down after he had been released by Murphy. Rodney Gorman kicked a well-taken point from a tight angle, but Ashley White responded in kind after good approach play by Stephen Driver and Emmett McArdle. Conor Galligan added a fine score, but frees by McManus and McKenna restored Clontibret’s three-point lead. McArdle kicked a good score for the Harps, but McKenna tapped over another 13-metre free after a foul on McManus. Kelly got a point back for the visitors after a one-two with Donal Hahessy and White converted a ’45 to leave just a point between the teams at half-time: Clontibret 1-5 Monaghan Harps 0-7.

A 20-metre free by White after a foul on Kelly brought the Harps level nine minutes into the second half, but Clontibret went on to hit the next three points – the first coming from Pauric Boyle, following a cross-field pass by McManus. Boyle also had a goal-attempt blocked, before Clontibret sub Kieran Greenan kicked a good point after Colum Greenan and Fergal Mone had combined to make space for him. McKenna quickly tagged on a point to open up a three-point gap and although Hahessy converted a free from a tight angle after a foul on David Loughran, Clontibret held on for their fourth win in a row and their sixth from their last seven games.

Clontibret: P McElroy; C Duffy, E Greenan, M Corey (Capt.); D Carragher, D Mooney, P Boyle (0-1); D McKeown, C McManus (1-1, 0-1f), F Greenan, David Savage, R Murphy; F Mone (0-1), J McKenna (0-3, 2f), R Gorman (0-1).

Subs: K Greenan for E Greenan (inj., 27 mins), C Greenan for K Greenan (H-T), K Greenan (0-1) for F Greenan, D Mone for Murphy (both 50).

Monaghan Harps: M Hughes (Capt.); N McKenna, S Driver, C O’Hanlon; S Coyle, C Galligan (0-1), R Garvey; P Coyle, S McAleer; P Rushe, A White (0-3, 1f, 1 ’45), P Murphy (0-1); D Hahessy (0-1f), E McArdle (0-1), P Kelly (0-2).

Subs: P Drohan for Murphy (inj., 21), C Devlin for Garvey (H-T), D Loughran for Rushe (50), F Cassidy for McKenna (inj., 52)

Referee: P McEnaney (Corduff).