Gerry’s Prepared Veg. Under-14 Football League Division One

Clontibret 3-18 Monaghan Harps 6-9                                 2/6/12

Clontibret and Monaghan Harps played out a thrilling draw in the Under-14 FL Division One at Clontibret on Saturday. Clontibret held the edge for most of the game and they were never behind, but a spirited comeback from the Harps saw them wipe out a seven-point gap inside the final quarter. Michael Savage, Darragh Hughes, Jack Gormley and Ross Lowey were driving forces for Clontibret, while Ethan Murphy, Ultan O’Rourke and Niall Ward led the way for the Harps, whose challenge was boosted by the switch of Cathal Power from goals to midfield for the second half.

The first score of the match was a goal for Clontibret by Jack Gormley and the hosts quickly added a point from Ross Lowey. Conor Duffy got a goal back for the Harps, but they were wasteful with their finishing in the opening quarter. A well-taken goal by Cian Brennan and a long-range point by Michael Savage increased Clontibret’s lead, although points by Ben Flynn and Jack Deery (free) cut the Harps’ deficit to a goal (2-2 to 1-2) by the end of the first quarter.

Ethan Murphy found the net to bring the Harps right back into the game, but their only other score in the second quarter was a point by Paul Peppard, while Clontibret added five points to their tally. Lowey hit the pick of them from a tight angle, while Darragh Hughes added a brace, Gormley converted a free and Dean McGuigan added his name to the list of scorers. That left Clontibret ahead by 2-7 to 2-3 at half-time.

Hughes for Clontibret and Michael Mulligan for the Harps swapped points early in the third quarter, before Murphy drilled home his second goal for the visitors. Points by Hughes (’45), Brennan, Daniel McDonald (free) and substitute Aaron McGuigan regained the initiative for Clontibret, but a point by Cathal Power and a major by Remy McKenna kept the Harps within one. Hughes responded for the hosts, but a brace from Jack Deery (one from a ’45) levelled it up going into the final quarter on a scoreline of Clontibret 2-13 Monaghan Harps 4-7.

Clontibret took charge once again after the restart with points by Jamie McMahon and Lowey and a second three-pointer from Gormley. Further scores from Hughes (free) and McMahon opened up a seven-point gap, but Conor Duffy tapped over a free and Power fired to the net to give the Harps hope. Gormley and Deery swapped points from frees to leave Clontibret still three clear with time running out, but there was still time for the Harps to launch one last attack via a high ball in on the square, where Power was in the right place to punch it home and give his team a share of the spoils. These teams will meet again in just two weeks at Gavan Duffy Park.

Clontibret: T McQuaid; D Brennan, Dean McDonald; P Fitzpatrick, D Mone (Capt.), V Coyle; M Savage (0-1), D McGuigan (0-1); Daniel McDonald (0-1f), J Gormley (2-2, 0-2f), R Lowey (0-3); C Brennan (1-1), D Hughes (0-6, 1f, 1 ’45).

Subs used: A McGuigan (0-1), J McMahon (0-2).

Monaghan Harps: C Power (Capt., 2-1); T Croarkin, S John; N Ward, U O’Rourke, S McKenna; R McKenna (1-0), P Peppard (0-1); J Deery (0-4, 1f, 1 ’45), E Murphy (2-0), B Flynn (0-1); C Duffy (1-1, 0-1f), M Mulligan (0-1).

Subs used: D McAree, N O’Donoghue.

Referee: K Rudden (Killeevan).