AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship Final

Emyvale 1-6 Killeeshil 0-6                            30/11/13

Emyvale won their second Ulster Club JFC title and their first since 2009 when they emerged on the right side of a tense final against Killeeshil in Armagh. Defences were on top in a low-scoring encounter where the only goal, scored by Daniel McMahon, ultimately separated the teams. Emyvale came under pressure at various stages, but their backs and goalkeeper Gerard McCaffrey held firm to keep a second consecutive clean sheet and keep Killeeshil scoreless in the last 20 minutes. Despite having Ryan McAnespie kept relatively quiet, Emyvale themselves dealt well with Killeeshil attacker Gary Reilly. McMahon, John Flannery, Ciarán Connolly, Mervyn Brown and James Bellew all contributed well for Emyvale, with Packie McMullan, Kevin Hughes, Ciarán O’Neill and Shane Mallon to the fore for Killeeshil

Killeeshil wasted no time in opening the scoring, as Gary Reilly hit a nice point in the first attack, following a one-two with Damian Small, but Daniel McMahon got on the end of a David McAlister free to equalise with a smart finish on the turn. Emyvale went close to scoring the opening goal when Ciarán Reilly kept out Martin McAree’s punched effort from a Garreth McQuaid shot, while Colin Hughes hit the post at the end of a move involving McAlister and Michael Flannery. Killeeshil regained the lead through former Tyrone star Kevin Hughes and John McMullan then had a chance when he took a pass from Small and powered past the Emyvale defence, but he was denied by Gerard McCaffrey. Shane Mallon and McMahon swapped points from 30-metre frees after fouls on Gary Reilly and Ryan McAnespie, before a foul on Garreth McQuaid allowed Martin McAree to bring Emyvale level from 25 metres out. McMahon cleverly flicked a Karl McQuaid centre into the net for what would prove to be a crucial goal on 22 minutes, although Emyvale had a couple of nervy moments before half-time, as McCaffrey saved from Hughes and also did well to clear a dangerous ball in from sub Aaron McKenna, leaving the half-time score 1-3 to 0-3.

Killeeshil again made a quick impact after the restart when a Packie McMullan run created a point for Mallon, but McMahon won and scored a 25-metre free to settle Emyvale into the half. Killeeshil continued to threaten, with James Bellew making an important interception and McCaffrey again dealing with a high ball from McKenna. The Tyrone side finally made one of their six ‘45s count when Packie McMullan struck one over the bar, before Mallon tapped over a 20-metre free for a foul on Reilly to make it a one-point game. McAlister replied with a good point and Daithí Colton came off the bench to add his name to the list of scorers, following a strong run by McAnespie, who also had a cross scrambled clear at the end of a move involving his county minor team-mates McAlister and Colton. McCaffrey continued to be a solid last line of defence for Emyvale, catching high kicks by Mallon and Reilly, and Declan Brennan’s side shut up shop to get their hands on the Paul Kerr Cup for the second time. Emyvale play Liverpool side John Mitchels in Birmingham in the All-Ireland quarter-final on December 15.

Emyvale: G McCaffrey; S McMeel, J Flannery, C Connolly; K McQuaid, J Bellew (Capt.), M Brown; C Hughes, M Flannery; D McAlister (0-1), R McAnespie, D Bellew; D McMahon (1-3, 0-2f), M McAree (0-1f), G McQuaid.

Subs: D Colton (0-1) for G McQuaid (40 mins), Paul McCarron for McMeel (55), G McKernan for McAree (61).

Killeeshil: C Reilly; N Breen, B O’Neill, B Mulgrew; C O’Neill, R O’Neill, C Monaghan; K Hughes (0-1), P McMullan (Capt., 0-1, ’45); D Small, J McMullan, G Reilly (0-1); S Mallon (0-3, 2f), C Small, R McCann.

Subs: A McKenna for Mulgrew (26), C Devlin for D Small (H-T), C McElvogue for McCann (47), E Donaghy for Monaghan (55).

Referee: S McLaughlin (Donegal).