Clann Éireann 3-13 Clan na Gael 0-15
Two first-half goals and a third right at the death meant that the Lurgan battle went Clann Éireann's way as they won the club's fourth ever senior championship and second in three years.
All-Star nominee Conor Turbitt (0-08) picked up the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance in a game which contained a high calibre of scores.
Clann Éireann’s goals epitomised the sense of adventure this team has and while they will rightly celebrate taking the Gerry Fegan Cup home, they won’t mind going into the Ulster Club Championship against the Derry winners as underdogs.
It was a thrilling contest played in Armagh’s Box-IT Athletic Grounds with both sides going full throttle.
The game was only four minutes old when Clann Éireann grabbed the opening goal. It was clever engineering between Turbitt and scorer Emmett Magee, because Magee originally called a mark, which was turned into a free. The forward took it quickly, playing a one-two with the All-Star nominee, before Magee lashed into the surprised Clan na Gael goal.
County men Shane McParlan and Stefan Campbell opened the scoring for Clan na Gael but Ruari Lavery’s side got their nose in front and there was no looking back.
Ronan McMahon’s men kept battling and looked to have found a way back on several occasions but Clann Éireann’s goals were timely and knocked Clan na Gael more than on the scoreboard.
Clann Éireann stretched their lead with Turbitt and GPA Player of the Year nominee Barry McCambridge on target before McPartlan, Campbell and Jack Lavery closed the gap for the Blues, even with Sam McClamon black-carded for ten minutes.
Then in first half added time Turbitt made a lung-bursting 45 metre run, with the opposition giving chase, his weighted fisted pass to McCambridge was inch-perfect, who without breaking stride passed backwards to Jack Conlon, who with his back to goal, somehow hooked his shot into the far corner of the net, leaving keeper Ryan Conway scrambling.
That gave Clann Éireann a healthy 2-06 to 0-06 lead at half-time and they needed to shut goals out to keep their Lurgan opponents at bay, which they did.
Campbell and McPartlan fired over some fine scores, but at other end Turbitt was sensational and that kept Clann Éireann on the front foot. Clan na Gael were doing enough to hang on, but they were dealt a blow when Michael McConville was red carded with time almost up.
But there was more to come from Lavery’s men as with 63 minutes player captain Conor McConville punched into the net to ensure it was he lifting the Gerry Fegan Cup.
Clann Éireann: Eoghan Mulholland, Shea Heffron, Michael O’Shea, Conan O’Connell, Barry McCambridge (0-01), Sean McCarthy, Ryan Owens, Tiernan Kelly, Conor McConville (1-00), Jack Conlon (1-01), Daniel Magee, Adam Kelly, Ruairi McDonald (0-02), Conor Turbitt (0-08, 0-02 frees), Emmett Magee (1-01).
Subs: Dan McCarthy for A Kelly (38’), Rioghan Meehan (0-01) for D Magee (38’), John Magee for J Conlon (42’), Reamonn Frinse for C O’Carroll (63’).
Clan na Gael: Ryan Conway, Sam McClarnon, Shea McCann, Jack Lavery (0-01), Niall Loney, Michael McConville (0-01), Jamie Brady, Diarmuid O’Hagan, Shane McPartlan (0-06, 0-5 frees), Brendan O’Hagan (0-01, free), Niall Henderson, Callum O’Neill, Malachi Ward, Stefan Campbell (0-05, 0-3 frees, Diarmaid Loney.
Subs: Cian France (0-01) for B O’Hagan (42’), Matthew Lennon for D O’Hagan (42’).
Referee: Paudie Hughes (Crossmaglen).
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
