Glen (Derry) 3-10 Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) 1-12
Glen will meet Cargin in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship semi-final after an inspired second half saw them defeat Tyrone champions Errigal Ciaran in Celtic Park on Sunday.
The Tyrone men were the better side in the opening half and went into half-time leading by four before Glen stormed back to outscore them by 2-09 to 0-4 in a second half that was always in the melting pot.
Ethan Doherty, who was superb throughout, grabbed the game's crucial score. His 36th minute goal tied the game at 3-03 to 1-09 and the Maghera men never looked back, taking charge of the kick-outs at both end.
The introduction of substitute Stevie O'Hara gave Glen an added boost, the forward helping himself to two superb points as Malachy O'Rourke's men edged into a four-point lead in the final quarter.
Yet there was still time for drama as Errigal had the ball in the back of the Glen net as the clock ticked into injury time. Ruairi Canavan's initial thunderbolt came back off the Glen crossbar before Eoin Kelly appeared to bundle the ball over the line in the chaos that followed.
Tyrone joy was short lived however as referee Paul Faloon disallowed the potential lifeline for a square ball and Glen were in the last four.
O'Rourke sprung something of a surprise by starting Conor Gallagher, possibly with one eye on the threat posed by the Canavan brothers. Darragh and Ruairi highlighted their ability with two points apiece in an opening half in which the Tyrone side held the upper hand.
An exciting goal laden opening 15 minutes gradually morphed into an half in which Glen were guilty of carrying the ball into contact too often and paid the price for some needless turnovers.
Perhaps the early goals for Conor Convery and Alex Doherty had persuaded the Maghera men that the route to Errigal's goal was an easy one, but too often they passed up an opportunity to shoot in favour or trying to work the ball through a massed Errigal defence.
That played into Errigal hands and with Ruairi and Darragh Canavan waiting at the top end of the Errigal attacking spear for any quick turnovers, the Tyrone men full deserved their half-time lead.
The opening score was Convery's goal on four minutes, Conor Glass' high centre saw his Glen team-mate follow in and capitalise when Errigal keeeper Darragh McAnenly fumbled.
Errigal responded with a Darragh Canavan free on eight minutes and by the 12th they were in front when Mark Kavanagh found Darragh, whose lovely reverse pass inside sent Tommy Canavan clear and he gave the move the finish it deserved, firing home in off the post.
Glen responding with a second goal of their own three minutes later when Ethan Doherty sent his brother Alex away to sidestep McAnenly and fire home from close range for 2-0 to 1-01.
From there though, Errigal took over as Mark Kavanagh, Peter Og McCartan (2), Tommy Canavan, Darragh Canavan (2) and Ruairi Canavan all pointed, Errigal finishing the half with five different scorers to Glen's three, leaving them 1-08 to 2-01 ahead at the break.
Whatever was said by O'Rourke at half-time, it sparked a very different Glen performance in the second period. With intensity levels suitably raised, Errigal's four-point lead had been wiped out inside the opening quarter. O'Hara's introduction capped a superb Glen fightback and a fully deserved victory.
Glen: Connlann Bradley, Cathal Mulholland, Ryan Dougan, Conor Carville (0-01), Alex Doherty (1-00), Michael Warnock, Eunan Mulholland, Conor Glass (0-01 '45), Emmett Bradley (0-02), Ethan Doherty (1-00), Jack Doherty (0-01), Conor Convery (1-00), Conor Gallagher, Danny Tallon (0-02, 1f), Conleth McGuckian (0-01).
Subs: Tiarnan Flanagan for C Gallagher HT; Stevie O'Hara (0-02) for C Convery 46; Adam McGonigle for A Doherty 61.
Errigal Ciaran: Darragh McAnenly, Ciaran Quinn, Aidan McCrory, Dermot Morrow, Cormac Quinn, Niall Kelly, Peter Og McCartan (0-02), Ruairi Canavan (0-02), Peter Harte, Ben McDonnell, Tommy Canavan (1-04, 0-03f), Padraig McGirr, Mark Kavanagh (0-01), Darragh Canavan (0-03), Joe Oguz.
Subs: Cathal Corrigan for P McGirr 43; Peter O'Hanlon for D Morrow 43; Eoin Kelly for M Kavanagh 48; Odhran Robinson for C Quinn 60.
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)
