Derrygonnelly Harps 3-11 Clann Éireann 1-11
Appearing in their sixth Ulster club series since 2015, Fermanagh kingpins Derrygonnelly were expected to finally make the breakthrough and reach the provincial decider. And so it was that greater experience and a first-half goal blitz saw them over the line against new kids Clann Éireann in Breffni Park.
The Armagh champions, who won their county championship for the first time since 1963, left themselves a mountain to climb at half-time but pushed Harps to the wire in the end.
Derrygonnelly opened the scoring with a Garvan Jones free kick after two minutes and, playing a direct running and kicking game, followed up with another a few minutes later. Then came the opening goal as Shane McGullion palmed the ball to the net following a solid run from corner forward Gary McKenna.
That goal was the beginning of a rout and was quickly followed by a punched effort from Conall Jones in full forward. A high ball to the square left the Clann's keeper Eoghan Mulholland with a decision to make, but Jones gambled right and his back-to-goal punch opened a 2-02 to 0-00 lead.
Now totally dominant in midfield, a third goal soon followed for Harps as McGullion popped up again, this time finishing a direct team move with a well-placed, right foot effort. At 3-02 to no score, Derrygonnelly looked to have their final place booked.
Clann Éireann began to rally however, scoring points through a Turbitt free and a fine effort from Daniel Magee who battled gamely for the Lurgan men all evening. They were struggling to find forwards however, and were too often snatching at shots – Jones at corner back and at Cassidy at centre-half gave little quarter in defence.
Derrygonnelly struck back with points from Conall Jones and Stephen McGullion before Clann Éireann hit from play through Dan McCarthy and another Turbitt free.
Harps were dealt a blow just before half time when midfielder Stephen McGullion received a second yellow card for a high challenge on O'Carroll.
Reduced to 14 men, Conall Jones remained calm and popped up again for Derrygonnelly to finish the half's scoring.3-05 to 0-04 at the break.
The second half started with Clann Éireann points from Conor McConville and a Turbitt free, before the Fermanagh champions struck again. Hitting a mix of frees and scores from play, Conall Jones and Gary McKenna were the creators and finishers for Harps.
A Conor McConville goal on 44 minutes brought Clann Éireann to life. A low driven effort from 21 yards out blasted through a crowded square and to the right of veteran keeper Johnny McGurn who had no chance.
Substitute Paul McKenna struck another point for the Armagh men and kept the game in the alive at the final water break; 3-08 to 1-07 the score.
Clann Éireann then began their best spell of the game and a short period of dominance in midfield saw them fire off a rally of scores through Jack Conlon and Conor Turbitt. Those were only interrupted once by Derrygonnelly when Gary McKenna scored following a brilliant driving run from Ryan Jones in midfield.
Clann Éireann were wasteful at times and could have brought themselves much closer during that spell, but the Derrygonnelly style of defensive counter attack was a major challenge to play against and will be difficult for any team to break down.
With a scoreline of 3-09 to 1-11 and a few minutes left on the clock, the game was very much in the melting pot when Antrim referee Sean Laverty judged that Clann Éireann wingback Sean McCarthy had come in too high on Shane McGullion. The resulting red card levelled the teams on 14 men each but felt like a nail in the coffin for the Lurgan men’s challenge.
Two final scores from Conall Jones rounded off a game-winning performance and Derrygonnelly became only the third Fermanagh club to reach an Ulster senior final.
Harps will now face the winners of Kilcoo (Down) and Glen (Derry). They will enter that game as underdogs but managers Mick Glynn and Sean Flanagan will no doubt remember just how close they came to beating Kilcoo back in 2019.
Derrygonnelly: J McGurn; A Jones, T Daly, M Jones; O Smyth, D Cassidy, A McKenna; Stephen McGullion, R Jones; E McHugh, G Jones, L Jones, Shane McGullion, C Jones, G McKenna.
Subs: R McGovern for L Jones, C Burns for Leigh Jones, A McKenna for S McGullion, G McGovern for E McHugh
Clann Éireann: E Mulholland; C O’Carroll, B McCambridge, D Leatham; S McCarthy, S Heffron, A Kelly; C Bell, T Kelly; D Magee, R Henderson, C McConville; D McCarthy, C Turbitt, A McConville.
Subs: R McDonald for A McConville, J Conlon for C O’Carroll, O McCafferty for R Henderson, O Downey for A Kelly
Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim)
