St Mary's, Convoy reach Junior A semi-final with five point win over Naomh Ultan

St Mary’s, Convoy advanced to the semi-final of the Junior A Championship with a five point home win over Naomh Ultan.

A tame start to the game at 0-3 apiece with 20 gone, the hosts hit two goals in as many minutes through Conor Donnellan and Niall Sweeney to take a strong advantage, with Anthony Browne and Corrie-lee Bogan pointing as they led 2-7 to 0-4 at the break.

But with Cian Kennedy in good shooting form from frees, as well as lobbing a ball in for Aaron O’Shea to palm into the net, the Dunkineely men got back to within three despite losing Luke Gallagher to a second yellow.

But they conceded two frees late on that Browne converted to send the Convoy men into the final four.

Convoy threatened early on as they hit the woodwork twice, Corrie-lee Bogan’s shot hitting the post and as John Doherty found Conor Gordon, he punched the ball towards goal but off the bar.

But Patrick White opened the scoring with a free at the other end, while Anthony Browne got the hosts off the mark.

The ever-impressive Cian Kennedy got two scores for Aiden Duddy’s men, either side of another Convoy effort that came off the bar, but two scores on either side from Bogan levelled the game on 20 minutes.

But the match turned on its head soon after with two goals for the home side, first as John Doherty played in Conor Donnellan and he fired past Alan Lyons, just about squeezing the ball over the line.

A minute later, they hit the net again after good work from Pauric Gordon, playing in Niall Sweeney on the left and he rifled the ball high and in off the crossbar.

That rocked Naomh Ultan but a Luke Gallagher score got a bit of composure back, although Browne responded with a super two pointer.

Gordon added another after a great move, and Browne kicked a free just on the half-time whistle for a 2-7 to 0-4 lead.

The Dunkineely men weren’t lying down however, and an early Aaron Byrne point was added to with a goal as Kennedy floated in a high ball and Aaron O’Shea got the touch to punch in.

Kennedy kicked a two point free, but two frees from Browne, the second off the ground as Convoy tried to keep their opponents at bay.

And while Kennedy kicked a ‘45, they suffered a blow as Luke Gallagher picked up a second yellow for a foul on Conor Bonner.

Bogan kicked over on the turn, but Kennedy kicked two frees for the visitors.

Donnellan got another from play after a good move, but another Kennedy two point free left a goal in it with 60 on the clock.

However, Naomh Ultan gave away two poor frees that were brought forward and Browne made no mistake both times, the second signalling full time as Convoy advanced to the semi-finals.

St Mary’s, Convoy scorers: Anthony Browne 0-8,5f,1tp; Corrie-lee Bogan 0-4; Conor Donnellan 1-1; Niall Sweeney 1-0; Pauric Gordon 0-1

Naomh Ultan scorers: Cian Kennedy 0-9,2f,2tp,1’45; Aaron O’Shea 1-0 Patrick White 0-1f; Luke Gallagher and Aaron Byrne 0-1 each

St Mary’s, Convoy: Emmet Doherty; Liam Prunty, Byran McNamee, Sean Doherty; Niall Sweeney, John Doherty, Connor McDaid; Pauric Gordon, Cormac Mulrain; Anthony Browne, Laurence McMullan, Conor Donnellan; Conor Bonner, Corrie-lee Bogan, Conor Gordon.

Subs: Eamon Coyle for J Doherty (28)

Naomh Ultan: Alan Lyons; Jordan Watters, Ciaran Cunningham, Finlay Gavigan; Jamie Cunningham, Aaron Kyles, Daniel Gallagher; Jack Boyle, Jonathan Bach; Joseph Alvey, Luke Gallagher, Cian Kennedy; Aaron O’Shea, Patrick White, Aaron Byrne.

Referee: Stephen Doherty (Red Hughs)