Clonguish make full use of advantages

Leinster Club FC Quarter-finalsClonguish 1-9 Blackhall Gaels 1-5 Longford champions Clonguish were largely waved through to their first Leinster football semi-final by an error-ridden performance from Meath champions Blackhall Gaels in Longford yesterday.

Curiously Blackhall Gaels, who finished with only 14 players, failed to score during the first 29 minutes as Clonguish, a side with more guile and finishing power, raced to a 1-7 to 0-0 lead.

The Meath champions made matters difficult for themselves. They showed at times quite an excellent ability to create scoring chances while playing against the wind and into a low, blinding sun in the first half.

Their finishing was, however, an altogether different story. A mixture of bad luck, as the woodwork got in the way on three occasions, and rushed shots from scoring positions denied the Gaels.

Then, when they seemed on the brink of a remarkable recovery in the second half they had midfielder Anthony Moyles sent off for a foul on man of the match Paul Barden. Referee Maurice Deegan had no hesitation in giving the Meathman a straight red card.

This proved to be a big help to Clonguish who were at that stage coming under pressure to protect their lead. Clonguish corner back Brendan Burke and David Barden, one of three brothers in the winners' line-out, took it in turns to have the freedom of the park.

Even so, the 14-man threat became ominous for Clonguish, with the Gaels digging in deep and atoning for their numerical shortcomings with a higher work rate which saw them bring the deficit down to a goal.

For a moment in the closing stages it looked as though that goal deficit would also be erased but Martin McHugh got down to save a good effort from Mark Ferris.

The injury time played was long enough to encapsulate two moves at opposite ends of the pitch that demonstrated the real difference between the two teams.

In a last-ditch stand, Blackhall's full back got forward and took a quick free in an attempt to find substitute Owen McCreevey but he misdirected his kick over the endline for yet another Blackhall wide.

Moments later Paddy Dowd set up Colin Clarke for easily the best point of the game which saw Clonguish go four points ahead and ensure their safe passage into the next round.

Blackhall corner forward Tadhg Brosnan was plagued by bad luck in the first half with the woodwork being his biggest enemy. Barry McKeon, the losers' full forward, provided a much-needed boost when scoring his side's first score, a goal that was the result of a well-worked move in which Brosnan and Mark Crampton were involved.

Clonguish led by 1-7 to 1-0 at the break and although playing into the wind in the second half, the sun conveniently disappeared to save them the problems that Blackhall endured during the first half.

The Barden brothers, Paul the goalscorer, David and Enda, along with Padraic Reilly, the Dowds, Paddy and John, and Martin McHugh played significant roles in a Clonguish win that qualifies them for a semi-final meeting with Dublin side St Brigid's.

CLONGUISH: M McHugh; B Burke, S Prunty, S Hagan; T O'Malley, P Reilly, D Quinn; J Dowd, L McGuinness; C Clarke (0-2), P Barden (1-3, one pointed free), P Dowd (0-2); J O'Brien (0-2), E Barden, D Barden. Subs: P Cooney for T O'Malley (35 mins), J Smith for McGuinness (61 mins).

BLACKHALL GAELS: M Whelan; D O'Brien, P Nestor, A Dalton; P Beirne, N Neston, S Nally; A Moyles, J O'Brien; R Cox, M Ferris (0-3 frees), D Beirne; T Brosnan (0-1), B McKeon (1-0), M Crampton (0-1). Subs: N O'Hora for Cox 54 mins, O McGreevey for O'Brien 56 mins.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).