Ulster Club FC Semi-final: Down champions Mayobridge lived on the edge for most of the second half in yesterday's Ulster club football championship semi-final at rainy Casement Park before getting through to next Sunday's decider against Crossmaglen Rangers back in Belfast.
Both teams were struck blows through injury before the break. In first-half overtime Carrickmore's Brian Gormley was stretchered off and Mayobridge player-manager Mickey Linden failed to reappear after the break.
"I damaged my groin in a run down the wing just before half-time," explained veteran Linden (41). "I can't see me being ready for the final against Crossmaglen next Sunday either."
Linden opened the scoring with a point on 35 seconds to settle his side and with John Quinn, Robbie Coulter and Brendan Grant firing over other points Carrickmore were hemmed into their own half of the field for long periods.
Only Mark Donnelly, Michael Gallagher and Brian Gormley managed to hit the target for the Tyrone champions and when Gormley went off injured things looked bleak for them.
It was bleaker still when Benny Coulter sliced through for a second 'Bridge goal seven minutes into the second half to leave the Mourne men 2-6 to 0-4 ahead.
Carrickmore regrouped, however, and found the range. When Fionnbar Magill lofted over scores in the 52nd and 54th minutes and captain Peter Loughran fired over another point two minutes later just a goal separated the sides. Coulter popped up again to ease the pressure on Mayobridge.
MAYOBRIDGE: S Featherstone; G Barry, K O'Hare, R O'Hare; B Grant (0-1), F Poland, D Tighe; D Rooney, E Woods; N Sexton, B Coulter (1-1), A Barry; J Quinn (0-1), M Linden (0-1), R Coulter (1-3). Sub: P Cunningham for Linden inj (half-time).
CARRICKMORE: P McCallan; P Daly, P Doyle, C McGurk; Ciaran McAleer (0-1), R McGarrity, D Loughran; D McElroy, C Gormley; Conor McAleer, B Gormley (0-1), K McNally (0-1, free), M Donnelly (0-1), P Loughran (0-1), M Gallagher (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: P Hughes (0-1) for McGurk (14 mins), N Hurson for D Loughran (18 mins), F Gormley for B Gormley inj (33 mins), C Loughran for McElroy inj (half-time), F Magill (0-3, 0-2 frees) for McNally (47 mins).
Referee: M Brady (Cavan).
