ULSTER SFC SEMI-FINALS Naomh Conaill 1-10 Coalisland 1-9:COALISLAND GOALKEEPER Johnny Curran had a chance from two 45s in injury time to tie up proceedings in a pulsating Ulster club semi-final in the fog of Brewster Park.
Curran had scored two 45s in the first half but just could not find the distance with his last-minute efforts to force the game into extra time.
The Tyrone champions had been four points down at the break and produced a brilliant second-half performance typified by a scintillating goal from captain Plunkett Kane.
But Glenties dug deep and led by the superb Dermot Molloy and Leo McCloone in attack the Donegal champions held out to book their place in the Ulster club final on the November 28th where they will meet Crossmaglen Rangers.
Glenties had played some great football in the first half with Molloy in super point-kicking form and the whole side generally moving the ball very well.
One such clinical move led to the only goal of the first half with Leon Thompson transferring to Dara Gallagher before Gallagher played a one-two with Molloy to splice open the defence and slide the ball home past Curran.
Wing back Eoin Wade and midfielder Johnny McCloone also got in on the scoring act as Glenties went into the break four points up, 1-7 to 0-06.
Coalisland had kept in touch thanks to the precise free-taking of Patrick McNiece and two super points from play from Stephen Curran.
Another Molloy point pushed Glenties five points clear after the break but the Tyrone champions rallied with Brian Toner hitting a point before McNiece and second-half substitute Dermot Thornton scored from placed balls to leave just two between the sides.
Peter Donnelly then saved brilliantly on the goal-line from Brendan McDyre as Glenties cut through the Island defence again.
That save seemed to galvanise the Tyrone men even more and after a long ball found Tiarnan O’Hagan his quick transfer to Kane was followed with a rasping drive to the top corner of the net.
A point up with 10 minutes left, Coalisland were not to score again as Glenties went on to win two precious close-in frees which were converted by Molloy and goalscorer Gallagher before the ensuing final drama when those two nerve-jangling 45s ended a highly-entertaining afternoon’s football.
NAOMH CONAILL: S McGrath; T Donoghue, J Bonner, C Boyle; M Boyle, A Thompson, E Wade (0-1); M Regan, J McLoone (0-1); B McDyre, L McLoone (0-1), D Gallagher (1-1, 0-1 free), J O'Malley (0-1), D Molloy (0-5, 0-3 frees), L Thompson. Subs: S Corcoran for McDyre (14 mins, blood sub) J McKenna for Boyle (37 mins), S Corcoran for O'Malley (50 mins), C McNelis for Thompson (53 mins).
COALISLAND: J Curran (0-2, 45s); L O'Neill, P Donnelly, L Wylie; S McNally, N Kerr, C Bayne; P McGahan, P Toner; P Kane (1-0), B Toner (0-1), S Curran (0-2); P McNiece (0-3, frees), T O'Hagan, G Toner. Subs: D Thornton (0-1, free)for Toner (23 mins), P O'Farrrel for Bayne (40 mins), R Thornton for Kerr (58 mins).
Referee: Martin Higgins(Fermanagh).
