Clann Eireann & Errigal Ciaran reach Ulster semis

Errigal Ciaran and Clann Eireann progressed to the Ulster Club Football semi-finals in contrasting fashions as the Tyrone champions outclassed Cargin and the Lurgan side edged out Newbridge in a tight contest at Celtic Park.

While Errigal Ciaran went in as favourites at Corrigan Park, the experienced Antrim champions were expected to present them with a tough test but it was anything but as the Ballygawley men led 0-10 to 0-4 at half-time and went on to win 0-17 to 0-9.

Clann Eireann, meanwhile, largely bossed the first half at Celtic Park but Tiernan Kelly wasted a goal chance just before the interval which would have put them six ahead and Newbridge fought back to twice lead by one in the third quarter.

The Derry champions - who shocked All-Ireland kingpins Glen in their county final - were also denied a penalty just after half-time with referee Paul Faloon deeming that Tiernan Kelly's foul on Mark Doherty had been just outside the large square.

Oisin Doherty pointed the subsequent free to bring the sides level but it was a big moment in a tight contest which saw Ryan Owens and Jack Conlon hitting the decisive injury-time points as Clann Eireann clinched a 0-14 to 0-12 win which sets up a semi-final meeting with Errigal Ciaran in two weeks.

Cargin proved no match for Errigal Ciaran at a sunny Corrigan Park

Errigal Ciaran dominate Cargin

Errigal Ciaran were better in every department at Corrigan Park and had 10 different scorers over the hour as their pace and accuracy proved too much for the Antrim champions.

The Tyrone champions hit the first three scores through cousins Thomas and Ruairi Canavan, but their shooting would let them down a little with five wides.

However, Cargin were making no headway and it took goalkeeper John McNabb to get them off the mark after 16 minutes.

Still Errigal finished the half strongly with Darragh Canavan finishing a fine move with the score of the opening period as they led 0-10 to 0-4.

Ciaran McGinley extended the gap and although Cargin improved a little they were relying on Tomas McCann placed balls as they couldn't mount a real charge.

In added time, scores from substitutes Mark Kavanagh and Ronan McRory capped off Errigal Ciaran's emphatic victory.

Ruairi Canavan top-scored with 0-4 for the Tyrone champions as his brother Darragh, cousin Thomas and Joe Qguz all finished with 0-2.

In contrast to the one-sided game at Corrigan Park, the Celtic Park contest was an absorbing encounter which seemed destined to go to extra-time.

The action was end-to-end in the opening minutes with the first six scores all coming from play.

Conlon, Conor Turbitt, Ruairi McDonald and Shea Heffron found the mark for Clann Eireann, whilst Conleth McGrogan and Callum McGrogan were on target for Newbridge.

From there, the Armagh champions stayed ahead of the Derry champions for the remainder of the half and led 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

All-Star Turbitt, Conlon and McDonald were lively in their forward line, but they missed two goal chances which would have given them a more comfortable half-time lead.

McDonald had a ‘soccer-style’ attempted parried clear by James Gribbin, whilst Tiernan Kelly was able to knock the ball past Gribbin in a one on one, but he was denied by a Conleth McGrogan clearance off the line.

Newbridge started the second half strong with three straight scores from Conor Doherty and two Oisin Doherty frees - including the one which may have been a penalty - before McDonald levelled it once again.

Conor McGrogan and Conlon traded scores, before Conor McConville and Oisin Doherty did likewise.

Tiernan Kelly put Clann Eireann ahead late on with a booming score from range, but an equaliser from the impressive Conor McAteer set up a tense finish.

But it was the Armagh men who held their nerve and Owens and Conlon got the decisive injury-time scores - the latter after Conor McConville's interception on his own 20-metre line.