Clann na Banna extend winning run and U10’s win Shield

In the group stage, Clann na Banna had wins against An Riocht and Newry Shamrocks, a draw against Killeavy (Armagh) and a defeat against Carryduff. The results were enough to see Clann na Banna into the semi-final, where they beat Bredagh to progress to the final against Saul. Another excellent performance saw Clann na Banna beat Saul to win the shield.

Team: Adam Maginn, Darragh McGrath, Denis Kerr, Liam Vaughan, Scott Hendry, Taylor Hill, Donal Scullion, Ryan Hickey, Eoin Campbell, Conor McKee, Ryan Meara.

Seniors

Clann na Banna hosted Carryduff on Friday night at Cottage Park hoping to extend their winning league record to four games in a row.

Clann started brightly and registered their first point of the game with their first attack.

Devlin won possession in the middle of the park and played in McArdle who pointed well while under pressure from the Carryduff defence. Feeney then converted a free to give the Clann a two point lead but Carryduff hit two quick scores from play to level the game.

McArdle was again causing the Carryduff defence problems and pointed from the left hand side of the goal with a shot from the outside of his boot. Carryduff again equalised from close range despite the good efforts of the Clann defence to keep them at bay.

Magee then won possession in the middle of the park and kick passed into the Carryduff defence to find McArdle who finished the ball well to the back of the net for the Clann’s first goal of the game.

Magee and P.Feeney both added points from play to extend the Clann’s lead to five points.

Magee then scored a great individual point, running down the line and taking on several Carryduff defenders and pointing over the bar. The Clann were beginning to add constant pressure on the Carryduff goal and it finally paid off when after good work from Lengahan the Carryduff goalkeeper’s pass was intercepted by Fairburn who kicked the ball to the back of the net to extend the lead to nine points. McArdle added a further point from play just before half time to leave the Clann leading 2-7 to Carryduff’s 0-3.

Carryduff started the second half much brighter than they had finished the first, breaking down the Clann defence and scoring a goal and a point within a matter of minutes from the restart to close the gap to six points.

P.Feeney then found McArdle in the corner with a swerving out swinging ball. McArdle took on and beat three Carryduff defenders and pointed from in front of goal for the Clann’s first score of the second half.

The Clann were beginning to pass and exchange the ball well amongst one another and feeney and L.McGarry linked up well, fist passing to one another and Feeney then pointing from play. Both the Clann and Carryduff pointed from free kicks and Carryduff added a further point from play to leave the scores 2-10 to 1-6.

McArdle and Lenaghan were working well in the Clann attack and linked up well when Lenaghan played in McArdle who ran the line, cut in on his man and fisted the ball over the bar to give the Clann an eight point lead. Carryduff capitalized on a Clann defence mistake and pulled another goal back with a tap in. They added a further point from play to close the gap back to 3 points.

McArdle then went on to score a further two points from play and another goal when L.McGarry fisted the ball to him who put his well-placed shot passed the keeper to give the Clann a eight point lead once again.

P.Feeney added a further two points from free kicks before Carryduff got got a score of their own, pointing from close range. Lenaghan finished the Clann’s scoring for the night with a well-deserved point, fending off his man to score from the left hand side of the goal.

McAlister saved well late on to deny a goal for Carryduff but they did score a consolation point late on to leave the final score Clann na Banna 3-16 to Carryduff’s 2-10.

Fixtures

Seniors

Intermediate championship: Clann na Banna v Carryduff on Saturday June 14 at 3pm in Liatroim.