SETANTA FINALLY TOOK the Ulster title they have craved for so long with this impressive win over Derry champions Na Magha at McCumhaill Park.
Setanta 2-17
Na Magha 3-11
After defeats in the 2007 and 2008 finals the Setanta men were not going to let this opportunity elude them and led by captain Kevin Campbell and star forward Declan Coulter, who scored 1-17 between them, they were not to be denied despite the best efforts of their opponents who kept fighting back throughout this excellent contest.
After a couple of early wides by the Derry champions it was Setanta who opened the scoring with a Kevin Campbell free, quickly followed by a Declan Coulter point from play in the fourth minute.
A high tackle on Danny Cullen led to a booking for Na Magha’s midfielder Bliadan Glass and another converted free by Campbell. Two minutes later Setanta struck the game’s first goal, Coulter won a great possession and put Bernard Lafferty through on goal and the wing forward blasted the ball to the net to make it 1-0 to 0-0 in Setanta’s favour after 11 minutes.
They added three more quick points, two frees from Campbell and another Coulter effort from play for a nine point lead. The Derry men finally got their act together with three quick points, Diarmuid Shiels from play and two frees from Deaglan Foley.
Another two Campbell frees and Coulter point from play made it 1-09 to 0-03 after 20 minutes. Na Magha then hit a purple patch, Shiels hit a point and then a goal in quick succession and three Foley frees left it a two point game at 1-9 to 1-7 in the 26th minute, but Coulter had the last word of the first-half with a super point from wide on the right to give Setanta a three point lead at the break 1-10 to 1-7.
Setanta began the second-half well with another two frees from Kevin Campbell and in between a fifth point from play by Declan Coulter to make it a six point game again but in the 39th minute big Alan Grant who had moved forward fron centre-back to full forward cracked home a super goal to reduce the deficit to just three again.
That was short-lived however as Coulter fielded a high ball and raced through to hammer it to the net, and it was 2-13 to 2-07 to Setanta. Foley and Brendan Douban points brought it back to a four point game but Campbell and Coulter quickly replied for Setanta.
Campbell converted his 10th free in the 52nd minute to make it a seven point lead but Deaglan smashed a free past a line of defenders for a third Na Magha goal and game on again at 2-16 to 3-9.
It was back to three with Foley’s 65 but great play by Danny Cullen won a vital free which Campbell converted to make it 2-17 to 3-10 in the 59th minute. Four nervous minutes of extra-time produced just one score from sub Conor Mc Goran and a red card for Alan Grant for a wild swing of the Hurley and one for James Callaghan for retaliation. A super victory for Setanta and finally a most deserved Ulster title.
Setanta: Gary McGettigan; Brendan Tourish, Simon McMenamin, Mark Callaghan; Sean Anderson, Martin Bonner, Niall Cleary; Richie Kee, Danny Cullen; Bernard Lafferty (1-0), Colm Melaugh, Mark Kane; Justin McBride, Declan Coulter (1-6), Kevin Campbell (0-11, 11f). Subs: James Callaghan for McMenamin (55).
Na Magha: Daryl Connolly; Aaron McBrearty, James McQuillan, Matthew Temple; Niall McCallion, Alan Grant (1-0), Mark McShane; Bliadan Glass, Diarmuid Shiels (1-2); Tim Rankin, Breandan Quigley , Deaglan Foley (1-7); Aodhan O Donnell, Ryan O’Donnell , Brendan Douban (0-1). Subs: Conor Mcgowan ( 0-1 ) and Fearghal McAnaney for Temple and O’Donnell (both 31).
Referee: Aiden Ferguson (Fermanagh ).
Tags: