QPS and Clonmany Shamrocks will play in this year’s Charlie O Donnell Cup finals after they came out on top in their respective semi-finals on Sunday.
Full round-up:
QPS 3
Aileach Res 1
There were no chances in this game until the home side took the lead on 19 minutes after Caolan McColgan jinked past a defender on the right into the area and despite Ciaran Bradley forcing him wide he managed to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.
Aileach replied with Stephen Doherty firing just wide from the edge of the area. On 29 minutes a Shane McMonagle cross from the left was gathered at the second attempt by Oisin Burke at the feet of Doherty.
The point almost doubled their lead before the break when David Healy found space and unleashed an effort which crashed off the bar. Paddy Curran had the first chance of the second half when he broke through the home defence but fired wide. They got back on terms on 56 minutes when Killian O’Rourke released McMonagle to fire low past Burke at the near post. The Point responded and Caolan Travers saw a header crash off the bar before they regained the lead on the hour. Travers broke on the right past a defender and picked out McColgan who calmly sidefooted past Bradley.
They created another great chance when Travers cut the ball back into the path of Stephen McKendry who blazed over. They did increase their lead on 74 minutes after John McCluskey and Travers combined for the latter who curled a superb effort to the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Aileach had late chances and Curran fired wide when well placed before Burke saved well from McMonagle.
Clonmany Shamrocks 2
Redcastle United 1
Clonmany had an early chance when a quickly taken Jason Devlin corner to Mark McLaughlin saw his effort eventually scrambled clear by the visitors. Redcastle got on top after this and on 15 minutes Brendan Murphy was denied by a fine Paddy Harkin save. On 35minutes Harkin again parried an effort from Murphy and when the ball fell to Drew McKinney he fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
Before the break they had another chance after Ronan Hoy beat a defender and saw his shot blocked by Harkin before the defence cleared.
Clonmany got off to a dream start to the second half when they took the lead on 48 minutes after a Mark McLaughlin free deflected off the wall and past Michael McCole.
But the visitors levelled on 55 minutes when a Ronan Hoy cross picked out the unmarked Evan Craig to slot past Harkin from eight yards. Clonmany upped the tempo and Jason Devlin had an effort saved by McCole before Redcastle defender Joe McCauley carried out a brilliant double block to deny Mark McLaughlin.
They struck for the winner on 89 minutes after McCole punched a free kick to the edge of the area where McCarron controlled and fired low to the net. Redcastle pushed in the closing stages but failed to create a clear chance.
