Culloville and Clann Eireann force Friday night replay in Armagh U21 Final

U21 replay on Friday

Clann Eireann 2-12 Culloville 1-15

By Steve Malone

CULLOVILLE and Clann Eireann will return to Armagh’s Box-IT Athletic Grounds this Friday (November 20) at 7.30pm after they couldn’t be separated in last night’s entertaining U21 County Final.

The Culloville Blues were aiming for a remarkable third senior U21 title in row, which can only point to the south Armagh club doing something right, although it must be said it ties in with a golden generation.

Eoin Duffy is a special talent, and he possesses the skills and elusive running style similar to that of the recent retired county star Rory Grugan, and he consistently took the game to the Lurgan lads. Still, he was kept scoreless from play and Clann Eireann deserve credit for their man-marking and defensive duties.

One man they couldn’t stop was Aaron Garvey, even when hobbling on one leg he proved deadly with a stunning second half goal, set up by the aforementioned Duffy.

Clann Eireann had their top talents delivering too and Culloville had no answer to the powerful direct running of Finn Campbell, who blasted two goals past the Blues, including a penalty. Midfielder James Moriarty and the fleet-footed Cohen Henderson kicked three points each.

As expected, the first half was more controlled and bit cagey, while it loosened on slightly when the game closed in on the hour and to be honest anyone could have won it. Culloville had possession in the final seconds of the additional three minutes, but the Lurgan side kept them shuttered away from goal and guarded the arc to deny any two-pointers.

The Blues will hope that Aaron Garvey recovers and is fit to feature in the replay because he brings much to the table. He covered a lot of ground, making a lot of telling tackles close to his own goal, winning ball around the middle and he proved useful in front of posts too.

Culloville were 0-02 (Aaron Garvey and Eion Duffy) to 0-01 up when Finn Campbell finished into the Blues net with ten minutes played. The south Armagh men responded well with Aaron Garvey and Josh King firing over, before a brilliant solo run and point from Charlie Garvey but Clann Eireann never permitted the Blue to build up much of a lead and Tiernan McDonald and the lively Henderson hit back with scores.

The scores were going tit-for-tat and both sides were rattling up the wides tally too but the early indications were that this game might not be decided after the hour and following further points from Culloville’s Garvey, Duffy and King and Clann Eireann’s James Moriarty and Henderson, the sides were level 0-08 to 1-05 at the break.

The Blues came flying out at the restart, not all guns blazing but making an impact on the scoreboard as they struck five points on the bounce before Clann Eireann replied.

Eoin Duffy’s converted free got the ball rolling, then goalkeeper Shea Rice clipped over a stunning two-pointed free, taking only two steps before striking the ball, from the Beggan school of kicking. The Blues kept the pressure on, and Charlie Garvey bagged his second of the night before Daniel Agnew fisted over with 40 minutes played.

Culloville seemed to be holding all the aces, but Clann Eireann quickly rubbished that theory as Lennan McCavigan fisted over a point for Clann Eireann and Campbell was through on goal, but his soaring shot crept over the bar. The tall Campbell backed himself to take the game to the Blues and he and Moriarty pointed to narrow the gap to only one point.

The game was in the mix and with 11 minutes to go, Eoin Duffy made a darting run along the goal line and his he approached the near post he delivered his pass across goal to the edge of the square, where Aaron Garvey grabbed and stuck sweetly low into bottom corner of the Clann’s net. That man Garvey tagged on another point and Blues were back, five points in front but nine minutes still remained and the Lurgan lads had plenty more to offer.

They were gifted a way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty and Campbell made no mistake with his spot-kick. The Lurgan lads sensed blood. Aaron was hobbling up front and Culloville missed his influence around the middle and in defence and Henderson and Moriarity tagged on scores for the sides to go level for the fourth time with six minutes of the hour left.

It was end-to-end stuff, both sides had chances go wide and drop short but Duffy’s fifth converted free two minutes from time put the Blues ahead but a minute into the additional three Campbell replied to tie the game up for the fifth and final time.

So, it is back to Orchard City on Friday night, but first up is the senior Minor final between defending Ulster champions Dromintee and Cullyhanna, on Wednesday (November 18) at 7.15pm.

CULLOVILLE: Shea Rice 0-02 (1tpf), Caolan Murray, Cathal McEleavy, Padraig O’Neill, Niall Dale, Daire Dooley, Conor Flanagan, Charlie Garvey 0-02, Ciaran Connolly, Eoin Duffy 0-05 (0-5f), Ryan Duffy, Daniel Agnew 0-01, Shane Connolly, Aaron Garvey 1-03, Josh King 0-02.

CLANN Eireann: Liam Carroll, Charlie Haddock, Cathal Dorrian, Cormac Walters, James McStay, Daire Young, Tiernan McDonald 0-01, Andrew Moritarty, James Moritarty 0-03, Maitiu McGibbon, Cohen Henderson 0-03, Euan McAreavey, Lennan McCavigan 0-01, Finn Campbell 2-04 (1-0, pen, 0-1f), Dylan McCooe. Subs: Killian Leathem for L McCavigan, Luke Haughian for A Moriarty.

Referee: Enda Mallon.