Ulster club SFC: Goals do the trick for Cross'
October 31, 2011
St. Gall's Sean Kelly and Danny O'Callaghan of Crossmaglen
St Gall's(Antrim) 2-5
An early goal from Armagh star Jamie Clarke helped All-Ireland champions Crossmaglen Rangers advance to the last four of the Ulster club SFC yesterday at Casement Park, where they dumped out provincial rivals St Gall's.
Clarke's goal was the first score of the game and it came after 10 minutes following come fiery opening exchanges in Belfast, where 10 yellow cards overall were distributed by Cavan referee Joe McQuillan, who also sent off St Gall's ace CJ McGourty a minute from time.
Clarke's opener saw the holders surge towards a 1-5 to 0-2 lead at half-time, and the second-half would have an explosive start as a slick move from the Armagh kingpins inside two minutes split the home side's defence and allowed Aaron Cunningham to bang to the corner of the net. Within 30 seconds the visitors would have a penalty when Oisin O'Connell was dragged down in the square and the veteran star stuck away the spot kick himself to wrap up the contest.
Michael Pollock and Karl Stewart grabbed what proved to be consolation goals for the Belfast club later on, as Cross' kept their bid for another Ulster crown firmly on track.
Scorers - Crossmaglen: A Cunningham (1-1), A Kernan (0-3, 2f), J Clarke, O McConville (1-0 pen, each), S Finnegan, J Hanratty, D McKenna, T Kernan ('45), S Kernan (0-1 each). St Gall's: K Stewart (1-1), M Pollock (1-0), CJ McGourty (0-3, 2f), K Niblock (0-1).
Crossmaglen: P Hearty; J Morgan, P Kernan, P McKeown; A Kernan, D O'Callaghan, S Finnegan; J Hanratty, D McKenna; T Kernan, S Kernan, A Cunningham; J Clarke, F Hanratty, M McNamee. Subs: B McKeown for P Kernan (28), O McConville for F Hanratty (h-t), K Brennan for McNamee (39), M Aherne for J Hanratty (51), M Lenaghan for Cunningham (65).
St Gall's: R Gallagher; D Harbinson, C Brady, P Veronica; M Kelly, A McClean, S Kelly; D O'Hare, S Burke; T O'Neill, A Healy, K McGourty; CJ McGourty, K Niblock, M Pollock. Subs: K Stewart for O'Neill (42), M McGowan for Healy (51), S McAreavey for Burke (61).
Ref: J McQuillan (Cavan) Tweet
