Merciless Magherafelt waltz into Ulster U16 Club Championship semi final

Pre tournament favourites Magherafelt justified this tag with a barnstorming and merciless performance to become the first team into the hat for the semi finals of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Championship.  

It was evident from midway through the first half that the Derry champions had the guile, workrate and a ruthlessness that Donaghmoyne just could not get to grips of.  

Tormentor in chief was the Oakleaf boys captain Kian Maynes who was in devastating form at full forward scoring eight points, however all over Gardrum Park the standard of their tackling, their discipline and overall gameplan with Michael Lavery dropping back to shore up what proved to be a virtually impenetrable defence was a sight to behold and it will take a very strong team to prevent them from annexing the 2024 title.  

(Magherafelt U-16 team : Credit: Martin McGlone)

Their midfield partnership of Michael Higgins and Ronan Conway were dominant throughout and it was Higgins who got the first score of the day, clipping over from twenty yards.  One Donaghmoyne player that stood out throughout the sixty minutes was their outstanding goalkeeper Artan MacPhaidin and the first of his many spectacular saves denied Haynes an early goal.  

A Coillte Kelly free from near the sideline levelled matters before a series of converted frees from Tony O’Hagan and Haynes, one of which was from considerable distance, as well as a neat score from play from Haynes put daylight between the sides, a lead the Derry champions were never to relinquish.

The high Magherafelt press was causing Donaghmoyne problems and paired with the slippy conditions caused a lot of balls to spill in the tackle, the hunger from the Magherafelt charges was evident and they delivered a hammer blow when a defence splitting pass from West Ham starlet Colm Leacock was collected and finished to the net by Ronan Conway.  

Once again MacPahaidin produced a stunning stop to tip over a rasping Haynes shot.  The imposing James Ennis along with Robbie Duffy, Ross Lennon and Ryan Cumiskey fought hard for Donaghmoyne and it was Ennis from a placed ball who got their second score.  

MFC Sports man of the match Tiernan McGlone was making penetrating runs from deep causing problems for the Monaghan champions rearguard and he lofted over a point from distance with MacPhaidin once again performing heroics to deny a rampaging Higgins to leave the half time score 1-09 to 0-02. 

Things didn’t get any better for Donaghmoyne in the second period despite having the wind at their back, a converted forty five from Ennis their only reply early on to scores from McGlone, Haynes and Higgins who was once again denied by a finger tip save from MacPhaidin.  Indeed even the second half Magherafelt goal from Tony O’Hagan came from a rebound off yet another MacPhaidin stop.  The pace and ball carrying skills of the Magherafelt half forward line of O‘Hagan, Emmett Spiers and Lorcan Higgins ensured there was to be no let up as a ruthless Magherafelt made no mistake in ensuring their victory.  Haynes, Spiers, Daultagh Donnelly and impressive substitute Ruairi Quinn all notched points on their way to victory.

(MFC Sports man of the match Tiernan McGlone - Credit: Martin McGlone)

Magherafelt manager Kevin Purvis was glad to get their Ulster campaign underway but is in no doubt tougher fixtures lie ahead as they seek their first Ulster title at this level.

He said: “Today was about ensuring we were in the draw for the semi-finals, so we are quite happy with the way the game panned out.  To be fair, I think Donaghmoyne played their county final at the beginning of August, which is quite a long layoff.  It was a tough one for their boys out there today, and the scoreboard maybe flattered us a bit in the end.  We are excited now to see who we play next.”    

Magherafelt:  Conor Johnston, Ryan Martin, Tobias Beattie, Tiernan McGlone (0-2), Finn Grimes, Colm Leacock (0-1, Pen), Ronan Lennox, Michael Higgins (0-2), Ronan Conway (1-0), Tony O’Hagan (1-2, 1f), Emmett Spiers (0-1), Lorcan Higgins, Daultagh Donnelly (0-2, 1 mark), Kian Maynes (0-8, 3f, 1 mark), Michael Lavery  

Subs: Matthew McKernan for M Higgins, Sean Robinson for R Martin, Valentino Lupari for F Grimes, Ruairi Quinn (0-1) for L Higgins, Tom Farmer for R Lennox

Donaghmoyne:  Artan MacPhaidin, Joe Callan, Joe Boylan, Michael Keenan, Robbie Duffy, Ross Lennon, Josh Cunningham, James Ennis (0-2, 2f), Liam Connolly, Ryan Cumiskey, Coillte Kelly (0-1, 1f), John Lennon, Peter Gilmartin, Cormac Markey and Sean Meegan

Subs: Conor Flanagan for J Callan, Paddy Ryan for R Comiskey, Paudie Lawlor for J Lennon, Ryamn Kingham for A Mac Phaidin, Michael Duffy for M Keenan, Daniel Connolly for C Markey. 

Referee:  Mark Loughran (Tyrone)