Friday 29 April 2005
CLAN NA NGAEL 0 – 11 3 – 13 LOUGHMACRORY
Seniors too strong for Clan na nGael
The seniors were a transformed team from the inept display against Dungannon five days earlier when they completely overwhelmed Clan na nGael in Donemana on Friday evening. Despite playing into a blinding sun in the first half they dominated the early exchanges and had four points on the board from Damien McAleer, Ciarán Ward and Ward brothers Enda and Ronan before the Clans got off the mark. Better was to follow as first Stevie Conway rattled the opposition net in the twentieth minute and John Gallagher, who was relishing his new role in midfield, sent a rasping angled shot from out on the right to the roof of the same net two minutes later. Two further points from full forward Ronan Ward and one from the roving Paddy McDonald left them going in at the break twelve points to the good on a 2 - 08 to 0 - 02 score line.
After the break Loughmacrory continued to dominate and Ronan Ward had two points on the board within two minutes of the restart to give them an unassailable fourteen point lead. Joe Ball pulled one back for Clan na nGael but as the half progressed they were becoming more desperate and tried to drive through for goals. Loughmacrory defence held firm however and Ronan Ward (2) brother Enda and Damien McAleer had added another four points before Stevie Conway put the icing on the cake with his second and Loughmacrory’s third goal. Clan na nGael notched nine points in total in the second half, eight of them from frees but despite the best efforts of Brian Dooher urging his men of from midfield they could make little inroads in Loughmacrory’s lead.
