Cardonagh's Ulster JFC dream ended in dramatic fashion by Emyvale 

A late Niall McKenna free deep into injury time broke Carndonagh hearts as Monaghan champions Emyvale prevailed in a thrilling clash in this Ulster Junior championship quarter final in excellent conditions in St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones.

In a high-quality contest, which was battled fiercely by both teams, the deciding factor came in the fourth minute of the allotted five minutes of injury time given with both teams deadlocked at 1-15 to 2-12. 

Carndonagh brilliantly overturned possession on the 20-yard line when Emyvale were searching for the winner, however, in doing so, referee Enda Mallon deemed that one of the Carndonagh players “threw” rather than handpassed the ball to a teammate after winning possession and as a result, a free was awarded and dispatched by McKenna which ultimately decided Carndonagh’s fate.

That decision was tough on the Donegal champions who at least look to have earned the right at another crack in sealing a semi-final place by sending the tie into extra-time, but in the end, their luck went against them. 

Although they were denied by a very soft decision, this defeat will be tinged with regret as a Cian Doherty penalty right on the cusp of normal time looked to give Carndonagh the upper hand in gaining a two-point advantage going into injury time, but Emyvale, and in particular, Niall McKenna, deserved credit in hauling themselves back into contention and will look forward to a semi-final clash against Cavan champions, Munterconnaught, in two weeks’ time.

Fergal Doherty fired over a free from outside the scoring arc in the 4th minute to open the scoring for Carndonagh, but Emyvale soon responded through the accurate boot of Conor Forde from a ’45, as both teams looked to settle into the contest. 

Will Quinn curled over a super score from the wing in the 7th minute, but Emyvale clicked in devastating fashion where they scorched a quickfire 1-2 in three minutes to wrestle control of proceedings.

Firstly, centre forward, Danny McMahon latched onto the end of a free-flowing move to fire low past Daniel McDaid, and this was quickly added with points from Niall McKenna and Forde, to put the Monaghan champions 1-3 to 0-3 ahead by the 12th minute. 

Despite Carndonagh being on top of both sets of kickouts, it was Emyvale’s greater efficiency in moving the ball quickly into their full-forward line which yielded dividends, and this was exemplified in the 16th minute when an excellent cross field pass from McMahon found the maurading run of McKenna inside, who turned and scorched over. 

However, as the game moved past the midway point of the first half, Carndonagh found themselves right back into the fold, where Brendan McLoughlin took control of the advantage played by the referee, which caught the Emyvale napping somewhat, by seizing possession and fired home from close range.

Carndonagh did have chances to move in front only for poor shooting in front of goal costing them which was in contrast to Emyvale’s efficiency in front of goal with McKenna and full-forward, Matthew Finn, pushing their side three in front at 1-6 to 1-3 in the 22nd minute. 

Conor O’Donnell, who was well marshalled throughout, blitzed through the Emyvale defence, only to be fouled with Cian Doherty pointing from a free from close range, but McKenna was proving to be a handful down at the other end, and the key marksman did brilliantly well to engineer space to swing over under pressure. 

However, Carndonagh did finish the half strongly as points from Anthony Doherty and Donal Doherty ensured that there was only the minimum between the sides in favour of Emyvale at 1-7 to 1-6 as the half time whistle soon sounded.

Conor Forde got the second half scoring up and running as early as the first minute from a ’45, but Cian Burke possibly should have raised the green flag when he saw his shot blazed over the crossbar from close range after good work from Will Quinn. 

Karl Gallagher, who was very effective in midfield throughout, bombed over a good score and this was quickly complimented by McKenna, who again did brilliantly to curl over despite heavy pressure from the Carndonagh defence to put three between them at 1-10 to 1-7.

Cian Doherty pointed from a free after the ball was brought forward for dissent, but the same player had another chance to raise the green flag only to see his shot flash wide of the post after Feargal Doherty did brilliantly to keep the ball in play. 

However, the Donegal champions were soon level 1-10 apiece as excellent points from Donal and Feargal Doherty gave their side the impetus and the momentum were seemingly going the way of the Donegal men when Emyvale corner back, Andrew Stewart was given a black card after an infringement on Conor O’Donnell. 

With fifteen minutes to go, the contest was right in the cauldron with both teams beginning to cancel each other out as a McKenna and Stephen Askin frees were traded off with scores from Cian and Donal Doherty with both teams remaining level at 1-12 apiece seven minutes from time. 

Emyvale were awarded a very harsh free in the 54th minute after half-forward, David Duffy seemed to be running out of ideas and was well thwarted by the Carndonagh defence, only for the referee to see different with McKenna pointing the resulting free. 

Two minutes from time, substitute, Aidan McKenna fired over an excellent score, but from the resulting kickout, Carndonagh worked the ball into the penalty area with Cian Burke’s shot being denied by a footblock from the Emyvale defence which the referee awarded a penalty with Cian Doherty brilliantly and coolly sending the keeper the wrong way to slot home. 

However, a frantic five minutes of injury time ensued with McKenna again brilliantly scoring a super score despite heavy pressure and although a draw was a fair result, McKenna won the game with that highly controversial free after a very soft decision went against a luckless Carndonagh side.

Carndonagh scorers: Cian Doherty 1-3 3f, Brendan McLaughlin 1-0, Donal Doherty 0-3, Feargal Doherty 0-3 1 2ptf, Will Quinn 0-1, Cian Burke 0-1, Anthony Doherty 0-1

Emyvale scorers: Niall McKenna 0-9 4f, Danny McMahon 1-0, Conor Forde 0-3 2 ’45 1f, Stephen Askin 0-1 1f, Karl Gallagher 0-1, Matthew Finn 0-1, Aidan McKenna 0-1

Carndonagh: Daniel McDaid, Danny Diver, Danny Monagle, Eoghan Kelly, Will Quinn, James Monagle, Darragh Browne, Donal Doherty, Sean O’Carroll, Cian Burke, Conor O’Donnell, Brendan McLaughlin, Cian Doherty, Anthony Doherty, Feargal Doherty

Subs: Michael Noone for Feargal Doherty, Ryan Kelly for Sean O’Carroll, Olan McLaughlin for Brendan McLaughlin

Emyvale: Conor Forde, Andrew Stewart, Greg Devlin, Aaron Loughran, Cameron Liddle, Harvey Colleran, Dylan Sherry, Karl Gallagher, Ali Stewart, David Duffy, Danny McMahon, Stephen Askin, Niall McKenna, Matthew Finn, Johnie Wright

Subs: Ben Ryan for Cameron Liddle, Aidan McKenna for Karl Gallagher, Karl Gallagher for Danny McMahon, Michael McNally for Dylan Sherry, Aidan Treanor for Aaron Loughran