AT FR TIERNEY PARK in Ballyshannon, it came down to the width of the upright.
Bundoran 0-14 Clann Eireann 1-9
With Bundoran and Clann Eireann level at 1-6 to 0-9 deep into injury time, visiting wing-back Chris McCafferty saw his pop at a winner from no more than 16 metres of so come back off the post.
Brian Gavigan’s Bundoran survived and driven on by the excellence of Christy Keaney, weren’t so reliant on favours in extra-time and got the job done themselves against the Armagh champions in the AIB Ulster Club IFC quarter-finals.
Photo caption: Clann Eireann’s Conor Bell with referee Sean Laverty, Bundoran’s Tommy Hourihane ahead of todays Intermediate Championship game at Ballyshannon.
In extra-time, five points – with Keaney, Fergal McKiernan with a brace, Gary Clancy and Darragh Hoey – were enough to seal the Seasiders’ progression.
Over the course of the 80 minutes, Bundoran had a greater spread of scorers, with all of Clann Eireann’s points coming from Barry Seeley.
It was initially a slow burner, with the scores level at 0-4 to 1-1 at half-time.
Clancy opened the scoring for Bundoran but on 11 minutes, following a line-ball, Clann Eireann’s Ryan Henderson set up James McDaid to score the contest’s only goal. Bundoran were on terms at the break, though, thanks to Tommy Hourihane’s two frees and Hoey.
Keaney took control of the game after half-time with a couple of inspirational scores but with Seeley possessing a competency from placed balls, the margins were always thin. With just two minutes to go, Bundoran were 0-9 to 1-4 in front only for the away team to score twice through Seeley to draw level.
Then, McCafferty missed that golden opportunity and going into extra-time, Bundoran – who had Peter McGonigle dismissed for receiving a yellow, black and consequent red card – were relieved to get back up to the full compliment with Fergal McKieran allowed to come in.
From there, Bundoran maintained their composure and kicked on to win.
Bundoran: Johnny Keenan; Diarmuid McCaughey, James Keeney, Pauric Rooney; Paul Brennan, Shane McGowan, Johnny Boyle; Ciaran McCaughey, Peter McGonigle; Diarmuid Spratt (0-1), Gary Clancy (0-2), Alan Russell; Tommy Hourihane (0-4, 4f), Christy Keaney (0-3), Darragh Hoey (0-2). Subs: Shane Carr for Boyle (18), Niall Dunne for Russell (47), Barry McGowan for Spratt (56), Fergal McKieran (0-2) introduced at the start of extra-time, Gavin Croghan for Keaney (73), Spratt for Carr (75).
Clann Eireann: Kieran McKerr; Barry McCambridge, Brendan McCarron, David McKiernan; Adam Kelly, Shea Heffernon, Chris McCafferty; Mark Beattie, John Magee; James McDaid (1-0), Barry Seeley (0-9, 8f), Paul McKenna; Ryan Henderson, Conor Bell, Declan Leathem. Subs: Daniel France for Kelly (35), Johnny Torode for McKenna (41), Michael Moore for McCarron (68), Jack Wilson for Torode (72).
Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim).
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