February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The Derry club were comprehensively defeated by 0-10 to 0-4 by Errigal Ciaran of Tyrone in the Ulster semifinal Sunday at Clones. Errigal, who took three games to get past Crossmaglen Rangers in the quarterfinal, are now firm favorites to claim a second provincial success when they take on Enniskillen Gaels in Sunday’s final.
Dominant in every area of the pitch, Errigal Ciaran led by 0-7 to 0-2 with Peter Canavan in his usual imperious form and as Peter Loughran took control at midfield, the winners were never in any trouble during the second half.
In Munster, Monaleen of Limerick won their way through to a first provincial decider in which they’re scheduled to meet the might of Cork’s Nemo Rangers. Nemo dismissed the challenge of Kerry’s Kerins O’Rahilly’s by 0-16 to 1-7 in last Sunday’s semifinal in Killarney, while Monaleen got the better of Clonmel Commercials of Tipperary by 1-10 to 1-5.
A late penalty by J.P. Stokes put Monaleen in control after Clonmel appeared to be on course for victory and then captain Muiris Gavin sealed the result with three points in the closing minutes.
There was a surprise in the first of the Leinster semifinals as Mattock Rangers became the first Louth club since 1977 to qualify for the final. Mattock defeated a more fancied Moorefield of Kildare by 3-13 to 2-10 at Navan. However, their opponents are not yet known as the other semifinal between University College Dublin and Rathnew of Wicklow was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Aughrim.