Kildress confirmed their place in the League play-offs with this 1-16 to 3-7 win over a never-say-die Clann na Gael in perfect if cold conditions at Gortacladdy today. A much-changed Tones team started well and soon opened up a four-point lead which they stretched to 0-9 to 0-3 by half-time, Paul Connolly (0-3 overall), Matty McGuigan (1-5), Callum Holland (0-1), Adam Connolly (0-2), Dean McNally, Niall Connolly and Aaron Loughran leading from the front for them. After ten minutes of the second half they led by eight points but then a Clann na Gael blitz produced 3-1 in less than ten minutes and a shocked Kildress suddenly found themselves a point behind with the finishing post in sight. A few timely substitutions turned things back in their favour and a Matty McGuigan penalty restored their lead and allowed the Tones to see out a victory that for a long time had looked inevitable yet for a while had looked as if Clann na Gael had done enough to grab it. Eamon McHugh, last Sunday’s County Final referee and in what might be his last refereeing visit to Gortacladdy, expertly controlled a well-contested game.
Proud to be part of
