Late drama as Clontibret snatch victory against Magheracloone
Magheracloone 0-17 Clontibret 1-15
By Colm Shalvey
Clontibret made a winning start to the SFC when they timed their late run to perfection to deny hosts Magheracloone on Saturday.
Alan McCahey, Paudie McMahon and Jack Doogan were to the fore as Magheracloone led by 11 points on a couple of occasions towards the end of the first half as they used the elements to kick four two-pointers.
Clontibret matched that after the restart, however, as well as notching a vital goal from Ryan McGuigan. Brian Greenan’s winning score in the 64th minute proved decisive as this one built to an exciting finish that had long looked unlikely.
Clontibret started with 12 of their starting team from last year’s SFC semi-final, with Jack Sullivan, Jack Brady and Darragh Keenan in for Conor Doyle, Francis Hughes and Conor McManus.
With Charlie Mone also starting and Evan Treanor and Daniel Boylan also featuring, they gave gametime to six of their 2025 MFC-winning side.
Dylan Byrne, Packie Doogan-Burke and Jamie and Barry Kieran were absent for Magheracloone, while another of the Kieran brothers, Allan, was hampered by an injury he suffered early on, which forced him to go off.
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