Mulligan class has Cookstown in control
Monday November 30 2009
Tyrone star Owen Mulligan inspired Cookstown to victory at Brewster Park in Enniskillen yesterday.
The treble All-Ireland winner kicked four superb points and picked up the Man of the Match award as the Red Hand champions held off the challenge of the 14-man Cavan side.
Mulligan slotted over three early scores as Cookstown eased into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the 26th minute.
But despite having corner-back Fergal Smith sent off on a straight red card in the 23rd minute, Lavey finished the first half with a flourish.
Darren Jordan slotted home a penalty, awarded for a foot block on Karl Duke, to add to his two points, and the sides went in level at 0-5 to 1-2 at the break.
An evenly-balanced third quarter saw Christopher Eastwood and Mulligan swap scores with Duke and Jordan, and it was Lavey who threatened to take control.
But Cookstown weathered the storm, and late points from Raymond Mulgrew and Martin Murray sealed the title and a place in the All-Ireland semi-final.
- Emyvale of Monaghan and St Teresa's of Antrim must meet again when they finished level (2-6 to 1-9) in the Ulster junior club final at Pairc Esler yesterday.
Emyvale snatch a draw a minute into stoppage-time in a game where both sides were reduced to 14 men.
Scorers -- Cookstown: O Mulligan 0-4 (1f), C Eastwood 0-2, M Murray, R Mulgrew, J Quinn 0-1 each. Lavey: D Jordan 1-3 (1-0 pen, 2f), K Duke 0-1.
Cookstown -- M Rea; R Pickering, S Monaghan, P McGurk; S McGarrity, B Hughes, C O'Hare; G Fitzpatrick, R Mulgrew; J Quinn, C Mullan, B Mulligan; C Eastwood, O Mulligan, M Murray. Subs: Barry Mulligan for Mullan, J Gilmore for Brian Mulligan, B O'Neill for Fitzpatrick, Mullan for Quinn, P Kelly for Monaghan.
Lavey -- C Martin; F Smith, Darren Smith, K Duke; K Donohoe, J Jordan, A Smith; S Maguire, Damien Smith; K Brady, D Murphy, S Jordan; M Cusack, D Jordan, S Tierney. Subs: C Conroy for Brady, F Jordan for Donohoe, D Conroy for Duke, O Smith for Murphy, D Tierney for A Smith.
Ref -- R O'Donnell (Donegal).
Irish Independent
