Cullyhanna come from seven points down to topple St Peter’s in dramatic quarter-final

A brilliant display from Jason Duffy and a 50-metre goal from Ross McQuillan were the highlights as Cullyhanna came from seven down to win by seven after extra-time in a dramatic quarter-final against St Peter’s.

The south Armagh men came in as favourites, but were under huge pressure, trailing 0-16 to 1-6 heading into the final quarter, but they scored seven points on the bounce to take the game into extra-time. They continued that momentum and eventually ran out relatively comfortable winners following two goals in the added period.

Things couldn’t have started any better for Cullyhanna, as they claimed possession from the throw-in, kept the ball for a minute and finished off the move with Jason Duffy finding the bottom corner of the St Peter’s net.

They followed that up with SFC top scorer Aidan Nugent opening his account, but the underdogs St Peter’s settled themselves into the contest and got level with Conan Moore and Niall McConville (free) finding the target before Aaron Findon landed a two-pointer.

Jason Duffy and Patrick McGibbon (free) traded the next two scores, before Tony Donnelly raised an orange flag. Then St Peter’s rattled off four points on the bounce once again to move two ahead, with Aidan News’ point being followed up by three McConville frees.

Cullyhanna’s Gavan Duffy grabbed the last score of the first half, but they had to play the opening 10 minutes of the second half a player down following Sean Connell receiving a black card.

St Peter’s began the second period with a one-point advantage as well as a man advantage, and they pushed five clear following scores from McConville (free), Callum McKerr, Moore and McConville once again.

Despite St Peter’s control of the game at this stage, Jason Duffy was the stand-out for Cullyhanna and he momentarily stopped the slide with a point.

However, St Peter’s had one foot in the semi-finals when scores from Barry Creaney, and two from Moore had them seven points ahead. But Stephen Reel’s side weren’t going down without a fight, and they wrestled back control and dominated the final quarter of normal time.

Shea Hoey got their first of the run, before Nugent converted two frees in quick succession. Nugent added to that with a superb point from the left wing, before Gavan Duffy landed a stupendous two-pointer.

Hoey started the run and he was the man who finished it, by levelling the game in stoppage time. Caolan Reavey had a chance to win the game for Cullyhanna and complete the most dramatic of comebacks, but his shot drifted wide of the post with the last kick of normal time.

Although St Peter’s had been the better team for 45 minutes, they ultimately ran out of steam down the stretch and Cullyhanna had all the momentum heading into extra-time, and they continued that form after the restart.

Donnelly and Moore (free) traded points before Neil McCreesh scored a crucial goal. Nugent’s shot dropped short, but Connell kept it alive and fed McCreesh, who rifled his shot into the roof of the net from close range.

Moore hit another free in response for St Peter’s but the game was ultimately put to bed when McQuillan pulled off one of the scores of the Championship. Spotting the goalkeeper off his line, he tried an audacious shot from 50 metres out, and successfully raised a third green flag for his side to put five between the teams.

Ruairi McDonald pulled one back for St Peter’s, but Cullyhanna weren’t to be denied and Nugent finished out the scoring with a one-pointer and a two-point free.

MATCH STATS

St Patrick’s Cullyhanna scorers: Aidan Nugent (0-7, 2f, 1tpf), Jason Duffy (1-2), Neil McCreesh (1-0), Ross McQuillan (1-0), Gavan Duffy (0-3, 1tp), Tony Donnelly (0-3, 1tp), Shea Hoey (0-2)

St Peter’s scorers: Conan Moore (0-6, 2f), Niall McConville (0-6, 5f), Aaron Findon (0-2, 1tp), Barry Creaney (0-1), Aidan News (0-1), Patrick McGibbon (0-1, 1f), Callum McKerr (0-1), Ruairi McDonald (0-1).

Referee: Conor Byrne