Glack shock Doire Trasna to make Championship Quarter-finals

Glack 0-13, Doire Trasna 1-09

Glack will be in the hat for Intermediate Championship Quarter-final draw after shocking a Doire Trasna side that never got going until the final 15 minutes of a tense game at Pairc Bhrid on Sunday.

That Pearses' finale was almost enough to save Eoghan Carlin's team after substitute Dee Starrett grabbed the game's only goal to level proceedings with three minutes of normal time left, but match winning scores from Liam O'Brien and Ryan Morgan was no more than Glack deserved after a gutsy display that had too much running for the Waterside men.

Pre-match, Pearses were left scrambling for a keeper after illness meant Luke Durkan wasn't well enough to start and Micheal McNaught stepped between the posts but the decision backfired. McNaught didn't do much wrong in the No. 1 shirt but his team missed his guile and probing out the field. Indeed it was the decision to switch McNaught into a more familiar play-making role that finally got the city men playing but by that stage Glack had a stranglehold they simply refused to give up.

Any Pearses comeback would have been harsh on a Glack 15 that controlled the majority of the game, Cormac Boyle, Marty McGonigle and Adam O'Kane excellent throughout.

Former Down minor player, Boyle, dictated proceedings from a deep role, winning more than his fair share of ball against Caolan Doyle and Paul Quigley while Pearses struggled to cope with McGonigle's strong running game all afternoon. Inside, O'Kane was a non-stop ball of energy who won countless frees and was always available for a pass. Indeed, it wasn't until Pearses switched Davy Officer - making his full championship debut - to mark him that O'Kane's influence was curtailed.

Officer's performance was a real bright spot for Trasna while another young player making his full debut, Tom Mooney, did enough to suggest there are good things to come in the Trasna shirt. Gavin Kelly in the centre-half back role was probably his side's best player alongside Dee McGee but the frustration for Trasna was that both Colin Murray and Eoghan Quigg's influence was largely negated by a hard working Glack back line.

Glack's ability to break was crucial and with barely enough men for the starting 15, it was understandable they tired late on but they had too much mobility for Pearses with their off the ball movement causing Trasna problems all afternoon.

It was five minutes before either side troubled the scoreboard, Ryan Morgan finally splitting the posts, but Colin Murray, playing in a more advanced role than of late, levelled with a well hit free.

Niall McGowan showed his prowess from placed ball minutes later but McGee brought Pearses level once more with a lovely score to leave it 0-2 apiece 14 minutes. Thereafter Glack began to take control. Indeed, McGee's point was to be his side's last of an opening half that saw them hit five wides and drop two '45s' short.

In contrast, Glack were efficient in possession, their off the shoulder runners finding too much space in the Pearses rearguard as Adam O'Kane (2), Jimmy O'Connor and McGowan scoring to give their side a richly deserved 0-6 to 0-2 interval lead.

Pearses started the second period with greater intensity as McNaught sauntered up from nets to score a nice free but Glack composed themselves once more with McGonigle's strong running out of defence constantly getting his side out of trouble and up the pitch.

Liam O'Brien and Aaron Moore stretched the lead to five points before Jimmy O'Connor, who never stopped running all afternoon, made it 0-9 to 0-3 on 40 minutes and there seemed no way back for Trasna.

Good work from Mooney teed up Michael Philson for a lovely score but it was the introduction of Dee Starrett and Niall Callan's switch with Michael McNaught that finally sparked Pearses into life.

Within 60 seconds of the changes, McNaught had scored himself a free while setting up Starrett for a fantastic effort from range. Suddenly Glack were on the ropes and Pearses motoring and only three behind. If anything the second half water break fell perfectly for the O'Connor's in that sense, immediately halting Trasna's growing momentum at a crucial juncture but Glack had earned that slice of luck.

Upon the restart, Glack had gathered their resources and showed their resolved with Niall McGowan and Ryan Morgan both hitting frees to re-establish a five point advantage at 0-11 to 0-6 with 10 minutes to go.

Trasna weren't finished though, McGee's second point of the afternoon being following by an audacious left footed score from Paul Quigley that left three between them once more and nerves showing on both sides but none from Starrett.

A move initiated by great defensive work from Tomas McCrossan and McGee ended with an over hit pass by-passing Murray but falling perfectly into the path of Starrett who had ghosted in behind the cover and was able to role a soccer style finished into the net for 1-08 to 0-11 with 57 minutes on the clock.

The odds looked stacked in Pearses' favour but Glack have made a habit of defying predictions. Despite not having made a substitution, there was enough energy to go again with Liam O'Brien's beautiful score edging them back in front right on 60 minutes.

Trasna frustration saw McGee black carded for a trip on Ciaran O'Brien, meaning the city side would finish with 14, but Glack still needed an insurance free Ryan Morgan to seal the deal, especially as Murray responded with a point of his own at the other end. Glack, though, had done enough and while the O'Connor's may not go on to win the Intermediate Championship, if titles were handed out for heart, they wouldn't be far away.

For Pearses, there was only frustration. That final quarter in which they out-scored Glack 1-05 to 0-04 showed what they are capable of but you don't win championship matches in 15 minutes.

Doire Trasna scorers: Colin Murray (0-2, 1f), Dee McGee (0-2), Micheal McNaught (0-2, 2f), Michael Philson (0-1), Dee Starrett (1-1), Paul Quigley (0-1),

Glack scorers: Ryan Morgan (0-3, 1f), Niall McGowan (0-3, 2f), Adam O'Kane (0-3, 1f), Jimmy O'Connor (0-1), Liam O'Brien (0-2), Aaron Moore (0-1),

Doire Trasna: Micheal McNaught, Shane Lyttle, Tomas McCrossan, David Officer, Ciaran McGowan, Gavin Kelly, Darren Coyne, Caolan Doyle, Paul Quigley, Dee McGee, Sean McNaught, Eoghan Quigg, Michael Philson, Colin Murray, Tom Mooney. (Subs) Niall Callan for D Coyne (inj), 7mins; Conall Guille for S Lyttle, 35mins; Dee Starrett for T Mooney, 44mins; Dermot McCrossan for M Philson, 44mins;

Yellow Cards: Sean McNaught, 23mins; S Lyttle, 30mins; Gavin Kelly, 57mins; T McCrossan, 63mins;

Black Cards: D McGee, 61mins.

Wides: 5/1

Glack: James Martin McLaughlin, Ryan O'Kane, Ciaran O'Brien, Jimmy O'Connor, Thomas O'Kane, Luke McLaughlin, Ryan Morgan, Marty McGonigle, Ciaran Carmichael, Niall McGowan, Aaron Moore, Liam O'Brien, Adam O'Kane, Cormac Boyle, Ronan O'Kane. (Subs)

Yellow Card: R O'Kane, 15mins;

Wides: 4/0

Referee: Mervyn McAleese