Mullan inspired Magilligan make Sean Dolan's pay Championship penalty

Magilligan 3-08, Sean Dolan's 1-7

A Collie Mullan inspired Magilligan secured their Junior Championship semi-final spot against a Sean Dolan's side who never managed to translate impressive approach play on to the scoreboard.

Mullan was superb, helping himself to a hat-trick of goals, including the controversial second half penalty which tilted the balance of a tight contest irreparably in favour of St. Aidan's who claimed the victory without ever finding their best form in Craigbane.

By contrast Dolan's badly missed ace marksman, Odhran McKane, who was recovering after being involved in a car accident the previous week. McKane was there to cheer on his team-mates but how Brian O'Donnell must have wished he could have called on his elusive full forward because given the amount of possession Dolan's enjoyed at times, McKane's presence could have made the difference.

The Creggan men were well structured and measured in their build up but never quite carried enough attacking threat against a well marshalled Magilligan defensive unit in which Michael McLaughlin was excellent on the dangerous Kevin Nixon. At the other end, Ryan Watkins was superb for Dolan's but there was no mistaking the man who made the difference in this game, Magilligan's three goal hero, Mullan, whose strong running and clever link play was right out of the top drawer.

Magilligan employed a more direct approach than the city side, James Payne, despite wearing No. 9 on his back, being deployed as a traditional '14' to great effect. Alongside Ethan McLaughlin, Payne's physical power and aerial ability caused havoc every time a long ball went in with Dolan's using at least three different markers to try and thwart his influence. Payne's battling created space for others and no one took advantage quite like Collie Mullan who Dolan's never got to grips with all evening.

For all that though, the game still hinged on what looked a controversial penalty five minutes into the second half and a red card for Dolan's substitute Connor McCloskey.

With the game evenly balanced at 1-06 to 0-6 in St. Aidan's favour, a lightning quick break down the right ended with a superb ball finding Mullan in space at the back post. He steadied himself and, under pressure from arriving Dolan's defenders, fired a decent low shot which Dolan's keeper Ryan McCloskey did well to save with his feet. There were no obvious penalty calls, no protests, but referee Cathal Doherty had spotted a push on Mullan as he shot and pointed to the spot, much to the bemusement of the Dolan's players and management who were enraged.

It looked incredibly soft but whatever the debate over the awarding of the kick, there was no doubt about Mullan's kick, beautifully dispatched to give Magilligan a six point lead that proved cushion enough to take them to the last four.

The game's early exchanges were dominated by Dolan's but they had left their shooting boots at home with four early wides ensuring the first water break arrived with the teams all square at 0-02 apiece, Connor Logue and Payne on target for Magilligan, and Mark O'Kane and Kevin Nixon the Dolan's scorers.

Not for the first time this season though, the water break saw a momentum shift and within two minutes of play restarting Magilligan were 1-5 to 0-02 up.

First Eoin Kelly hit a nice point before Connor Logue's long pass in toward the posts was missed by the Dolan's defence, allowing Mullan to seize on the loose ball and fire home his first goal of the evening. Further scores from Logue and Brian Canning saw the game completely turned on it's head but Dolan's didn't panic.

Instead they responded through two Paul Melaugh frees to close a gap which could have been much closer had they not dropped numerous efforts short or wide. A Payne point rounded off the first half scoring but at 1-06 to 0-5 it was still in the balance.

Kevin Nixon's opening point of the second half left three between them before Mullan's fired home the defining penalty but worse was to follow for Dolan's when Connor McCosker was red carded on 45 minutes, presumably for something said to the referee and with play paused.

Having been moved to full forward, Paul Melaugh did win and convert a Dolan's penalty with seven minutes left to make it 2-07 to 1-07 but Magilligan managed the aerial bombardment expertly until, with three minutes left, Ryan Barr won a Dolan's kick-out and switched play to Payne. As he had been all night, Mullan was off and running and Payne found him, the Magilligan No. 11 showing nerves of steel to finish well and send his side through with something to spare.

For Dolan's, it was an opportunity lost but one largely of their own making, nine wides and numerous efforts short telling a tale of a misfiring attack, but there were positives to build on for next season.

Despite the victory, Magilligan never quite hit top gear which is a good sign in itself. With Payne, and especially Mullan, in this type of form, they won't always have to play well to win because that pair can give any defence problems. They won't be favourites for the semi-final but don't be underestimate them either.

Sean Dolan's scorers: Paul Melaugh (1-3, 1pen, 2f), Mark O'Kane (0-1), Kevin Nixon (0-2), Caolan McCosker (0-1)

Magilligan scorers: Collie Mullan (3-0, 1pen), Connor Logue (0-3, 1f), James Payne (0-2), Eoin Kelly (0-2, 1f), Brian Canning (0-1)

Sean Dolan's: Ryan McCloskey, Ryan Watkins, Darren Logue, Ryan McLaughlin, Kevin Thompson, Mark O'Kane, Gary Fisher, Eamon McGinley, Paul Melaugh, Caolan McCosker, Rory McGurk, Ciaran Fisher, Sean O'Donnell, Gearoid McDermott, Kevin Nixon. (Subs) Sean O'Rourke for M O'Kane (inj), 27mins; Connor McCosker for C Fisher, 46mins; Ryan O'Donnell for R McGurk, 48mins; Brian Houston for E McGinley, 53mins;

Magilligan: Cathal McLaughlin, Michael McLaughlin, Cathal McCrudden, Anthony Doherty, Conor McFeely, Eoin Kelly, Kevin Moran, Tom Mullan, James Payne, Connor Logue, Collie Mullan, Eoin Canning, Ethan McLaughlin, Ryan Barr, Brian Canning. (Sub) James Gaile for E McLaughlin, 45mins; Connor Kelly for E Canning, 53mins;

Referee: Cathal Doherty (Glack)