GList: Ulster Club scorers supreme

Shaun Casey chronicles the footballers who lit up the scoring charts in the Ulster Senior Club Championship this season…

Danny Tallon (Glen) 1-10

WHAT a year it has been for Glen and for Danny Tallon as they reached the pinnacle of provincial football and wrestled the Seamus McFerran Cup from the grasps of Kilcoo. Tallon top scored in two of Glen’s three outings, including his 0-5 tally in the Ulster final. The Watty Graham’s sharpshooter bagged the all-important late three-pointer from the penalty spot in the semi-final against Cargin that secured their place in the decider, bringing his haul to 1-4 and also hit 0-1 against Errigal Ciaran.

Paul Devlin (Kilcoo) 0-10

DEVLIN was Kilcoo’s main marksman in the Ulster Championship, but he’ll likely remember his campaign for the one he missed. Devlin rattled the post from a spot kick in the final against Glen just before the half time whistle sounded, which would have given Kilcoo the lead. The Magpie’s attacking ace chipped in with 0-2 in the final while Devlin also claimed 0-4 in both their wins over Ballybay and Enniskillen Gaels.

Alex Doherty (Glen) 2-2

DOHERTY will probably never score a more important goal than the one he powered home last weekend at the Athletic Grounds. It was the icing on the cake and the final nail in the Kilcoo coffin as Malachy O’Rourke’s side were finally crowned Ulster champions. Doherty also hit the net when Glen saw off Errigal Ciaran at the quarter final stage and finished that game with 1-1 while he also split the posts against Cargin.

Shane McGuinness (Ballybay) 2-2

HE Bagged two goals in Ballybay’s two Ulster outings against Crossmaglen and Kilcoo. McGuinness rattled the net from the penalty spot as the Monaghan champions dismissed the Rangers in the opening round with a superb performance and followed that up with another goal against the All-Ireland champions in the quarter final. McGuinness finished the campaign as Ballybay’s top scorer with 2-2..

Conor Love (Enniskillen Gaels) 0-8

LOVE was the Enniskillen Gaels main man as they reached the last four of the Ulster Championship before crashing out to a superior Kilcoo. Love fired over 0-7 in the opening round win over Gowna and also found the target in the shootout, which Enniskillen Gaels won 5-3. Love was held to 0-1 in the semi-final against the Magpies as the Gaels were overrun on the night.

Aaron Branagan (Kilcoo) 1-4

BRANAGAN’S goal against Glen offered Kilcoo a huge lifeline and got them back into the game when the Derry side were rampant. Branagan enjoyed a good Ulster final performance and he top scored for his team on the day with 1-1. The Kilcoo defender scored in all three of Kilcoo’s provincial outings, with 0-2 coming in the opening round against Ballybay and 0-1 in the semi-final against Enniskillen Gaels.

Eoin Beacom (Enninskillen) 1-4

THE Gaels will surely regret not starting Beacom against Kilcoo at the last four stage as he really impressed once he appeared from the bench just after the half time interval. Beacom added a real physical presence for the Fermanagh team and seriously improved their performance. Beacom hit 1-3 in that second half and also clipped over a point as Enniskillen Gaels saw off Gowna in the opening round.

Shealan Johnston (Kilcoo) 2-1

JOHNSTON’S two early goals in the semi-final against Enniskillen Gaels fired Kilcoo into an uncatchable lead and ultimately put the result out of reach for the Fermanagh men before the half time break. Johnston top scored for the Magpies in the game and finished with 2-1 to his name as Kilcoo booked their spot in another Ulster final.

ON TARGET…Tommy Canavan had a fine game against Glen

Tommy Canavan (Errigal Ciaran) 1-3

ERRIGAL Ciaran may only have featured in one game in the Ulster Championship, but they gave a memorable performance against eventual winners Glen in the opening round. The Errigal captain Tommy Canavan netted in the first half as the Tyrone champions headed into the break four points to the good. Glen came back to win the match, but Canavan top scored with 1-3.

Paul Finlay (Ballybay) 0-6

PAUL Finlay proved that class is permanent as he performed brilliantly for Ballybay and even picked up the man of the match award in their preliminary round win over Crossmaglen. Finlay worked extremely hard that evening but was at his accurate best in front of the posts, hitting the target on four occasions.

The former Monaghan sharpshooter chipped in with 0-2 as Ballybay fell to Kilcoo at the quarter final juncture.

Emmet Bradley (Glen) 0-6

GLEN’S towering midfielder was as consistent on the scoresheet as he was on the field of play as he ended each game with 0-2 chalked down beside his name.

Bradley raised two white flags as Watty Graham’s saw off Errigal Ciaran in the first round and recorded the same score in the semi-final against Antrim side Cargin.

On the biggest day in Glen’s history, Bradley once again shone and did so with another 0-2 against Kilcoo.