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Mayobridge through to Ulster Final

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Monday, November 22, 2004
Mayobridge.......2-7 Carrickmore...0-11

Down champions overcame the loss of player-manager Mickey Linden to edge out Carrickmore in a hard-fought Ulster club football semi-final at Casement Park on Sunday, November 21.

The evergreen Linden failed to reappear for the second half after damaging his groin and is facing a race against time to be fit for next Sunday’s provincial decider against Crossmaglen. Carrickmore were also dealt a major blow when Brian Gormley was stretchered off just before the interval.

Linden opened the scoring after 35 seconds and further scores from John Quinn, Robbie Coulter and Brendan Grant helped Mayobridge to a commanding lead before Mark Donnelly, Michael Gallagher and Gormley replied with points for the Tyrone champions.

The situation looked bleak for Carrickmore seven minutes after the restart when Benny Coulter blasted to the net to give Mayobridge a 2-6 to 0-4 lead. The Down side’s first goal had come after 22 minutes courtesy of Coulter’s brother Robbie.

Carrickmore, however, regrouped and started to find their range. When Fionnbar Magill hit points in the 52nd and 54th minutes and captain Peter Loughran fired over another point two minutes later, only a goal separated the teams. But Coulter popped again to ease the pressure on Mayobridge and they held on to reach their first final since 2001.