Mayobridge 3-6, Castleblayney 1-6
ULSTER championship debutantes, Mayobridge made a mockery of their inexperience in this competition with a breathtaking performance against Castleblayney which had all the hallmarks of seasoned campaigners.
The Monaghan champions, not short on Ulster championship experience themselves, had no answer for the ‘Bridge’s incessant brand of attacking football, and with Benny Coulter firing on all cylinders, their could have been no team in Ireland to touch the Sky Blues on Sunday at Clones.
The Mayobridge forward was at the heart of everything for the Down champions. He scored two goals, set up a third for Ronan Sexton and covered every blade of grass on the pitch.
One moment, he was terrorising the Blayney back line and the next he was mopping up at the back. The raw talent of Coulter was evident two years ago when he won a county championship with his club and All Ireland honours with Down minors. But two years down the line, he has matured into a complete player. His robust and frenetic style are blended nicely with an insatiable appetite for scores.
His mental toughness too for such a young player has long been vital for Mayobridge and when he is on top form, as he was on Sunday, there really is no stopping him.
But this was also a fantastic team performance from Jim McCorry’s men. Mickey Linden was quiet, yet effective, Ronan Sexton was as busy as ever and Brendan Grant was once again solidity personified at the back for the’Bridge.
Mayobridge had to be at the top of their game against a Castleblayney who had disposed of the much fancied Enniskillen in the previous round and who, in Declan Loughman, had a veteran of two successful Ulster campaigns in 1986 and 1991.
But as this young Mayobridge side have proven on many occasions this year, they are no respecters of reputations and they savagely ripped Castleblayney’s apart.
However, it took the Sky Blues a while to get going and after Adrian Barry had seen his goal effort saved by the Castleblayney goalkeeper in the third, Declan Loughman opened the scoring for the Monaghan side.
However, Loughman may count himself lucky that he was still on the pitch at that stage having elbowed Mayobridge goalkeeper, Sean Featherstone in the face and escaping with just a yellow card.
Mayobridge spurned another goal chance on the seventh minute when a beautifully placed high ball from Benny Coulter fell to Ronan Sexton. Sexton had got behind the last man, but his shot was straight at the keeper.
The Down champions were still to register a score and Castleblayney doubled their lead when Kieran Tavey knocked over from a 45.
But Glen McMahon got the ball rolling on 13 minutes when he collect from a short 45 from Benny Coulter and whipped the ball over the bar.
From that point, Mayobridge began to take control of the match and a minute later had stormed into the lead with the game’s first goal.
Noel Sexton took a quick free to Ronan Sexton and he found Benny Coulter down the right. Coulter came inside the defender before rattling the ball into the net.
This was high quality football and an example of this was that fact that it took until the 15th minute for the first wide of the game to be struck.
Castleblayney pulled a point back, but Mayobridge’s confidence remained high and captain, Francie Poland almost got in on the scoring act when his high shot almost deceived the keeper.
There was a touch of fortune about Mayobridge’s next score which saw them reopen a two point lead. Eoghan Woods’ ball forward looked to have been dealt with by the Castleblayney defence, but somehow it found its way through to Ronan Sexton and he easily pointed.
Castleblayney gave Mayobridge a fright just before half time when a shot from Dermot McArdle struck the post and fell to Ryan Tracey. But the substitute rushed his shot and somehow blasted wide.
Warning was served and Michael Walsh duly bustled through the ‘Blayney defence to send over another point.
But it was the Monaghan side who finished the half on a high when Jason Hughes fired over from Adrian Irwin pass.
Half time: Mayobridge 1-3 Castleblayney 0-4

The second half took some time to spring to life, but when it did after five minutes, it was well worth the wait as Mayobridge grabbed a truly unforgettable goal.
In undoubtedly the move of the match, Benny Coulter scored his second goal, but this was fantastic example of a team goal. Brendan Rodgers brought the ball out of defence before finding Adrian Barry who had come deep. Barry flicked ball inside to Francie Poland whose drive forward found Mickey Linden. The veteran forward flicked the ball on to Glen McMahon, who, seeing Coulter in space picked him out. Coulter kept his cool as he blasted the ball past the keeper to effectively seal the match.
Despite such a sizeable lead, Mayobridge never stopped tormenting their opponents and their backs never stopped bursting forward.
After 40 minutes, Marty Barry got on the end of a ball from Walsh and wriggled through a couple of tackles before firing over another point.
Adrian Barry added another before Castleblayney grabbed a goal which owed much to an uncharacteristic error from Sean Featherstone.
The Monaghan side enjoyed a spell of pressure after this which saw them fire over another two points, but the result was effectively sealed when Mayobridge grabbed their third goal of the game.
Benny Coulter played a one two with brother, Robbie to create the space for a shot, but instead of pulling the trigger himself, he spotted Ronan Sexton in space and the full forward flicked the pass into the net.
There was still time for Robbie Coulter to get on the score sheet and Michael Walsh to bring a fine save out of the Monaghan keeper, but the scenes of unbridled joy which greeted the final whistle are without precedent in the parish of Mayobridge.
The continue to rewrite their own history and seem to confirm with every match that they are a team that plays with virtually no fear. They will need that in the Ulster final and although this is their first year in the competition, you can bet they will certainly not be overawed by the occasion.

Mayobridge: Sean Featherstone, Darragh Tighe, Brendan Grant, Brendan Rodgers, Marty Barry (0-1), Francie Poland, Noel Sexton, Declan Rooney, Eoghan Woods, Glen McMahon (0-1), Michael Walsh (0-1), Benny Coulter (2-0), Mickey Linden, Ronan Sexton (1-1), Adrian Barry (0-1) Subs: Enda McConville, Robbie Coulter (for G McMahon, 52 mins) (0-1), Gavin Barry, Paul O’Hare (for Linden, 60 mins), Kieran O’Hare, Aidan O’Hare, Ronan O’Hare, Shane McMahon (for Woods, 52 mins), Liam Coulter