Naomh Conaill 2-12 Clonibret 0-9;A GOAL from Leon Thompson midway through the second half put Naomh Conaill through to their first ever club semi-final against a disappointing Clontibret in Ballybofey.

The Donegal side were slow out of the blocks but were denied three goals in the opening half, one of them from the penalty spot, with Paul McElroy saving from Anthony Thompson.

A late scoring burst saw them lead 0-7 to 0-5 at the break and they doubled that lead within a minute of the restart.

Conor McManus proved the main threat for Clontibret and he got his side back within a point, but a mistake by Martin Corey allowed Leon Thompson the chance to fire home the opening goal on 44 minutes.

After that Naomh Conaill never looked back, with Dermot Molloy and Brendan McDyre leading the way before Molloy fired home the second goal in the final minute.

Leon Thompson was impressive from the start for the winners, while Dara Gallagher was twice denied goals by McElroy’s saves in the first half.

Anthony Thompson again led by example for Naomh Conaill, who now face Coalisland in the semi-final, which will pit their manager, Cathal Corey, against a club from his own county.

NAOMH CONAILL: S McGrath; T Donoghue, J Bonner, C Boyle; M Boyle, A Thompson, E Waide (0-1); M Regan, J McLoone (0-1); B McDyre, L McLoone (0-1), D Gallagher (0-1, free); J O’Malley, D Molloy (1-5, two frees, one 45), L Thompson (1-3). Subs: S Corcoran for O’Malley (54 mins) D Bonner for Boyle and C McNelis for L Thompson (59)

CLONTIBRET: P McElroy; C Duffy, C Greenan, M Corey; D Mooney, JP Mone, C Boyle; P McGuigan, E Greenan; A Rooney (0-1), R Gorman, D Mone; F Mone, V Corey (0-1), C McManus(0-7, five frees). Subs: D Savage for C Greenan (29 mins), P Boyle for Savage (43), O McGuigan for Gorman, S Mulligan for F Mone (both 59).

Referee: M Sludden (Tyrone).