ACFL Division 1
Erin’s Own Cargin 3-12 St John’s 0-09
Cargin retained their winning habit with a 3-12 to 0-09 victory over the visiting St John’s at a windy Shore road venue on Wednesday evening last.
Ronan Devlin’s charges concluded with a 12 point winning margin over their visitors but in the event they were slightly flattered by the final scoreline.
The Johnnies started with the stiff northerly breeze behind them in the opening half and although the West Belfast side arrived at Toome in the role of outsiders they began in a positive mode and had raised four white flags without reply in the opening phase.
The Toome men were hampered by the gusty elements in the early stages with the target proving elusive as was the distribution of the ball and they failed to give work to the scoreboard attendant for the first quarter in which their bye ball total was increasing.
St John’s were quick to close them down in the early stages and with Conal Mc Glade, Ronan Quinn, impressing they had four points on board without reply in the first quarter.
Cargin opened their account through Conhuir Johnston at the start of the second quarter and came strong in the latter stages but the Whiterock men maintained advantage at the short whistle as they led 0-06 to 0-04.
Cargin started the second half aided by the elements and Michael Mc Cann got them on their way with back to back points in the opening minutes and when his sibling Tomas and Tom Shivers added a couple more, the Toome men had nipped into the lead.
As the second half progressed the home Cargin began to get on top and a foul on David Johnston was suitably punished as Pat Shivers delivered the free between to posts and when Tomas Mc Cann was fouled, a few minutes later the big mid-fielder followed suit.
St. John’s were still battling hard with replacement Anto Press looking strong on the counter attack and a foul on the Johnnies substitute in the 44th minute opened the way for Connor Adams to deliver the free kick between the posts to open the visitors second half account.
As the game entered the last quarter the home side began to dominate withGerard Mc Cann excellent under the high ball but the visitors were not finished and a foul on the advancing Press was punished when Andy Mc Gowan delivered the awarded free between the posts.
The home side held a five points lead at this stage but they turned the screw in the closing stages as the visitors finally yielded to the constant pressure.
A Michael Mc Cann, Callum Gribbin combination opened the way for Tomas Mc Cann to find the net in the 55th minute, and Michael McCann again opened the door for the nimble centre forward to beat net minder Eoghan Ruadh Lambert from close range.
The result was not in doubt as the game progressed towards conclusion but after the visitors had claimed a 58th minute point via Conal Mc Glade’ the resultant kick out was gathered by replacement Sean Og Quinn who placed Tom Shivers to finish to the net.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-01), James Laverty, Kevin Mc Shane, Hugh O’ Donnell, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Conan Johnston, Pat Shivers (0-02), Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann 2-02), John Carron, Conhuir Johnston (0-01), Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Tom Shivers (1-03)
Subs
Callum Gribbin
Sean og Quinn
Cahir Donnelly
St John’s: Eoghan Rua Lambert, Daire King, Ronan Quinn, Matthew Mallon, Josh Robb, Conor Mc Evoy, David Mc Garrity, Andy Mc Gowan (0-01), Conal Mc Glade (0-04), Enda Mc gurk, Connor Adams (Adams), Stephen Tierney, Darragh McCallin, Luke Peden
Subs: Anto Press
Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)