by Aimee McAtamney
All county Football League Division 2
Tir na nOg 0-15 All Saints 1-10
On a fine, dry evening in Whitehill, spectators at tonight’s division two league clash between Tír na nÓg and Ballymena witnessed a fast flowing, eventful game of football which eventually seen the hosts come out on top.
Ciaran Dobbin hit the target first before Paddy McAleer spilt the posts after six minutes to draw the visitors level. The blues then went on to hit 4 unanswered points through Kevin Coogan, Pearse Sheerin and two from Christy Sheerin to give themselves a good foothold in the game.
Ciaran Shannon hit back for All Saints after 25mins and as the Ballymena men hit a purple patch they registered further scores through Michael McCarry and Ciaran McLarnon to close the game to 0.5 to 0.4. Tír na nÓg finished the half stronger with points from Christy Sheerin (after a 1-2 movement up the field along with brother Pearse) and Darren McCormick also got himself on the scoresheet to give the home side a three point cushion at the break.
Eoin Campbell struck first for the Saints in the second half narrowing the gap to 2 points and things remained tight before Sean McVeigh broke through a well-structured Tír na nÓg defence to hit a lovely point with the outside of his right boot and cut the gap to the minimum. Three minutes later Ciaran Dobbin took a shot on goal which keeper McAllister saved, only to see Kevin Coogan volley the rebound over the bar. McVeigh drove forward again to cut the home sides lead back to 2 before Ciaran Logan and full back Colm Duffin pointed for the blues. The game remained nip and tuck as Eoin Campbell sent the ball over the black spot and Barney Logan broke the resulting kick-out to mid field partner McVeigh who sent McClarnon through on goal and he made not mistake as he hit the back of the home team’s net to bring the game level after 48mins.
The Sheerin brothers responded well with a point from play from Pearse and a free from Christy to go two clear and they went 3 ahead shortly afterwards with a score from Kevin Coogan. The Saints weren’t finished yet and McClarnon and McCarry struck back with points to cut the gap to the minimum, but with the game hanging in the balance, Christy Sheerin stepped up to swing a point over with his right foot.
Despite losing Paddy McAleer to a red card Ballymena went mounted a last gasp attack, Pearse Sheerin was forced to bring down Eoin Campbell which seen him pick up a black card. The Whitehill men lined the goal mouth and the resulting free went wide to the relief of the home side. which allowed Tír na nÓg to hold on for a 2 point victory and 2 more valuable league points.
Tír na nÓg
- M. Dempsey 2. B. Magee 3. Colm Duffin 4. D. Martin 5. S.Redmond 6. Caoimhin Duffin 7. C. Logan 8. D. O’Kane 9. P. Sheerin 10. Sean Duffin 11. C. McKeown 12. C. Sheerin 13. K. Coogan 14. C. Dobbin 15. K. Sheerin 16. SP McAtamney 17. D. McCormick 18. D. Mallon 19. N. O’Connor 20. D. Fegan
Scorers: C. Sheerin (0.5- 1 free), K. Coogan (0.3), P. Sheerin (0.2), C. Dobbin (0.2), C. Logan (0.1), D. McCormick (0.1), Colm Duffin (0.1)
Subs:D. McCormick for D. O’Kane (20mins), D. Mallon for C. Logan (50mins), D. Fegan for P. Sheerin (62mins)