Antrim Minor ‘B’ Football Championship
Final
Aldergrove 3-10 Dunloy 1-14
Saturday October 14
By Brendan McTaggart
An inspired performance from corner forward Conor Morris helped Aldergrove to overcome Dunloy to claim the ‘B’ championship in Ahoghill on Saturday evening. The St James’ man would finish the match with 1-5 to his name as Aldergrove overcome a late fightback against the Cuchullains to claim the honours.
Despite playing for over 35 minutes down to 14 men after star midfielder Deaglan Smith was sent off and trailing by six points with 12 minutes remaining, the Cuchullains fought back and with one minute of the match remaining just the minimum separated the sides. Aldergrove’s nerves were eased when substitute Aaron O’Connor sent a ’45 sailing over the bar with the last kick of the game to give his side a two point victory and spark wild scenes of celebrations from his side.
The Cuchullains started the final as favourites but it was Aldergrove’s ability to score goals at vital times that proved to be the difference. Morris bagged the first goal of the game in just the second minute of the match in response to Deaglan Smith’s opening score. Matthew Donnelly with the initial shot and despite the best efforts of Dunloy ‘keeper Padraig McGilligan, Morris latched onto the rebound and found the back of the net.
Dunloy were looking the busier of the two sides in the opening exchanges and when Sean O’Neill found the back of Ryan McCarthy’s net in the sixth minute, it looked to have rocked the Aldergrove men. Not so. They scored their second goal of the contest in the 10th minute, Donnelly this time beating McGilligan to leave the score 2-00 to 1-1.
The Cuchullains never panicked and continued to dominate but their lack of accuracy in front of the target was hurting their momentum and keeping Aldergrove in the contest. Dunloy would hit a total of nine wides in the opening half while the St James’ men were much more clinical and efficient in attack.
Liam McCann scored his first point of the match after strong work from Deaglan Smith to reduce the deficit to the minimum but a brace of points from Morris frees in the 16th and 18th minutes gave Aldergrove their first white flags of the afternoon and settle them into the final.
Daithi McGuigan and Morris (free) exchanged points in the 20th minute to leave three points between the sides as the final took a dramatic twist. Influential midfielder Deaglan Smith was sent off for what referee Conal Roberts deemed as a deliberate stamp on an opponent. It looked a dubious decision from the man in the middle but he was alerted to the incident by his linesman and despite the protestations of the Cuchullain bench, Smith’s final was ended.
Anthony Smith scored his first point of the final before Donnelly added to his earlier goal when he split the posts with the last kick of the half to leave three points between the sides.
The Cuchullains regrouped at half time and started the second half superbly. Points from Anthony Smith and Liam McCann reduced the deficit to the minimum but again Aldergrove hit back with another major. Morris the creator and Donnelly with the finish for his second goal of the final. The pass from Morris was superb and split the Cuchullain defence open while Donnelly’s finish was emphatic. It took the wind out of the Dunloy fightback and a brace of points from Morris and Gary Duffy opened up a six point lead with just eight minutes of the second half played.
Two McCann frees for the Cuchullains came either side of white flags from Morris and Masterson but Aldergrove always looked in control. Dunloy were throwing caution to the wind in search of the scores that would bring them back into the final while the St James’ men were looking hugely dangerous on the counter attack.
The Cuchullains to their credit found a second wind and with Callum Smith, Anton McGrath and Sean O’Neill instrumental, they fought their way back. Two Anthony Smith frees and an Eoghan McGrath point brought the Cuchullains to within three points once again and despite Masterson scoring his second point of the match, the Cuchullains remained on the charge.
Two further McCann frees in injury time left two between the sides when the Cuchullains had a glorious opportunity to bag their second major of the final. As they attacked a packed Aldergrove defence, the ball fell loose to Eoin McMullan. The Dunloy defender’s effort was drilled but went over the bar in the fourth minute of injury time.
Aldergrove breathed a sigh of relief and with the very next attack they were awarded a penalty. Morris’ effort cannoned off the crossbar and despite being first to the rebound, Dunloy ‘keeper McGilligan dived bravely at his feet to deny a certain goal. O’Connor pointed the resulting ’45 with what turned out to be the last kick of the game to give Aldergrove a two point win and ensure that the ‘B’ Championship would be heading to the St James’ men for 2017.
TEAMS
Aldergrove: Ryan McCarthy; Corey Fogarty; Emmett Irvine; Anthony Brown; Declan Gough; Odhran Creaney; Adrian Mulholland; Oisin Graham; Fearghal Hanna; Matthew Donnelly; Caoimhin McConnell; Michael Smart; Conor Morris; Gary Duffy; Owen Masterson
Dunloy: Padraig McGilligan; John Dixon; Paddy Kinsella; Oisin McErlain; Anton McGrath; Aaron Crawford; Eoin McMullan; Callum Scullion; Deaglan Smith; Eoghan McGrath; Liam McCann; Sean O’Neill; Daire Crawley; Anthony Smith; Daithi McGuigan
SCORERS
Aldergrove: Conor Morris 1-5 (4 frees); Matthew Donnelly 2-1; Owen Masterson 0-2; Gary Duffy 0-1; Aaron O’Connor 0-1 (1 ’45)
Dunloy: Liam McCann 0-6 (4 frees); Anthony Smith 0-4 (3 frees); Sean O’Neill 1-00; Eoin McMullan 0-1; Deaglan Smith 0-1; Eoghan McGrath 0-1; Daithi McGuigan
.Referee: Conal Roberts (St John’s)
