U21 ‘B’ Football Championship – Quarter-Final
Pic by Neal O’Boyle
Dunloy 1-9 All Saints 2-4 @ Pearse Park, Dunloy
By Brendan McTaggart
Dunloy ground out a two point win over All Saints on Sunday afternoon to reach the last four of the U21 ‘B’ Championship. Played in treacherous conditions, the Cuchullains had to overturn a six point deficit at half time with the visitors to Pearse Park showing in the first half that goals make the difference in knock out football. Despite the Cuchullains having the lion’s share of possession in the opening 30 minutes, a well organised All Saints defence continued to frustrate them while bagging two late majors through Ryan McGarry and Niall Shannon to go into the interval six points up.
The Cuchullains regrouped at half time and were much more clinical after the restart. A goal from tireless midfielder Oisin McPoland in the 40th minute brought them to within touching distance while they controlled the second half to edge past a gallant display from the Ballymena men.
The All Saints men have had a four week break since they were defeated by Moneyglass in the Grading Round and they certainly had some cobwebs to blow off their system in the opening exchanges. Playing into the wind, Dunloy made all the early running with Keelan Molloy and Deaglan Smith pivotal in their attacking play. Content to soak up pressure and try to hit the home side on the break, All Saints reorganised to keep James McConnell and Cormac Lemon free in defence while full forward Ryan McGarry came out to the middle third to bolster an already strong midfield.
Keelan Molloy opened the scoring for the Cuchullains in the fifth minute before centre half forward Cormac Lemon equalised with an effort that he was certainly looking for more from. A high ball into the Cuchullains full back line wasn’t dealt with properly and Lemon pulled the trigger first time but his effort sailed over the bar much to the relief of Frankie Cochrane in the Dunloy goals.
Cuchullains full forward Eoin O’Neill scored his first of three points throughout the match in the 15th minute to restore the Dunloy advantage but All Saints were keeping a hold of the home sides coat tails and refusing to let them get away from them. The Dunloy cause wasn’t helped with some wayward shooting, five of their nine first half wides coming in the opening 10 minutes of the match and the visitors were starting to grow into the tie. A superbly executed free from Shea O’Brien in the 21st minute restored parity to the sides before Eoin O’Neill and O’Brien (free) repeated the fete to leave the sides tied on three points each in the 26th minute.
All Saints were bombarding the Cuchullains full back line with an aerial assault, using the height of O’Brien, Shannon and Carberry to their advantage. It caused concern in the Cuchullains ranks and it was through this ploy that the Ballymena men scored the first goal of the match. O’Brien launching a high ball to the edge of the square but it was Ryan McGarry who rose highest among the waiting group of players to punch the ball to the back of the Dunloy net.
Just two minutes later the All Saints lead was doubled and again it was O’Brien with the assist but this time Niall Shannon with the last touch to give the Saints a 2-3 to 0-3 advantage at the short whistle.
Pics by Neal O’Boyle
It was a harsh lesson for the Cuchullains who looked to be the better side for the majority of the first half. Callum Scullion and Oisin McPoland were just edging Connell Lemon and Luke O’Rawe in midfield although the aerial ability of the All Saints pairing throughout the match was superb in atrocious conditions. In a low scoring match, two goals was a huge advantage and All Saints showed plenty of organisation in the first half that would have suggested they could see out the result. It was going to take a much improved second half performance from the Cuchullains to get back into the championship and they got off to the perfect start in the second half when O’Neill split the posts after barely 20 seconds of the restart.
Eoin Campbell restored the All Saints six point lead in the fifth minute of the second half but that was to be the last time the visitors would register a score in the tie as the Cuchullains took control. The introduction of Anthony Smith to the full forward line allowed Dunloy to bring Captain Conal Cunning further out the pitch where he could have more of an influence on the match. The move proved to be a masterstroke with the Cuchullains scoring their goal through the creativity of Cunning. Cutting through the Saints defence, he lured in the opposition before passing to the on rushing McPoland. The Cuchullains midfielder finished superbly to halve the Saints lead and breathe fresh impetus into the Dunloy challenge.
A brace of points from Keelan Molloy left the minimum between the sides midway through the second half as the heavens opened to worsen the already woeful conditions. It didn’t deter the Dunloy charge though with points from Cunning (two) and Anthony Smith rounding off the scoring for the match.
The Cuchullains win could have been more comfortable but they had late goal bound efforts from Anthony Smith and Cunning saved superbly by Emmett McAllister. It wasn’t enough for the Saints though as Dunloy progress to a semi-final meeting with Portglenone.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Frankie Cochrane; Aaron Crawford; Conor Kinsella; Anton McGrath; Chrissy McMahon; Deaglan Smith; Ciaran Doherty; Oisin McPoland; Callum Scullion; Ryan Elliott; Keelan Molloy; Oran Shivers; Conal Cunning; Eoin O’Neill; Liam McCann
All Saints: Emmett McAllister; Ryan McCann; Aidan O’Connell; Kavan Keenan; James McDonnell; Cormac Lennon; Padhraig Magill; Connell Lemon; Luke O’Rawe; Brendan McDonnell; Michael Carberry; Eoin Campbell; Shea O’Brien; Ryan McGarry; Niall Shannon
SCORERS
Dunloy: Keelan Molloy 0-3 (1 free); Eoin O’Neill 0-3; Oisin McPoland 1-00; Conal Cunning 0-2 (1 free); Anthony Smith 0-1
All Saints: Niall Shannon 1-00; Ryan McGarry 1-00; Shea O’Brien 0-2 (2 frees); Eoin Campbell 0-1; Michael Carberry 0-1
Referee: John Moran (Aldergrove)
Pics by Caoimhe McTaggart and Neal O’Boyle