Wolfe Tones Bellaghy (0.17) Roger Casements Portglenone (1.8)

Both Division One teams from neighbouring Counties served up an entertaining game of football before a large crowd in windswept but excellent ground conditions at Casement’s new showpiece pitch.  The honours fell squarely to the Wolfe Tones side, with a tally of 17 points from 10 different scorers.  They racked up a good first half score of 12 points with a sharp breeze in their backs.  Casements would have liked to have a full squad available but two of their key players, the two Nialls were on County duty in Belfast.   A late Casement’s rally culminating with an excellent Dermot McAleese goal kept the game alive to the end.

Midfielder Paddy Kelly kicked the first score of the game for Casements in the first minute after receiving an excellent pass from Ryan Convery.  However, Bellaghy forwards racked up 5 points without reply with scores from Damon Gallagher, Christopher McAfee, Christopher Downey, Eoghan Brown and Ruairi McIlwee.  There followed an exchange of scores from Brown and Downey (Bellaghy( and 2 Ronan Kelly frees (Portglenone) before the Bellaghy side enjoyed another purple patch with further points without reply from McIlwee, Declan Cassidy, Conor Quinn and Peter Stuart.  Two further Casement’s points from the 2 Kellys Paddy and Ronan and a late Declan Cassidy point left the half-time score 0.12 to 0.5 in favour of the Bellaghy side.

With wind assistance the home side hoped for better times after the re-start but this was not what Bellaghy had in mind.  Bellaghy piled on further pressure with two quick points from Eoghan Brown and Peter Cassidy before the home team settled down scoring three quick points in reply from forwards Ronan and Paddy Kelly and Dermot McAleese.  Bellaghy responded quickly nailing on points from Peter Stuart, Chris Diamond and Damon Gallagher.  Corner-forward Dermot McAleese scored a consolation goal with five minutes remaining.

Wolfe Tones will be very satisfied with this high scoring victory in this Section C opener in the Winter League.  It was an excellent overall team performance, but best served by Peter Stuart, Ruairi McElwee, Damon Gallagher, Conor Quinnand Eoghan Brown.  Paddy Kelly, Ronan Kelly, Ryan and Johny Convery battled hard for Casements.

Teams and Scorers:

Bellaghy: Brendan Diamond, Peter Stuart (0.2), Gerard O’Neill, Jack McErlean, Declan Cassidy (0.2), Declan Brown, Ryan Lee, Ryan McNally, Peter Cassidy (0.1), Christopher McAfee (0.1), Eoghan Brown (0.3), Conor Quinn (0.2), Damon Gallagher (0.2), Ruairi McElwee (0.2) and Christopher Downey (0.2).

Casements: Ryan O.Neill, Ryan McGuigan, Johnny Convery, Ronan Delargy, Stephen Kelly, Michael Kelly, Ryan Convery, Corey McLaughlin, Shane Delargy, Dermot McAleese (1.1), Gerard McAleese, Mark Graham, Michael Hagan, Ronan Kelly (0.4) and Paddy Kelly (0.3).

Referee: Mr. Cathal Forbes (Tyrone)