Ciaran Dobbin who was in excellent form for Tir na nOg as they overcame All Saints in the O’Cahan Cup at Allen Park on Sunday.
O’ Cahan Cup preliminary round)
Tir na Nog Impress in O’ Cahan Cup Win
Tir na Nog 3-11 All Saint’s 0-12
Goals win games is the old adage often applied and once again it proved quite correct in forecast as three majors, dispatched in turn by Ciaran Dobbin and Peter Cullen (2), proved the key to success as Tir na Nog gained victory over All Saint’s Ballymena in the opening round of the O’ Cahan Cup competition.
‘Will o’ the Wisp’ corner forward Dobbin who proved a thorn in the side of the All Saint’s rear guard from outset to conclusion danced across the slippery Allen Park surface leaving several defenders trailing in his majestic wake to grab a stunning 35th minute goal and when Peter Cullen provided another couple with ten minutes remaining the die was well cast.
The youthful Randalstown side did possibly enter the fray as the lesser fancied combination but Damien ‘Scotchy’ Hagan’s charges which included a good proportion of the side which had tasted under-21 success at the end of 2017 started positively splitting the posts a couple of times in the opening two minutes and were not to be headed thereafter.
A Ciaran Mc Keown point less than a minute into proceedings saw the Whitehill boys quickly open account and when flame haired Christy Sheerin added another just a minute later the Randalstown Blues had signalled intent.
The game had been switched to the 4g Council facility on the Allen Park complex at Antrim, a good move in view of the conditions as heavy rain continue throughout the day.
After taking a time to adjust the Ballymena men were on the board as Shay O’ Brien clipped the leather over the bar in the 9th minute but with Christy Sheerin and Barry Mc Cormick gaining supremacy in the central zone the Whitehill side went forward with purpose.
Despite a plentiful supply of the leather the Randalstown side were finding the posts as quite elusive but after several wides in succession as Ciaran Dobbin, Ciaran Logan and Colm Duffin were wide of the target from respective opportunities a timely intervention at the other end from Barry Magee and a fine block which thwarted an All Saint’s approach paved the way for a second Christy Sheerin point.
The next phase of the game proved end to end stuff as Michael McCarry’s pointed free in the Ballymena cause was answered in kind at the other end as Ciaran Dobbin raised white from a similar award but when Emmett Killough sent a long range effort between the posts just a point separated the sides, at 0-04 to 0-03.
Tir na Nog did regain composure in the latter stages of the opening period and although forced into change when influential centre forward Ciaran McKeown suffered a knee injury to be replaced by Sean Redmond they did retain shape and back to back points from Peter Cullen and Aidan Toland saw them three ahead.
All Saint’s returned fire in the latter stages as Emmett Killough and Shay O’ Brien supplied points apiece but the Whitehill side had the last say on the scoring matter as a 31st minute Ciaran Logan point saw them take respite with a 0-07 to 0-05 interval lead.
The second period commenced as the opening portion had concluded with the Randalstown men on the offensive and a 32nd minute point provided by Aidan Toland following a Barry McCormick inspired offensive and a Ciaran Dobbin approach.
The All Saint’s net-minder had done well to deflect a shot on target from the full forward, but Toland was quick to gather the rebound and return post haste between the posts.
All Saint’s went looking at the other end from the resultant kick out but the Tir na Nog defence which proved resolute throughout stood firm again and a good clearance directed to the ever available Ciaran Dobbin saw the youngster collect on the right hand side before nipping in on the target evading attention in the process to plant the leather in the back of the net.
An exquisite score worthy of any stadium to take the Whitehill boys into a 1-08 to 0-05 lead.
All Saint’s tried to regain composure and indeed a 38th minute pointed free from the ever accurate Michael McCarry and a superb follow up in kind from Paddy McAleer a few minutes later made suggestion that the Ballymena men were back in business.
A fine Paddy Mc Aleer approach which ended when the centre back was illegally halted in progress saw Michael Mc Carry point the resultant free in response to a Barry Mc Cormick point at the other end but the next minutes saw the Randalstown side move ever closer to the quarter finals.
Ciaran Dobbin nipped away from his marker to add another point to the Tir na Nog total and when a smart Darren Mc Cormick delivery sent Peter Cullen away on the left hand side to evade the challenges provided by a couple of All Saint’s defenders before planting the ball in the back of the net the score ensured a 2-11 to 0-08 advantage and the die looked cast.
All Saint’s inspired by the efforts of the elegant Paddy McAleer tried to stage a comeback as the centre back made eye catching approach to split the posts in stylish conclusion and then when he made supply to open the way for Cavan Keenan to add another a chink of light may well have been perceived.
Tir na Nog were not about to make further concession however and Darren Mc Cormick’s intervention sent Peter Cullen away for a second goal and the wing half forward’s strike opened up a 3-11 to 0-10 lead and only the eternal optimist would make suggestion as to an All Saint’s recovery.
The Ballymena men battled to the end however and although rewarded for their endeavours with late points supplied in turn by Michael McCarry and Sean Mc Veigh such were in consolation as the long blast signalled a place in the quarter finals for Tir na Nog against either Casement’s or Glenavy as they breasted the winning line full value for a 3-11 to 0-12 winning score-line.
Tir na Nog: Sean Paul Mc Atamney, Barry Magee, Colm Duffin, Kevin Mc Cann, Ciaran Logan (0-01), Darren Mc Cormick, Caomhinn Duffin, Barry Mc Cormick (0-01), Christy Sheerin (0-02), Kevin Kerr, Ciaran Mc Keown (0-01), Peter Cullen (2-01), Malachy Duffin, Aidan Toland (0-02), Ciaran Dobbin (1-02)
Sean Redmond (0-02) for C McKeown (inj)
All Saint’s: Emmett Mc Allister, James Gillan, Ronan Ward, Rhys O’ Mullan, Conal Lemmon, Paddy Mc Aleer (0-02), Joe Rafferty, Sean Mc Veigh (0-01), Emmett Killough (0-02), Brendan Mc Donald, Michael McCarry (0-04), Cavan Keenan (0-01), Joe Rocks, Ciaran Shannon, Shea O’ Brien (0-02)
Referee M Park (St Enda’s)