Ulster club football league
St Colm’s Ballinascreen 2-12 Casement’s Portglenone 0-06
A Benny Herron inspired Ballinascreen proved a bit too strong for a young and inexperienced Casement’s side when the Portglenone men travelled to the foot of the Sperrins to cross swords with the Derry side in the 5th round of the Ulster Club league on Sunday.
The Bannsider’s, following an excellent win over Glenavy in the O’ Cahan cup in a mid-week floodlit affair travelled without a number of regular first team players and in the event did as well as expected up against a top senior side in the Oak Leaf county.
The home side’s Benny Heron caused problems a plenty for Jude Donnelly’s men from the outset as the ‘Screen aided by the breeze started in confidence and had four points on the board by the end of the 10th minute.
The Corner forward, who had played a part in the Oak Leaf side’s National League assignment the previous evening was first to every delivery which came his way and had raised three of the opening white flags and had played a part in Barry Grant’s 6th minute score.
Left: Dermot McAleese sends over Portglenone’s opening point. Right: Portglenone keeper, Ryan O’Neill dives but is unable to prevent Benny Herron’s opening goal.
Casement’s facing a stiff swirling breeze had come close to opening account in the opening phase but both Paddy Kelly and youngster Ronan Kelly had been foiled by the elements in respective opportunities and it was only after Benny Herron’s fourth point in the 16th minute that Dermot McAleese followed suit at the other end a couple of minutes thereafter.
The center-back, who was his side’s outstanding performer, had strode forward to finish from long range but the home side were quick to posts reply in kind via the ever accurate Herron and the Oak Leaf side were 0-06 to 0-01 ahead at the 20th minute.
As the Bannsider’s struggled to make inroads the home side continued to dominate the remainder of the first period with ever busy Benny Herron leading the charge and after he dispatched a couple of free kicks between the uprights he nipped away on the right to receive from full forward Alistar Scullion to forward to the back of the net.
The home side completed the opening period with a 1-08 to 0-01 advantage and although the Bannsider’s were to be favoured by the elements in the second portion a way back looked difficult.
The Portglenone men did start in the second period on the offensive but despite a couple of good approaches the posts continued to prove elusive and it was to be the home side who were to be first to register via Benny Herron.
Left: Conor McGovern finishes to the visitors net for Ballinascreen’s second goal. Right: Benny Herron who was superb for the winners.
A well devised offensive had employed several in approach before Alistar Scullion was fouled within sight of the posts and the resultant award was directed between the posts by the ever accurate corner forward.
Casement’s were on the board in the second period as Paddy Kelly stepped forward to fully punish an indiscretion on the advancing Dermot Mc Aleese with a pointed free as consolation and the Antrim men looked on the way to another score shortly thereafter as Conal Delargy looked in on the target.
A good approach initiated by Jonny Convery away at the back, which employed several in transit had opened the way for the corner forward who seemed to have been halted illegally in sight of the target and the movement went for naught.
The Bannsider’s looked to regain composure but were off target with a couple more openings in turn and when the home side added a couple more points via replacement Conor Mc Govern the die was cast -and a come-back for the Ports looked unlikely.
The Bannsider’s added a couple more points following strong approach as centre-back Dermot McAleese led the way forward and Paddy Kelly raised back to back white flags but when the home side added a second major the end was nigh.
Late replacement Conor Mc Govern, who was lively since introduction was on the end of a well-directed Ronan Devlin cross to punch to the back of the net and that was certainly that.
Ronan Kelly and Alistar Scullion swapped scores in the latter stages, but the issue had been long since resolved at that juncture and at the long blast the home side had long since resided in the comfort zone and crossing the line at 2-12 to 0-06 they had the points in safe keeping.
The Casement’s men have been working hard in their preseason activity and although much second best in this one they will not travel home shrouded in despondency as this is a work in progress and the youth based Portglenone men will gain from the experience.
Referee C Forbes (Tir Eoghain)
Teams
Casement’s: Ryan O’ Neill, Ryan Mc Guigan, Jonny Convery, Michael Kelly, Ronan Delargy, Dermot Mc Aleese (0-01), Shane Delargy, BJ Donnelly, Paddy Kelly (0-04), Gerard Mc Aleese, Ciaran Mc Kenna, Michael Hagan, Coary Mc Laughlin, Ronan Kelly (0-01), Conal Delargy.
Subs
Adrian Kearney for M Kelly
Stephen Kelly for BJ Donnelly
Conor Magee for R Delargy
Patrick Graffin for C Mc Laughlin
Ballinascreen: Ryan Scullion, Aaron Bradley, Michael Mc Shane, Aaron Mc Bride, Ronan Devlin, Dermot Mc Bride, Alistar Clarke, Sean Woods, Paul Burns, Sean Brunton, Barry Grant (0-01), Sean Doyle, Benny Herron (1-08), Alistar Scullion (0-01), Philip Bradley.
Subs
Antoine Kelly for A Scullion
Conor Mc Govern (1-02) for S Woods