By Kevin Herron at St. Mary’s CBGS
The South Antrim football féile got underway at a bitterly cold and windswept St. Mary’s CBGS on the Glen Road this morning.
Despite some heavy rainfall during the week and the a breeze coming from Black mountain, the pitches were in pristine condition for the first round of fixtures with a further round next weekend before the finalists and semi-finalists are known.
Féile Football A:
The A group includes St Pauls A, St Brigids A, St Galls, Davitts and Gort Na Mona – with the top sides at the conclusion of the next two weekends games, going into the A decider on April 8th at Coaliste Feirste.
St Pauls A and St Brigids A served up a keenly contested encounter which was lacking in scores, at the midway point St Pauls lead 0-02-0-00 thanks to points from Thomas Duff and Caoimhin Duffy but St Brigids fought back and levelled at 0-02-0-02 courtesy of frees from full-forward Aodhan McNicholl. It looked as though the sides would share the spoils but deep into injury-time Lorcan McPhilip conjured up a winning score for St Paul’s to give them a 0-03-0-02 win.
At the same time across the three pitches – St Galls and Davitts began their group campaign and it was the Milltown side that ran out comfortable 4-03-1-01 at full-time. It came as no surprise that St Gall’s sharp shooter Niall Fallon was in amongst the scoring action in familiar surroundings as the St. Mary’s CBGS pupil landed his sides four goals. Brendan Quinn and Criostir Brown were on target for Davitts.
St Brigids A recovered from their opening round defeat – running out 8-02-4-02 winners over Gort Na Mona in a goalfest. St Brigids youngster Matthew Lloyd came of age as the young U-12 star bagged three of his sides eight goals, with James Gorman (2) and Colm Finnegan also hitting the back of the net and points coming from Fintan Cleary and Conor Brown. Christopher McCrea, Matthew McConnell, Ryan Brown and Padraig McKernan hit the net for Gort Na Mona with their points coming from McConnell and Brown.
St Pauls A and St Galls then met and laid their 100% records on the line in, at the conclusion it was St Paul’s who retained their unbeaten run – courtesy of a 3-00-1-00 win over the young Milltown men. Sean Munce drove low to the net to give his the lead and after a goal mouth scramble; Liam Walsh fired in the Shaws Road sides second of the half. The game was put beyond doubt with a fabulous strike from Paul Donnelly which crashed in off the bar, but St Paul’s had to survive a penalty scare – with goalkeeper Padraig Linton coming to the rescue, Niall Fallon did pull one back to claim his fifth goal of the afternoon but it was little consolation as St Pauls A cemented their place at the top of the table.
The first round of games in the A féile drew to a conclusion with Davitt’s recovering from their opening game defeat to beat Gort Na Mona 9-05-0-00. Conor Corr and Jamie McNally both helped themselves to three goals apiece, whilst scorer from their first outing – Criostir Brown helped himself to a goal and two points. Sean Og O’Neill and Jay Maguire also helped themselves to majors with Maguire helping himself to a point for great measures as Davitts joined St Brigids A and St Galls on one win from two.
Féile B (Group 1)
In the aftermath of a thrilling game between their respective A sides, St Pauls B and St Brigids B were drawn together in the opening fixture of Féile B group 1 and the sides couldn’t be separated after half an hour of play with the game finishing 1-04-2-01.
O’Donnells began their campaign with a hard fought 2-01-1-02 victory against Ardoyne, Cullen Quinn and Rhys Dowds both hit the net for the Whiterock men with Eoin Brennan claiming their single point – Cormac Barnes replied with a goal for Ardoyne but in the end the North Belfast side fell to an opening game defeat.
However in their second outing Ardoyne emerged 3-04-0-02 victors over St Brigids B – Oliver Corry and Niall McDonald helped themselves to a goal apiece and points from McDonald and Cormac Barnes steered the men from the Crikey to a first group win.
O’Donnells ended the first round of fixtures with a comfortable and comprehensive win over St Pauls B on a score line of 8-05-0-00 and the Whiterock side top the group with a win over St Brigids B next weekend enough to top the group and secure a home semi-final on the 27th of March.
Féile B (Group 2)
Lámh Dhearg were the early pacesetters in group 2 after the curtain raiser with a rather youthful Rossa side. Ciaran Fay Kelly converted a free and led the early charge before Adam Murray claimed the opening goal of the game. Evan Stanley lobbed a second goal of the advancing Rossa keeper and a further two strikes from little Shay Fegan and Conall McGuigan; helped the red hands to a 4-06-0-00 lead at the break. Aidan McCauge and Conall McGuigan fired in a goal apiece after the break as Lámh Dhearg got off to the best possible start.
Although the Lámhs winning feeling was short lived as group favourites Sarsfields arrived for the to contest the final fixture of the afternoon and the Stewartstown side lived up to their billing with a 4-08-0-02 victory over the Hannahstown men. Pearse Murray and Brendan Healy were amongst the early point scorers for Sarsfields before Daire McMenamin drilled in the first goal – Caolan Gorman grabbed a second and Sarsfields led 2-05-0-00 at the interval. In the second-half further goals from McMenamin and Oisin Fagan secured victory – with Ciaran Fay Kelly and Aidan McCauge responding for the Lámhs.
St John’s made their group 2 bow with a derby clash against Rossa and it was the Corrigan Park side that emerged victorious thanks to goals from Domhnall Gray and James Wilson – while Luke Loughlin and Ronan Quinn claimed two points apiece. Despite limping out of their opening game with Lámh Dhearg due to an ankle knock – Pearse McCashin headed home a goal for Rossa.
Sarsfields look odds on favourites to top the group and the clash between Lámh Dhearg and St John’s in the final fixture of next week’s group 2 games could well prove decisive in deciding who will advance to the semi-finals on March 27th.