Sarsfields
By Kevin Herron at St. Marys CBGS
The South Antrim football Féile finalists and semi-finalists in A and B are now confirmed after the second round of group stage fixtures took place at St. Mary’s CBGS on Sunday morning.
Thankfully the grey clouds and cold weather of last week gave way to blue skies, a slight breeze and the sunshine on the edge of Black Mountain. On the field of play last week’s table toppers shone brightest and all retained their places at the summit – the end result being St Paul’s advancing to contest the A final with St Brigids on April 8th, while on Tuesday evening the B semi-finals will see O’Donnells host Lámh Dhearg and Ardoyne host Sarsfields .
Féile A:
St Paul’s sat top of the Féile A table at the conclusion of last weekend’s encounters and due to the withdrawal of Gort Na Mona – the Shaws Road side along with St Galls were boosted with a further two points ahead of Sundays encounters.
Davitt’s victory over Gort Na Mona last weekend kept them in the reckoning for the vacancy in second spot ahead of their clash with table topping St Pauls and they certainly showed in the first quarter why they deserved to be serious contender for the runners up spot.
Sean Munce had rifled St Pauls into an early lead though Davitts hit back with goals from Deaglan Mooney and Conor Corr edging them ahead. The ever reliable Paul Donnelly struck back however before the break as the sides were tied at 2-02-2-02 – although early in the second half a Lorcan Philip strike along with points from Caoimhin Duffy, Thomas Duff, Caoimhin Killyleagh and Liam Walsh had the group leaders on their way to a third successive victory.
Cristior Browne found the net in the second half and added to the first half goals from Corr and Mooney and points courtesy of Brendan Quinn and Jamie McNally but at the conclusion St Pauls ran out 4-08-3-02 winners with Paul Donnelly top scoring at 1-02.
At the same time on the next pitch, St Galls and St Brigids played out a thrilling encounter which had the spectators on the edge of their seat.
Fintan Cleary shot St Brigids into an early lead with the opening goal – though St Galls responded with a point from Niall Fallon after some confident dribbling in possession.
An outstanding save from St Gall’s shot stopper Xin Wang Yang denied St Brigids a second goal but Aodhan McNicholl did grab a second goal with quick point from Jack Toner giving them a commanding lead approaching the break.
The final score of the half was a converted free from McNicholl but previous to the converted free – St Galls charged forward in pursuit of a goal and DJ Irwin picked out the run of Niall Fallon, who duly found the net for his sixth goal of the tournament to make give his side a lifeline at the break as St Galls trailed 2-06-1-01.
St Gall’s went about their business efficiently after the break and within minutes of the restart Fallon was upended and whilst St Brigids were organising a defensive system the St Galls number nine dusted himself down and drilled the ball low into the corner.
Colm Walsh added a point and a converted Fallon free cut the deficit to three points (2-06-2-03) the momentum was with the lads from Milltown and the game was soon level courtesy of – you guessed it, Niall Fallon! The confident youngster led the St Brigids defence a merry dance before finding the bottom corner and wheeling away in celebration.
But the pendulum swung back into St Brigids favour – after the ball struck the woodwork, a scramble ensued and James Blayney turned the ball home to give his side a 3-06-3-03 lead. Aodhan McNicholl and Niall Duffy added scores in the aftermath with a point from Cormac Austin the only response from the deflated St Galls side as St Brigids claimed a 3-08-3-04 win that put them in pole position to claim the elusive runners up spot.
The Musgrave men still had work to do however and ended any possibility of three way tie for second spot with a 2-08-2-02 victory over Davitts.
Samir O’Hare struck one of St Brigids majors with two converted Aodhan McNicholl frees and points from James Gorman, Colm Finnegan, Conor Brown and Jack Toner doing the damage.
Jamie McNally struck 2-01 in reply for Davitts with Conor Ferran claiming the other score as the Féile ‘A’ group drew to its conclusion with St Pauls and St Brigids making it to the decider at Coaliste Feirste on April 8th.
St. John’s
Féile B (Group 1)
O’Donnells led the way after last Sundays opening day fixtures with a two-point gap over Ardoyne in second, but at the conclusion of Sunday’s encounters – it was only by a virtue of head to head that O’Donnells topped the table.
The Whiterock men were overturned by St Brigids B, who maintained the clubs perfect afternoon with a 4-04-2-04 win over the pacesetters. Goals from Brendan Delaney, Oran McCotter, Joe Moore and Daniel McAteer saw off O’Donnells with points also arriving courtesy of Conn Gileece, Rory McErlean and Charlie Mickleburgh.
O’Donnells did attempt to make inroads through a brace of goals from Darragh Austin and points from TJ McCaffrey (3) and Eoin Brennan – it proved in vein however as St Brigids held on for a victory and gave themselves a slender chance of claiming second spot and a possible semi-final.
However, Ardoyne cruised to a 6-06-1-01 win over St Pauls B in the other group game to draw level on points with O’Donnells at the top of the standings.
First half goals from Sean Ciarans, Eoin Fennell and Oliver Corry had the North Belfast side convincingly ahead at the break with Pearse Rice(4) and Diarmuid Martin conjuring up the points.
Rua Lopez (2) and Cormac Barnes provided the second half goals with Ryan McGranaghan also claiming a point from play – Brendan McGreevy replied with a goal for St Pauls B and Adam Ravell steered the ball over the bar but Ardoyne ran out convincing winners and only lost out on top spot due to defeat against O’Donnells.
Féile B (Group 2)
Sarsfields lived up to their billing as favourites for Féile B with a comfortable win over Lámh Dhearg and were hoping to make it back to back wins when they took on St John’s.
Pearse Murray and Caolan Donnelly hit early points before Tiernan Ward drove the ball to the net to give the Stewartstown side a 1-02-0-00 lead.
Oisin Fagan struck Sarsfields third point before Murray claimed his second score of the half – this time a goal to put his side firmly in control.
Murray struck two points either side a Brian Healy score and Daniel Irwin gave his side a 2-07-0-00 lead at the interval.
In the second period Aodhan McLaren and Daire McMenamin completed Sarsfields scoring with St John’s hitting back through points from Ronan Quinn, Domhnall Gray and James Wilson put in the end the Whiterock youngsters were comfortably beaten 4-07-0-03.
Sarsfields ruthless streak continued and they ended the group undefeated with a comprehensive 7-05-0-00 beating of neighbours Rossa.
A brace of goals apiece from Sé Ferris and Brian Healy were added to by Oisin Fagan, Caolan Gorman and Tiernan Ward – with Pearse Murray (2), Geriod McShane, Daniel Irwin and Amed Soda all firing over the black spot to ensure the Stewartstown men a safe passage to the semi-final.
The meeting between Lámh Dhearg and St John’s was billed as a winners take all clash – with the victors going onto claim second place and the second available semi-final slot.
Lámh Dhearg began on the front foot with goals from Aidan McCauge and Conall McGuigan, captain Kieran Fay Kelly then popped the ball over the bar and back to back points followed courtesy of little Shay Fegan.
James Wilson struck successive points in return for St John’s but in between Fegan claimed his first goal with the afternoon with a neat finish.
Fegan almost claimed his second goal of the afternoon – though his looping shot was claimed by the St Johns goalkeeper and before he could clear his lines, Conall McGuigan charged his clearance and the ball ended up in the back of the St Johns goal for the fifth time in the half.
Fegan would rifle home a sixth before the break as Lámh Dhearg were in control of proceedings and on their way to the semi-final.
Conall McGuigan hit back to back points upon the return to proceedings with Kieran Fay Kelly confidently converting a free off the ground from around 30-yards out.
A stroke of good fortune resulted in the Lámhs final goal of the game as Declan Young saw his shot turned into the goal by a St John’s defender attempting to clear his lines.
The game was brought to a premature end due to a wrist injury sustained by St Johns – Jonathan Gallagher and in the end Lámh Dhearg finished as group runners up.
The B semi-finals on Tuesday evening will see O’Donnell’s host Lámh Dhearg at McCrory Park (6.15 throw-in) while Sarsfields are unable to host their semi-final meeting with Ardoyne and will instead travel to Cliftonville to take on the North Belfast youngsters (7 o’clock throw-in).
*We wish a speedy recovery to St John’s Jonathan Gallagher and St Brigids Conor Louge – both of whom sustained injuries on Sunday and hopefully both players are back playing with their teams when the league commences in early April.
St. Gall’s