Cuchullian’s celebrate after defeating Con Magee’s in the South West Feile Shield final at Allen Park on Sunday.

Heffron’s of Randalstown Feile Football Shield (Final)

Cuchullian’s Dunloy 3-07 Con Magee’s Glenravel 1-06

Although they were certainly slow to adjust to the pace of the artificial surface at the Allen Park 4G arena Cuchullian’s Dunloy eventually grabbed hold of the baton to claim the Feile Shield title when they came from off the pace to get the better of Con Magee’s Glenravel at Antrim on Sunday.

The Glensmen were much quicker to get their bearings on the surface on the excellent Council owned facility and full forward Michael Quinn found the net less than a minute into proceedings to ensure a smart getaway.

The Dunloy net-minder Dan Dixon had moved well to deny Cormac Mc Keown’s first strike but the rebound fell kindly for the alert full forward to finish to the back of the net.

Cathain Graham did well to extend the Glenravel advantage when he was sent away by Conor Mc Quillan’s to split the posts in the 4^th minute and although the Dunloy lads did open account when Seanie Mc Aleese despatched a close range free between the posts in the 5^th minutes further Glenravel scores provided by Cormac Mc Keown and Conor Mc Quillan saw them advance to a 1-03 to 0-1 lead.

The Con Magee’s were most certainly calling the shots in the early stages with Cormac Mc Keown and Eamon Ward prominent but the Cuchullian’s were emerging from their sluggish start and back to back white flags raised in turn by Seanie Mc Aleese and Tom Mc Ferran underlined improvement within the ranks of the green and gold.

Glenravel returned fire as the hard working Eamon Ward delivered over the bar but this brought response from the Cuchullian’s and a well contrived Tom Mc Ferran goal ensured they were right back in the mix.

Seanie Mc Aleese followed with a point but an 18^th minute Conor Mc Quillan point in reply ensured the Glenravel lads still led at the short blast albeit reduced to the minimum at 1-05 to 1-04.

The beaten Con Magee’s Glenravel team.

Dunloy started the second half in arrears but much on the positive and the opening few minutes of dominance would see the picture changed completely.

The Glensmen having lead from the outset saw their advantage disappear within a minute of the second twenty minutes when Conor Mc Allister pounced to send to the back of the net.

The Glenravel net minder had parried a Dara Watterson delivery but the impressive wing half forward was quick to collect and return to fire home.

The Cuchullian’s were off to a flyer and continued in such positivity when mid fielder Sean Martin collected a 22^nd minute point, and Tom Mc Ferran followed with another goal just a couple of minutes thereafter.

Dunloy had turned what had been a deficit at the outset of the second period into a six point lead, and in the event, those opening few minutes were to prove decisive.

Glenravel opened their second half account when Eamon Ward fired over the bar in the 26^th minute but the Dunloy boys were quick in their response as the ever accurate Seanie Mc Aleese transferred a 30 metre free awarded in the 30^th minute into a point on the board.

The die looked cast as the second period progressed with Dunloy standing tall and when Glenravel’s Conor Mc Quillan was denied by the woodwork in the 36^th minute when a goal may well have provided impetus, it was as good as over.

The Cuchullian’s were not to make any late concessions and a late 39^th minute Conor Mc Allister point saw them complete with a seven point advantage and a 3-07 to 1-06 scoreline ensured the Feile Shield 2018 was bound for Dunloy.

Dunloy: Dan Dixon, Jay Mc Auley, Ryan Mort, Pearce Maguire, Ruari Martin, Michael Trainor, Stephen Mc Camphill, Seanna Martin (0-01), Barry Mc Closkey, Tom Mc Ferran (1-01), Cahir Grimley, Conor Mc Allister (2-01), Seanie Mc Aleese (0-04), Dara Watterson, Eoin O’ Kane.

Subs

Cahir Mc Ferran for Eoin O’ Kane

Joseph Magee for J Mc Auley

Glenravel: Daniel Montgomery, Fiontan Hodkson, Caolan Lennon, Conor Duffin, Josh Mc Closkey, Eamon Carey, Conor Laverty, Cormac Mc Keown (0-01), Ruairi Mc Closkey, Eamon Ward (0-03), Cormac Mc Quillan (0-01), Cathain Graham (0-01), Liam Young, Michael Quinn (1-00), James Donaghy

Subs

Joe Mc Laughlin for J Donaghy

Aaron Potter for L Young

Referee Thomas Eastwood (St Enda’s)

South West fixtures secretary Columb Walsh presents the Feile Shield to Dunloy captain Seanna Martin.