Erin’s Own Cargin celebrate after defeating All Saints Ballymena in the Feile football final at Allen Park on Sunday.

Kelly’s Mace Dunloy South West Feile Football (Final)

Erin’s Own Cargin 3-04 All Saint’s Ballymena 1-04

A virtuoso performance from Cargin’s Conhuir Johnston was the telling factor as the Toome boys claimed the South West Feile title 2018 on the Allen park 4G facility on Sunday.

The impressive full forward despite carrying an injury from the outset continued throughout proving a thorn in the side of the All Saint’s rear guard but in the event the eventual winners were far from being a ‘one man band’ with no weak link apparent.

With the original chosen venue of Ahoghill being unplayable the South West Feile finals, Cup and Shield were redeployed to the artificial surface at Allen Park and with a firm playing area certain and elusive mild weather available a good attendance was evident at the Antrim arena.

Although Cargin were off the mark the quicker and centre forward Tom Shivers hoisted a white flag less than a minute into the game All Saint’s were quick to offer reply and a Cal Brown goal delivered from away on the right hand side saw the Ballymena boys claim advantage.

The defending champs had been installed as favourites to regain the title and they did look on the way at such juncture as they tried to add to the opening score.

The Cargin rear guard were under early pressure, but the green and white clad defenders were most certainly to grow in stature as the game progressed and after All Saint’s had missed a couple of opportunities to increase their advantage a quick intervention by Cargin corner back Jack Harney, and a strong Callum clearance to follow sent Conhuir Johnston in for a 7^th minute point.

The Toome boys had settled with the early butterflies within banished and they had regained advantage by the 11^th minute as the indominable Conhuir Johnston raised back to back whites.

Indeed, the Erin’s Own boys could well have been further clear, but Daniel Mc Cann had been just a whisker wide of the target earlier and Ryan O’ Neill had also come close to hitting the target as well.

Cahir O’ Boyle had delivered from the right hand side and the flame haired corner forward was just outside the near post with his effort.

All Saint’s tried to add to their early score as the opening twenty minute period continued but Cargin were proving strong in resistance with Cahir Donnelly and Conan Johnston leading by example and when an 18^th minute counter attack which followed a Charlie Mc Cann delivery sent Conhuir Johnston in on the posts the All Saint’s net minder Ciaran McQuillan pulled off an excellent save to deny.

The young keeper was blocked in his attempted clearance however and when Conhuir Johnston reacted first to the loose leather striking soccer style to the net the Cargin boys had nipped into a 1-04 to 1-00 lead which proved to be the half time score as the youngsters took a fully deserved break.

The beaten All Saints team

All Saint’s having failed to find the target but on one occasion in the first period started the second on the positive with the posts in mind and indeed they had added a couple of points within five minutes as Ryan Mc Cartney and live wire Oisin O’ Mullan raised white flags apiece.

Indeed, the Ballymena boys were on the hunt for a goal shortly after the restart but the Cargin net minder Diarmuid Quinn was quick to react when Joe O’ Rawe sighted the target with goal on his mind and corner back Hugh O’ Donnell stood tall to prevent Oisin O’ Mullan get sight of the target in the 22^nd minute.

The Cargin defence were to be posed questions a plenty in the remainder of the period but proving resilient in the extreme right to conclusion and indeed it was another interception from Jack Harney and a combination involving Callum Gribbin and replacement Shea Laverty which was to yield a 38^th minute goal.

Conhuir Johnston had collected the well organised delivery and when upended in transit just outside the 20 metre line Tom Shivers took opportunity to take the resultant award quickly and the centre forward delivered high into the back of the net.

Cargin had moved into a 2-04 to 1-02 lead and asking questions as to the resolve of the All Saint’s.

The Ballymena boys were not about to cry enough as time remained as they proceeded to take the game back to the opposition and although the Cargin boys were proving stubborn in the defensive points apiece from Joe O’ Rawe and Ryan Mc Cartney ensured only a score separated them at the 35^th minute with Cargin clinging to a 2-04 to 1-04 advantage.

All Saint’s retained the positive and continued to apply pressure, but the Erin’s Own boys were posting ‘no entry’ notices all over the place as not an inch was the policy and the impressive Cahir O’ Donnell, Conan Johnston, and Charlie Mc Cann led by example.

The game clock was ticking onwards and the end of normal time approached and Erin’s Own stood tall in defiance again to organise counter attack with Conhuir Johnston the focus.

The full forward collected and his off load opened the way for replacement Dylan Gallagher to strike.

The All Saint’s net minder Ciaran Mc Quillan did well to deny at the expense of a ‘45’ but when Tom Shivers sent the placed effort directly to the back of the net that was to be that.

Cargin had opened up a six point lead, 3-04 to 1-04 and such, despite several minutes added and the continuing endeavours of All Saint’s the Erin’s Own boys stood firm to conclude as South West Feile champions 2018.

Cargin’s man of the match, Conhuir Johnston is closed down by the All Saints defence.

Cargin: Diarmuid Quinn, Jack Harney, Cahir Donnelly, Hugh O’ Donnell, Ciaran Mc Peake, Craig Thornton, Callum Gribbin, Conan Johnston, Charlie Mc Cann, Cahir O’ Boyle, Tom Shivers (2-01), Cian Scullion, Ryan O’ Neill, Conhuir Johnston (1-03), Daniel Mc Cann

Subs

Shea Laverty for D Mc Cann

Donal Mc Geady for C Scullion

Brogan Mc Nally for D Mc Geady

Dylan Gallagher for R O’ Neill

 

All Saint’s

Ciaran Mc Quillan, Dara Killough, Kevin O’ Boyle, Ryan Thompson, Niall Devine, Aiden Mc Garry, Conor Corr, Ryan Martin, Ryan Mc Cartney (0-02), Cal Brown (1-00), Joe O’ Rawe (0-01), Tyrone Mitchell, Ciaran Neill, Oisin O’ Mullan (0-01), Archie Mc Greevey.

Referee S Mc Atamney (Tir na Nog)

South West fixtures secretary Columb Walsh preasents the Feile A cup to Cargin captain, Tom Shivers