O’Neill’s ACF League Division Two (round three)
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass 2-11 Cuchullain’s Dunloy 3-07
Pics: Elaine Kelly
A late Dermot ‘Bugsy’ Mc Erlean point delivered between the posts from a long range, 55 metre free was enough to secure victory, and keep Moneyglass on the winning trail as the St Ergnat’s men breasted the finish line with a hard earned win over Dunloy at a windswept Toome on Wednesday evening.
The keenly contested affair which was moved from Moneyglass up the road to Toome looked like heading for a draw after back to back white flags raised in sequence by the impressive Keelin Molloy had seen the Cuchullian’s men draw level but Mc Erlean’s injury time strike gained the day for the blue and gold.
Dunloy did start facing the breeze but they were first to strike as corner back Stephen McGuigan had the ball in the net less than a minute into the game. Moneyglass had won the throw in but lost possession in sight of the Dunloy posts and when the Cuchullian’s organised a quick counter Declan Smith’s delivery sent the defender in to send to the net.
Moneyglass, facing the breeze looked less than confident in their approach and Dunloy were quick to counter when the St Ergnat’s men lost their way in approach and another well organised counter attack by the men in green and gold ended when Keelin Molloy split the posts.
Molloy was sited at corner forward according to his number but he was certainly not restricted to the top corner covering a lot of ground and does look laden with talent.
Moneyglass looked in on target when a Liam Brady free fell just short of the posts and Ryan Doyle claimed the leather only to send his effort wide of the yawning posts.
Doyle, who proved a handful for the Dunloy defence throughout was not long in making suitable amends for the missed opportunity when he was seen to claim the leather on the edge of the small square a few minutes later and when bundled to the turf a penalty was the decision.
Liam Brady made no mistake from the spot to get the Moneyglass men on the board but when Doyle was upended again in the square shortly afterwards the post came to Cuchullain’s rescue from Brady’s resulting kick. Dunloy responded and Liam McCann raised a white flag at the other end.
Moneyglass began to get to grips with centre back Conor Boyd who impressed throughout leading the way. Strong in the tackle and direct on approach he was involved in the next scores as Niall Boyd delivered over the bar in the 20th minute and Colum Duffin followed suit to see the scores tied at 1-02 apiece.
The visitors were not to remain alongside for long however and a 25th minute Keelin Molloy point was followed in kind by Liam Mc Cann a couple of minutes later and when the former was sent away to the posts by a subtle Declan Smith delivery the superb finish yielded a 29th minute goal.
Moneyglass had the last say in the opening period as Liam Brady raised a 32nd minute white flag but the Cuchullian’s had the advantage, 2-04 to 1-03 when the man in charge sounded the short blast.
Dunloy started the second half as they had in the first with an early score as the ever dangerous Keelin Molloy scampered away to fire between the posts.
Moneyglass returned fire a couple of minutes later as Dermot McErlean fired a ‘45’ directly over the bar after Padraig Mackle’s drive on target was turned around the post.
The St Ergnat’s men with the breeze at their backs took the game to the Cuchullian’s in the early stages of the second half and looked on the way when a streamlined approach, which saw the leather transferred quickly concluded in Tiernan Duffin sending wing half back Patrick Mc Cormick in to fire to the back of the net.
St Ergnat’s looked to be getting on top but Dunloy were not about to lose heart and when Keelin Molloy sent mid-fielder Kevin Fitzpatrick away on the right to drill the leather to the corner of the net they had nipped away to a 3-05 to 2-04 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Moneyglass having reeled in the opposition to the minimum were being posed questions and answers were supplied with Colum Duffin in the vanguard.
The centre forward raised four white flags, a couple from place efforts in a dominant period which saw his side draw alongside, 2-08 to 3-05 at the 52nd minute.
The St Ergnat’s men had a firm hold on the baton and they seemed on route to the winning line when Dermot Mc Erlean lofted a 50 metre free between the posts and the ever accurate Colum Duffin added another.
Moneyglass had opened up a two point gap as the game entered the last five minutes and although the Dunloy men looked down they were about to find another response.
Back they came with some purpose and when their main man Keelin Molloy despatched back to back free kicks between the Moneyglass posts they were back on terms and a draw looked probable.
Moneyglass were not about to settle for a share of the points however and after Ryan Doyle’s effort found the far post in his way up stepped Dermot Mc Erlean in time added to supply the winner and see Niall Jackman’s men continue in winning form as the long blast which promptly followed saw them make it three wins in a row as 2-11 to 3-07.
Referee Paul Burns (St Comghall’s)
Moneyglass: Mark Carey, Miron Neeson, Sean Kelly, Sean Mc Glinchey, Patrick Mc Cormick (1-00), Conor Boyd, Padraig Mackle, Tiernan Duffin, Niall Boyd (0-01), Liam Brady (1-01), Liam Brady (1-01), Colum Duffin (0-05), Dermot Mc Erlean (0-03), Gavin Murray, Ryan Doyle, Jack Mc Coy
Dunloy: Conor Mc Gilligan, Stephen Mc Guigan (1-00), Karl O’ Kane, Ciaran Hughes, Cahir Mc Guigan, Kevin Mc Quillan, Chris Mc Mahon, Kevin Fitzpatrick (1-00), Declan Smith, Liam Mc Cann (0-02), Paudie Conlon, Keelin Molloy (1-05), Adrian Dornan, Conal Cunning
Subs: Eoin Gillen for A Dornan, Jamie Mc Ferran for C McMahon