O’Neill’s Antrim Minor Football League – Division 1
Dunloy 0-10 Aghagallon 2-14
A dominant second half display by Aghagallon saw them keep their unbeaten run intact in Division 1 of the Minor Football Leauge and though they have only played three games to date they showed enough to suggest that they will be in the mix when it comes to the business end of the season. The struggled early in the game as Dunloy started strongly but they slowly got themselves back into the game, though when they led by just a single point at half time there was little to suggest they would win so easily in the end. When they came out again for the second half to play ‘down the slope’ on the back pitch at Pearse Park they were a transformed outfit and two goals from Mark McAfee and Adam Loughran saw them take control of the game.
Dunloy started well with early points from Anthony Smith and Calum Scullion and had they been a little more accurate their lead could have been much more. It took nine minutes for Aghagallon to raise their first flag but when they got going with a Ruairi McShane point they went on to hit five without reply through Andrew Johnston (2), Ruairi McShane (2) and a wonderful strike from a 45 from goalkeeper Luke Mulholland. They appeared to be well on top at this stage, but they did not score again during the last ten minutes of the half, while Dunloy pulled two back through Eoghan McGrath and the excellent Callum Scullion to trail by just one at the break. 0-4 to 0-5
The second half was a different matter however as Aghagallon dominated and after Adam Johnston and Rory Mullan exchanged points they pulled clear with points from Daniel Hannon, Jamie Lamont, Joe Lavelle and Ruairi McShane before a goal from Mark McAfee, following a slick three man move, put clear daylight between the sides. Anthony Smith pulled a point back for Dunloy but Aghagallon hit back three more from Loughran and two from McAfee before putting the icing on the cake with a Loughran goal. Callum Scullion pulled a couple back for the home side but it was too little, too late and Aghagallon’s victory was secure.
DUNLOY – Padraig McGilligan, John Dixon, Ciaran McQuillan, Patrick Kinsella, Anton McGrath, Aaron Crawford, Eoin McMullan, Callum Scullion, Ryan McFarline, Rory Mullan, Oisin McErlain, Eoghan McGrath, Daithi McGuigan, Anthony Smith, Sean O’Neill.
Subs – Cathair McCloskey for Eoghan McGrath; Conal Kelly for Rory Mullan.
AGHAGALLON – Luke Mulholland, Stevie Branagan, Daire McShane, , Senan Donnelly, Kieran Hamill, Jamie Lamont, Andrew Johnston, Adam Loughran, Daniel Hannon, Jerry Downing, Dessy McCory, Marc McAfee, Ruairi McShane.
In the other games in the Minor Football League St Gall’s are joint top after beating Con Magees 3-11 to 1-9 at Milltown. All Saints join them on eight points after their 2-15 to 1-9 win over Cargin at Slemish Park. St Brigid’s beat Roger Casements by 5-10 to 1-14 while Tir na nOg beat Aldergrove 2-14 to 2-7 in Crumlin.