Kevin ‘Scamper’ Sheerin who scored 0-11 as Tir na nOg defeated Armoy in the ACHL Divison 2 in Armoy tonight.
O’Neill’s ACHL Division 2
Glen Rovers Armoy 2-12 Tir na nOg 0-22
Kevin Sheerin scored 0-11 as Tir na nOg collected another useful brace of points in the battle of the Blues in Armoy tonight. The big number 14 gave an excellent exhibition of free taking from all angles and distances to break the resistance of an Armoy side who remained in contention until late in the game.
Unfortunately the Glen Rovers had no one who could match Sheerin’s accuracy and they will regret a series of missed chances over the hour but in the end the best team came out on top to maintain a run of recent victories over their fierce rivals.
‘Scamper’ Sheerin pointed a couple of frees in the opening minutes to get the visitors on the way before Tommy Burns received a Yellow card for a reckless pull after only eight minutes but his side were then awarded a penalty which Johnny McErlain fired past Ruidi Graham to put them ahead with nine minutes gone.
The exchanges were not for the faint hearted as both sides battled to establish early supremacy and a couple of Conor Christie points extended the home side’s lead before Kevin Sheerin replied for the visitors. Tommy Burns edged Armoy two in front at the end of the opening quarter but points from the excellent Ciaran Logan and Ronan O’Neill squared the contest with 17 minutes gone.
As things heated up Liam Dillon became the second Armoy player to go into Ryan O’Reilly’s notebook as Kevin Sheerin and Ciaran Logan edged the Whitehill side two in front but Conor Christie and Ciaran McErlain replied for Glen Rovers to level matters again with three minutes of the half remaining.
Joe McBride edged the Armoy men in front once more but they had hit quite a number of wides at this stage and could have been further in front and it was that man Sheerin who had the final say as he pointed a late free to leave it 1-6 to 0-9 at the short whistle.
Tir na nOg’s Ciaran Logan fires over one of six points he scored in his side’s win over Armoy
NO LET UP
There was no let-up to the intensity on the restart as Tony Martin edged Tir na nOg ahead again with a point in the opening minute and points from Kevin Sheerin and Ciaran Logan had the Whitehill Blues three in front with only four minutes of the new half gone.
Tommy Burns replied with a good point for the home side and Johnny McErlain pointed a 7th minute free before Sheerin and Sean Duffin responded at the other end to restore their sides three point advantage.
The Whitehill side looked to be taking control but Armoy responded and when the visiting defence failed to deal with a long dropping ball, Trevor Linton was quickest to respond to the breaking sliotar and kicked it past Ruidi Graham from close range to tie the contest once more.
The quick reactions of the same player came into play again when his close range free came back of an upright but he gathered to return the sliotar over the bar and put his side ahead in the 19th minute and the visitors looked in a bit of trouble.
They responded however with Ciaran Logan levelling almost immediately and the same player restored their lead before Johnny McErlain tied matters once more from a 21st minute free. It was riveting stuff as Kevin Sheerin and Owen Kinney exchanged points and it was still anyone’s game at this stage.
It was the visitors from Randalstown who appeared to want it the most however as the clock ticked down and in a storming finish they outscored their opponents five to one to take the points. Kevin Sheerin led the way with 0-4 and a sublime effort from Daniel Martin from 55 yards out in reply to a solitary reply from Owen Kinney saw them home.
Armoy: Timothy Burns, Joe McBride, Charles McCormick, Emmet O’Hara, Daniel McPeake, John Dillon, Liam Dillon, Ciaran McErlain, PJ McBride, Johnny McErlain, Thomas Burns, Eamon McCaughan, Conor Christie, Owen Kinney, Trevor Linton.
Tír na nÓg: 1. R. Graham 2. M. Higgins 3. K. Kerr 4. B. Kerr 5. T. Martin 6. C. Duffin 7. S. Carey 8. C. Fitzgerald 9. D. Martin 10. S. Duffin 11. P. Sheerin 12. C. Logan 13. E. Martin 14. K. Sheerin 15. R. O’Neill 17. D. Mallon 18. C. Loughlin 19. E. Heffron 20. D. O’Kane
Subs used: D. Mallon for C. Fitzgerald (34mins)
Scorers: K. Sheerin (0.11), C. Logan (0.6), R. O’Neill (0.1), T. Martin (0.1), C. Duffin (0.1), P. Sheerin (0.1), D. Martin (0.1)
Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Con Magee’s)