A C League Division One
St Gall’s 3-18 Erin’s Own Cargin 1-11
St Gall’s returned to the top of the table and ahead in the race to secure the Division One title when they proved far too strong for an out of sorts Cargin at Milltown on Saturday evening.
Having been knocked off their lofty perch and relinquished their previously unbeaten record in back to back defeats at the hands of Casement’s the Milltown men certainly were in no mood to continue on the same mode when the current league champions arrived and an early Kevin Niblock goal set them on their way.
An opening minute CJ Mc Gourty point prompted a quick return as Tomas Mc Cann raised white at the other end but when Kevin Niblock bundled an Eoghan McCabe cross to the net a few minutes later the Blues settled to the task.
Cargin did reduce the early deficit incurred with back to back points supplied by Michael Mc Cann and Brendan Laverty but that was to be as close as the Toome men were to get as the home side slick in the counter really capitalized on unforced error in approach within the ranks of the green and white had opened up a five point gap at 1-06 to 0-04 by the 20th minute.
Cargin did make slick approach to the target as a strong approach saw Paul Mc Cann make inroads before halted in full flow and when a goal seemed possible a pointed free was the consolation.
Mc Cann was the recipient of a black card shortly after to be replaced by Ciaran Close for his first senior appearance of the season.
As the Toome men persisted in wayward tendencies in approach to the target St Gall’s were most certainly well equipped to punish their visitors for the error of their ways and quick, and accurate on the counter as both their corner backs, Ryan Irvine and Ciaran O’ Tiarnan joined up with the offensive added points apiece.
CJ Mc Gourty helped himself to a further couple and a rare positive approach which employed several including Michael Mc Cann, Justin Crozier, and Ciaran Close in the making, concluded with David Johnston adding a point.
The home side were in control and 1-09 to 0-05 ahead at the break.
St Gall’s started in the second half as they had progressed through much of the previous thirty minutes utilizing the short kick out to the optimum and indeed awaiting the opposition to make error on their approach.
A free saw CJ McGourty clip the placed effort between the posts and with the excellent Eoghan Mc Cabe and Ciaran Mc Gourty raising white flags apiece in reply to a Ciaran Close score at the other end they had moved onwards to a 1-12 to 0-06 advantage by the 37th minute.
Cargin lacked fluency in approach for the most part but a slick interchange involving Jamie Gribbin, Michael Mc Cann, and Justin Crozier opened the way to the St Gall’s posts and it was apparent that ‘Lady Luck’ was not smiling on the Toome men as the former’s finish only found the side netting.
The resultant kick out, delivered by Chris Kerr in extreme accuracy and claimed by Sean Burke saw the latter send Eoghan Mc Cabe away to receive in front of his marker and deliver to the back of the net to rub salt in the wound caused by the near miss at the other end a minute previously.
The home side had moved to 2-12 to 0-06 but when the Toome men were rewarded when another well-structured advance set up Michael Mc Cann to delivered to the net, and when Ciaran Close added a couple of points a chink of light suddenly appeared.
The home side were having none of that however and CJ Mc Gourty and his brother Ciaran raised back to back white flags before another unforced error opened the way for the former to nick a 52nd minute goal and the die was well and truly cast.
St Gall’s were reduced in number when Kevin Niblock picked up a second yellow card and the subsequent red to follow but by this stage his side had moved into the calm waters of safety and when CJ Mc Gourty had added a couple of points the Blues were at 3-17 to 1-08 clear.
Cargin did continue to the end with the hard grafting Kevin Mc Shane sending replacements Ciaran Close and Kevin O’ Boyle away to grab points apiece but an injury time Michael Pollock score in time added saw the St Gall’s men breast the line to go top of the table with a 3-18 to 1-11 winning verdict.
Referee F Mc Cotter (Sarsfield’s)
St Gall’s
Chris Kerr, Tomas O’ Ciaran (0-02), Andrew Mc Clean, Ryan Irvine (0-01), Colin Brady, Shane O’ Hagan, Sean Burke, Michael Pollock (0-04), Conor Stinton (0-01), Ciaran Mc Gourty (0-02), Eoghan Mc Cabe (1-02), Terry O’ Neill, CJ Mc Gourty (1-08), Kevin Niblock (0-01)
Sean Mc Areavey for S Burke
Cargin
Oran Mc Auley, Michael Clarke, Gerard Mc Cann, Gerard Mc Corley, Tony Scullion, Justin Crozier, Ciaran Bradley, John Carron, Kevin Mc Shane, Brendan Laverty (0-01), Michael Mc Cann (1-02), David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann (0-02), Jamie Gribbin, Paul Mc Cann
Subs
Kevin O’ Boyle (0-01) for T Scullion
Ciaran Close (0-04) for P Mc Cann
Joe Maybin for J Carron