A C Minor Football League
Erin’s Own Cargin 4-06 Lamh Dhearg 3-10
Lamh Dhearg earned a full share of the points, and made strides towards their upcoming championship assignment against Dunloy when they held on to earn victory over Cargin at a rain sodden Toome on Sunday.
The Hannahstown lads having struggled to get it together in league thus far certainly showed improvement and look well prepared for the task ahead.
The visitors were first off the mark and an opening minute Sean Maguire point opened account but the Toome lads were soon to return fire and a third minute Christopher ‘Cricky’ Bateson goal saw them gain the lead.
Mark Keegan’s interception and a slick interchange which involved Pat Shivers saw the wing half forward blasting past net-minder Daniel Hartley.
The home side dominated in the opening phase but after Ronan Gribben had increased their early advantage J C Devlin’s charges were forced into positional change. High fielding Pat Shivers fell awkwardly and although he did continue in the full forward role it was with a reduced impact and much reduced mobility.
The visitors added back to back scores as central defender Eoin Mc Tassa made strides forward to send between the posts and punish a sloppy clearance in the 9th minute and after Tiernan Mc Kettin rose highest to collect the resultant kick out he sent Adam Cunningham in to add another.
The Toome lads spurned a couple of openings to increase their lead in the next phase and were soon to be punished as the high fielding McKettin sent wing man Daniel Murray away on the right hand side to plant the ball in the Cargin net.
The Hannahstown lads had taken the lead at 1-03 to 1-01 and after a Pat Shivers point at the other end allowed the home side to get back within the minimum an 18th minute Tiernan Mc Kettin point restored the two point advantage.
The hard grafting mid-fielder was first to react after the Cargin keeper Eunan Quinn rose highest to punch a lofted Niall Mc Garry cross out of the danger area as his volleyed return skimmed over the cross bar.
Cargin took the lead again in the 22nd minute after a Malachai Johnston intervention on his 20 metre line thwarted a well laid offensive by the Hannahstown lads. The leather was fluently delivered in sequence through several hands including Christopher Bateson, Paudie Mc Laughlin, and Sean og O’ Neill and Pat Shivers concluded with delivery to the back of the net.
The Erin’s Own lads had taken the lead and it was increased by one as a foul on the incoming Paudie Mc Laughlin allowed Pat Shivers to send the resultant award between the posts to make it 2-03 to 1-04.
The visitors were to have the last say in proceedings as a last minute Ross Murray major took them to the front. The full back made impressive strides forward from defense into offence and combined with several on his way before driving into the corner of the net.
Cargin tried to respond in the latter stages but both Christopher Bateson and Sean og O’ Neill were denied by Lamh Dhearg keeper Daniel Hartley in time added and the visitors took respite with a 2-04 to 2-03 lead.
The home side started the second period on the offensive but after spurning a couple of early chances they were soon on the back foot as the Hannahstown lads laid siege.
Adam Cunningham was quick to a Sean Maguire delivery as his outstretched leg flicked the leather to the corner of the net in the 34th minute and as Daniel Mc Garry, Ross Murray, and the former followed with points apiece the city lads had raced away to lead 3-07 to 2-03 at the end of the third quarter.
Cargin looked down but they were certainly not to be counted out as under the urgings of the excellent Christopher Bateson they made a strong comeback.
A well laid approach saw Shay Bovill and Paudie McLaughlin involved as Christopher Bateson grabbed his second goal as reward in the 47th minute and a similar approach a couple of minutes later saw Ronan Gribbin add another.
The Toome lads were back in the hunt for the points and on terms by the 51st minute as the impressive Bateson collected a Ruairi Mc Cann clearance to race away and split the posts.
Cargin were back alongside at 4-04 to 3-07 and seemed to have gained the initiative, but Lamh Dhearg when asked questions on character were to provide a reply in the positive.
Back to back points steered confidently between the posts by centre forward Declan Dunn from respective free kicks in the 54th and 56th minutes saw the Hannahstown lads a couple clear again and after a strong approach earned Ronan Gribbin a reply at the other end another 59th minute white flag raised by Dunn saw the two point advantage restored at the 60th minute.
Cargin pressed again in the few minutes of time added and a 61st minute Sean og O’ Neill point left them just the minimum in arrears that was to be as close as they were to get.
They had one last opportunity to take something from the contest when a 63rd minute Shay Bovill ‘45’ sailed just wide of the intended target and Lamh Dhearg had held on to gain a 3-10 to 4-07 victory.
Referee John Moran (Aldergrove)
Teams
Cargin
Eunan Quinn, Sean og Quinn, Odhran Lynn, Odhran Molloy, Malachai Johnston, Mark Keegan, Ruairi Mc Cann, Ronan Gribbin (1-02), Pat Shivers (1-02), Paudie Mc Laughlin, Sean og O’ Neill (0-01), Christopher Bateson (2-01), Sean Mc Auley, Shay Bovill, Conor Kelly.
Lamh Dhearg
Daniel Hartley, Finn Mervyn, Ross Murray (1-01), Aaron Mc Closkey, JJ Hawkins, Eoin Mc Tassa (0-01), Sean Mc Cullough, Sean Maguire (0-01), Tiernan Mc Kettin (0-01), Daniel Murray (1-00), Declan Dunn (0-03), Ronan Hamill, Tiernan Mc Kenna, Adam Cunningham (1-02), Niall Mc Garry (0-01)