Junior Football Championship preliminary round
Ardoyne Kickham’s 1-14 McQuillan’s Ballycastle 1-8
A scoring spree at the start of the second half swung this game very much in favour of Kickham’s Ardoyne when they overcame McQuillan’s Ballycastle in the this Junior Football Championship preliminary round game at Quinn Park, Ballymena on Friday night.
Significantly though Paddy Murray’s side made a strong opening to the second half, scoring 1-4 without reply in the opening six minutes to more or less put the contest to bed, though their opponents never gave up and outscored Ardoyne in the closing quarter but by then it was too late.
The North Antrim side went into this game as underdogs with their opponents riding high in division 3 of the league but at half time Ballycastle looked in with a battling chance as they trailed their opponents by only two points having played into the breeze in the opening half.
Stephen Magill for Ballycastle and Ciaran McNeill for the Kickham’s exchanged early points but points from Aidan McNeill, Gary McKernan and Cormac Mullan had the Ardoyne men 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after seven minutes and they were looking good at this stage of the game.
Ballycastle replied from a pointed free by Mark Higgins but the North Antrim side were guilty of over doing the possession game and their reluctance to shoot saw them turned over time and again as they carried the ball into the tackle.
Aidan McNeill from a couple of well struck frees for Ardoyne and Mark Higgins from another free for the ‘Castle’ and one from play from Eamon Elliott saw the Black & Ambers come right back into contention with only two minutes remaining to the break and only a point between the sides.
The last score of the half fell to the sweet left foot of Aidan McNeill however as he directed another free from out on the right between the uprights but Ballycastle must have been quietly confident at the changeover with only two separating the sides.
It was Ardoyne however who regained the initiative from the second half throw in with Cormac Mullan, Aidan McNeill and Conor Carter firing over points in the opening four minutes and when Ciaran McNeill fired past Patrick McAuley for the game’s opening goal with five minutes gone they had opened up a significant gap.
Kevin Lynch soloed through for a great point in the 6th minute and Jim Og McAuley added another to open up a ten point gap and it was as good as over even at this early juncture. Ballycastle picked themselves up of the canvas however and while they never really threatened to get back into contention they did restore some pride in the jersey.
Stephen McIlroy got them off the mark when he shot to the net from close range when the ball rebounded to him after Patrick McCullough had saved his first attempt but Jim Og McAuley replied with an Ardoyne point at the other end to extend the gap to eight.
Things were much more even now as play swung from end to end with Aidan McNeill converting a 15th minute free and Mark Higgins responding with an excellent point from play for Ballycastle. Sean Kelly and Higgins from a free had it back to five with five minutes remaining but that was as close as they got.
Ardoyne shut up shop at this stage playing the possession game to good effect and Aidan McNeill brought his personal tally on the night to 0-5 as he stroked over a late free to conclude the scoring. Ardoyne now go forward to meet St. Patrick’s Lisburn in the quarter-final and will be anxious to avenge a league defeat to the same opposition on Wednesday night.
Ardoyne Panel: Patrick McCullough, Eoin Crossan, Niall Cornwell, Pearse Marley, Conor Carter, Padraig Lynch, Joe McNeill, Gary McKernan, Kevin Lynch, Conor Magee, Cormac Mullan, Kealan McCallan, Aidan McNeill, Ciaran McNeill, Jim Og McAuley. Gerard Frame, Stephen Hill, Conor Magee, Michael Maguire, Sean Joe Rooney.
Ballycastle: Patrick McAuley, Joseph McFetridge, Seamus McIlroy, Rory Magee, Mark Higgins, Zach McCaughan, Conor Boyd, Aaron McCaughan, Caolan McCaughan, Eamon Elliott, Sean Kelly, Stephen Magill, Conor Donnelly, Thomas McIlroy, Stephen McIlroy, Subs: Shane McGarry for Joseph McFetridge, Aaron Mooney for Rory Magee.
Referee: Jarlath O’Donnell (Glenravel)