Ciaran Doherty & Co Accountants Under-16 League
Tir na nOg 4-05 Erin’s Own Cargin 4-18
Cargin made a bold bid to reach the semi-finals of the South West under-16 league when aided fully by a hat trick of goals from the impressive Paudie McLaughlin they claimed the points on offer when they defeated Tir na nOg up at Whitehill on Thursday evening.
The Erin’s Own lads travelled up to Randalstown in the knowledge that a win was required if they were to be in line for a place in the top four of the competition and after making a quick getaway they always looked on route to the points.
Eunan Quinn had the opening point when he split the posts twice early in proceedings and both Paudie Mc Laughlin and PJ Quinn raised white flags apiece but the home side responded to go ahead by the 10th minute as Caspar Logan found the net.
Colla McDonnell (2), and Conor McCamphill had weighed in with points before the full forward latched on to a loose clearance and returned the leather post haste to the back of the net and Tir na nOg were in the lead.
The home side had earned a 1-03 advantage but in the event such was not to remain for long as Paudie McLaughlin led Cargin onwards to regain the lead.
PJ Quinn had raised a 13th minute point before Conan Kennedy’s intervention and clearance opened the way for the former to race through the home side defence and lash the ball to the back of the net.
A super goal from the gifted mid-fielder and he was about to add another in similar fashion when a 50 meter solo approach yielded another major and when PJ Quinn followed with a point the Toome boys were at 2-06 to 1-03 ahead.
The visitors went on to dominate the remainder of the half and looked in full control at the short blast when they had led 2-07 to 1-04.
Having concluded the opening period on the positive, Cargin started the second half in a similar mode and with Benen Kelly, Sean Gribbin, and PJ Quinn all raising early white flags they looked on route to the winning line.
Tir na nOg were having none of that however as they struck back with a vengeance and a couple of back to back goals.
The Cargin rear guard was caught napping as Colla McDonnell picked up a loose clearance in the 37th minute to return to the net and when the centre forward followed suit a minute later they were very much back in contention, just three points in arrears.
Cargin replied with an excellent Eunan Quinn point and although the home side responded with a Sean Grant score the irrepressible Paudie McLaughlin was just about to complete his hat trick.
An excellent kick out by the Cargin net-minder Shea Laverty found Benen Kelly on the right hand side and he delivered to PJ Quinn before the corner man placed the incoming Paudie McLaughlin to provide a devastating finish.
Eunan Quinn followed with a 44th minute point and when the impressive mid fielder linked with Cahir O’ Boyle to fire into the corner of the net the die was cast as the Toome lads had moved into a 4-13 to 3-05 lead.
A fine approach and a slick finish saw Daniel O’ Neill grab a 50th minute goal for the Whitehill side but in the event the corner forward’s strike only served to spur the visitors into further action.
Paudie McLaughlin, Eunan Quinn (2), PJ Quinn, and Sean og O’ Neill weighed in with respective points in the latter stages to see the Cargin lads conclude with a 4-18 to 4-06 winning scoreline and remain on course for the play offs.
Referee Tomas Eastwood (St Enda’s)
Teams: Tir na nOg: Ethan Higgins, Jude Carey, Paddy Dougan, Oliver Mc Donnell, Conor Mc Camphill (0-01), Paddy Higgins, Ronan Crilly, Brendan Mc Lernon, Josh Higgins, Jack Murray, Colla Mc Donnell (2-03), Sean Grant (0-01), Barry Fitzgerald, Caspar Logan (1-00), Daniel O’ Neill (1-00)
Subs
Conor Hastings for R Crilly
Cargin: Shea Laverty, Cahir Donnelly, Oran Molloy, Diarmuid Mc Peake, Malachai Johnston, Sean og O’ Neill (0-01), Conan Kennedy, Paudie Mc Laughlin (3-03), Eunan Quinn (1-05), Shane Gribbin, Benen Kelly (0-02), Tom Shivers (0-01), Cahir O’ Boyle, PJ Quinn (0-05), Sean Gribbin (0-01)
Charlie Mc Cann for T Shivers