Thomas Devlin Car Sales U-14 League (Semi Final)
Erin’s Own Cargin 8-08 St James Aldergrove 5-05
Reigning South West Feile champions Erin’s Own Cargin progressed to the Under-14 league decider with a win over a battling St. James Aldergrove aided by a blistering display of fire power from their full-forward, Conhuir Johnston.
Johnston set the tie alight with a virtuoso display and finished the game with six goals in a man of the match performance in Toome on Friday evening.
The full forward gave broad hint as to what was to follow when he found the net just a minute into proceedings when Conan Johnston’s delivery sent him away to fire home.
Aldergrove did make reply in kind a minute later as a slick interchange involving Daniel Shiels and Ronan Aiken opened the way for corner forward Conor Magee to nip in from the right hand side to fire past the advancing Shea Laverty and the Crumlin lads were back on terms.
Cargin had started the game as firm favourites however and they were to underline such in the next phase and with Conhuir Johnston leading the charge they were to establish a 4-03 to 1-00 lead by the end of the opening quarter.
Tom Shivers sent Johnston away to add a second goal with a cute delivery in the 4th minute and after Diarmuid Quinn nicked a point the dominant number 14 was sent on his way by Cahir O’ Boyle to chalk up an early hat trick.
Despite Aldergrove full back Adam Erwin sticking close to his man Conhuir Johnston was in no mood to be restricted causing problems galore to the Crumlin side’s defensive structure and when the strong running full forward deftly lobbed the advancing net minder to bring his personal goal tally to four the Cargin boys looked in control.
It was backs to the wall for the Aldergrove lads as the opening period progressed but the visitors did find the target in the 12th minute via Conor Magee after points apiece from Caomhinn Kennedy and Diarmuid Quinn had seen the home side move further ahead.
Tom Shivers added another goal, lobbing the advancing keeper before Conhuir Johnston raised a white flag and the game looked as good as over even at this early stage.
The Toome lads were in dominant mood as the game entered the last few minutes of the twenty minute period but the visitors came strong in the closing stages to give themselves a glimmer of hope.
A 16th minute Eoin Donnelly goal gave them a lift and although Conhuir Johnston replied with a point at the other end, Conor Magee and the impressive Daniel Shiels raised back to back white flags for the visitors in the 18th and 19th minutes.
The Aldergrove lads seemed on the up but Cargin finished the period on the positive and an injury time strike which saw Conhuir Johnston send Cahir O’ Boyle away on the right to find the net put them in a commanding position at the break when they led 6-06 to 2-04.
Aldergrove needed a good start to the second half but in the event it was the home side who nipped away on the positive and when Conhuir Johnston added back to back goals in the early minutes and Tom Shivers collected a point that was that.
Johnston was sent on his way by Caomhinn Kennedy to add his 5th major in the 23rd minute and when replacement Brogan McNally’s effort on target was blocked on the line shortly after the full forward was on hand to send the loose ball over the line.
The Cargin lads had moved 8-07 to 2-05 ahead and with a place in the final beckoning their management took opportunity to give game time to a full complement of replacements.
The Crumlin lads were down but not out and a 35th minute Conor Magee goal gave them a boost and another brace was to follow as David Johnston bagged back to back majors.
The visitors had faced a task of enormity however and despite their efforts time was not on their side and as the long blast arrived Cargin had done more than enough to prevail and a late Tome Shivers point saw them move into the under-14 decider full value for an 8-08 to 5-05 winning scoreline.
Cargin: Shea Laverty, Jack Harney, Cahir Donnelly, Hugh O’ Donnell, Callum Gribbin, Craig Thornton, Ciaran Mc Peake, Conan Johnston, Charlie Mc Cann, Cahir O’ Boyle (1-00), Tom Shivers (1-03), Caomhinn Kennedy (0-01), Ben Mc Larnon, Conhuir Johnston (6-02), Diarmuid Quinn (0-02).
Subs
Ryan O’ Neill for C Thornton
Brogan Mc Nally for D Quinn
Brian Darragh for C Mc Peake
Cian Scullion for J Harney
Dylan Gallagher for C Johnston
Conal Mc Geady for C Gribbin
Aldergrove: Niall Jeffries, Jody O’ Hare, Aaron Erwin, Dylan Brazier, Dara Maguire, Odhran Rooney, Caomhinn Rooney, Adam Connolly, Aaron Duffy, Cormac Mc Garry (0-01), Daniel Shiels (0-01), Eoin Donnelly (1-00), David Johnston (2-00), Ronan Aiken (0-01), Conor Magee (1-02)
Subs
Jude Scallon for C Maguire
Liam Maguire for C Magee
Referee Stephen Higgins (Tir na Nog)