Month / September 2018

by thesaffrongael

‘Kindo’ goal swings it in favour of St. Ergnat’s

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Intermediate Football Championship- Preliminary Round

St. Ergnat’s 1-8 Tir na nOg 0-7

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass advanced to the quarter-finals of the Intermediate football Championship following this victory over Tir na nOg at Creggan on Sunday past. The introduction of Kevin’ Kindo’ Marron early in the second half proved a master stroke and he raced through to score the game’s only goal in the 49th minute to swing the advantage very much in favour of the Marrion Hill side.

The teams were level at 0-2 each at the end of an easily forgettable opening half but the Whilehill side had played into the breeze during the opening 30 minutes and must have fancied their chances of pushing on for a win on the restart.

It was St. Ergnat’s however who took control and a superb Colm Duffin point after three minutes lifted their performance and while the result was still in the balance until late in the game, it was Moneyglass who pushed on to win and earn a place against Sarsfield’s in the quarter-final.

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St. Ergnat’s were first to score with Colm Duffin opening their account with a point in the opening minutes but those hoping for a scoring feast were going to be disappointed with both sides pulling men behind the ball and building slowly from the back.

As both defences dominated the game turned into a slow burner as each side in turn saw attacks turned over. As the bright sunshine which had illuminated the early exchanges was replaced by a heavy shower Sean Duffin finally got Tir na nOg on the score-sheet with the equalising point from out on the right in the 21st minute.

A minute later Moneyglass were back in front when Seanchann Duffin converted a close range free but Kevin Sheerin finally shook off the attentions of Tiernan Duffin to fire over a good equaliser with four minutes remaining to the break.

Liam Brady tested Sean Paul McAtamney with a long range effort as half-time approached and as the ball swirled in the wind the big Tir na nOg net minder took no chances, punching it wide for a ‘45’ which came to nothing.

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As the sides headed to the dressing room the good crowd in attendance at this double header must have been hoping for better and when Christy Sheerin pointed Tir na nOg ahead in the opening minute of the second half the game suddenly came to life.

Two minutes later it was all square again as Conaill Prenter screwed over a point from an acute angle and Colm Duffin followed with an excellent point in the third minute to put the Moneyglass men back in front.

Tir na nOg suffered a setback when Sean Redmond, who had been excellent, limped out of the contest five minutes into the second half to be replaced by Peter Cullen and Kevin Marron entered the contest for Niall Boyd in the St. Ergnat’s side with 11 minutes gone.

Marron began to assert his influence around mid-field as Seanchann Duffin sent over a fine point to edge his side three in front and Moneyglass seemed to be gaining control but Aaron McNeilly responded for Tir na nOg to cut the deficit once more at the end of the third quarter.

Back came Moneyglass and Sean Paul McAtamney opted to punch a teasing delivery from Dermot McErlain with Prtenter lurking and it fell invitingly to Kindo Marron who returned it between the sticks and there was three between the sides again.

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The momentum was now very much with St. Ergnat’s as Sean Paul McAtamney made a brave blocking save with his legs to deny Conaill Prenter but Sean Kelly moved up-field from corner-back to send over a good point in the 19th minute and put his side four ahead.

The Tir na nOg challenge had lost a lot of its earlier momentum but Kevin Sheerin took advantage of a defensive error to send over from close range as both sides rang the changes in an effort to add momentum to their respective sides.

Darren McCormick added another point for the Whitehill side as they battled to get back into contention and there was only two between the sides as St. Ergnat’s began to throw the ball around and keep possession.

As referee Brendan Toland signalled four minutes of extra time it was vital that the next score went the way of the Whitehill men but in the event it was Kevin ‘Kindo’ Marron who struck in devastating fashion to put the game out of reach.

The Moneyglass replacement received the ball in the clear to the right of goal and as he raced through on goal he appeared to have lost control but he struck first time on the ground to beat the advancing keeper from close range.

Tir na nOg tried to respond but to no avail as the opposition defence stood firm and a pointed free from Christy Sheerin proved only consolation and the game’s final score and it is St. Ergnat’s who now go forward to meet Sarsfield’s in the quarter-final.

St. Ergnat’s looked the fresher side throughout and always carried a greater threat in attack and the introduction of Kevin Marron proved a master stroke. His partner at mid-field, Colm Duffin, Seanchann Duffin and Dermot McErlain were always a threat while at the back Tiernan Duffin, Sean Kelly, Patrick McCormick and Padraig Mackle gave nothing away.

Tir na nOg had to work hard for all their scores and lacked the penetration of their opponents but Colm Duffin, Sean Duffin, Christy Sheerin and Aaron McNeilly gave it everything but in the end the spoils of battle went to the Marrion Hill side.

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St. Ergnat’s: Mark Carey, Miran Neeson, Tiernan Duffin, Sean Kelly, Padraig Mackle, Conor Boyd, Patrick McCormick, Colm Duffin, Niall Boyd, Seanchann Duffin, Gavin Murray, Fearghal Duffin, Dermot McErlain, Liam Brady, Conaill Prenter, Subs: Ryan Doyle for Liam Brady,  Kevin Marron for Niall Boyd, Ryan Boyd and Sean McGlinchy for Gavin Murray and Padraig Mackle

Moneyglass Scorers: Colm Duffin 0-2, Seanchan  Duffin 0-2, Conal Prenter 0-2, Sean  Kelly 0-1, KevinMarron 1-1

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Tír na nÓg 1. SP McAtamney 2. B. Magee 3. C. Duffin 4. S. Redmond 5. B. McCormick 6. C. Duffin 7. D. McCormick 8. C. Sheerin 9. M. Duffin 10. C. Dobbin 11. C. McKeown 12. A. McNeilly 13. S. Duffin 14. K. Sheerin 15. D. Fagan 16. M. Dempsy 17. K. Kerr 18. D. Hastings 19. D. Mallon 20. P. Sheerin 21. D. O’Kane 22. R. O’Neill 23. P. Cullen 24. C. Logan

Scorers: K. Sheerin (0.2), A. McNeilly (0.2),C. Sheerin (0.1), D. Fagan (0.1), , D. McCormick (0.1)

Subs used: P. Cullen for S. Redmond (35mins), R. O’Neill for C. Duffin (40mins), C. Logan for C. McKeown (46mins), C. McKeown for D. Fagan (53mins), P. Sheerin for M. Duffin (53mins)

Referee: Brendan Toland (Tir na nOg)

 

 

by thesaffrongael

Lámhs edge thrilling U-16 decider

South Antrim U-16 B Football Final

Lámh Dhearg 1-16-2-09 Ardoyne

By Kevin Herron at Colaiste Feirste

Lámh Dhearg were pushed all the way by a dogged and determined Ardoyne side but tagged on three late scores to secure the U-16 B Football Championship at Colaiste Feirste yesterday evening.

The Hannahstown side were comprehensive winners in the two league meetings between the sides this year and got off to the perfect start through an early Ciaran Goss goal –though Joe Gibson and Owen Corrigan points kept the Cliftonville Road side in contention and just as it appeared that Lámh Dhearg would take a five-point lead in at the interval Fionn Grew palmed the ball to the net to help ensure his side would go into the break level at 1-07 apiece.

Lámh Dhearg shaded the opening quarter of the second period and threatened to pull away again ten minutes from the end as points from substitute Kieran Fay Kelly and Michael Braniff kicked them into a four-point lead – Ardoyne were reduced to fourteen men as Pearce Rice received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

However, four minutes from time Sean Brown fisted to the net for a second time to set-up a grandstand finish. Lámh Dhearg would steady the ship though and points from Fay-Kelly and Braniff got the Hannahstown men over the line as they completed a league and championship double and booked their place in the All-County decider.

Lámh Dhearg started as favourites and lived to their favourites tag early on – Conor Smyth shot wide inside the opening fifteen seconds and the relentless Lámhs won a free from the resulting kick made its way to Ciaran Goss in the corner and Goss rifled low past Brian McAfee to give the Hannahstown men a perfect start with a minute and five seconds on the clock.

Ciaran Boyd added his sides’ first point from play after five minutes – but any notion that Lámh Dhearg were going to cruise to victory was mistaken as Ardoyne hit back through Fionn Grew and  the lively and impressive Joe Gibson. Niall McGarry then split the posts after turning over Brian McAfee’s kick-out and playing a one-two with Michael Braniff and confidently firing over – Gibson again responded through a converted free as Lámh Dhearg led 1-02-0-03 with ten minutes gone.

Daniel Murray and Owen Corrigan then traded scores and three scores on the spin for the Lámhs appeared to have them in the ascendancy – Conor Smyth converted two frees in between a fine turn and shot from full-forward Michael Braniff as the Hannahstown men were 1-06-0-04 to the good.

Kevin Duffy kept his side in contention with a fine point and after turning over the resulting kick-out Ardoyne surged forward and a pinpoint pass from Tomas McDonald was palmed to the net by Fionn Grew to put just the minimum between the sides with five minutes to the break, 1-06-1-05.

Ardoyne had the momentum and Joe Gibson kicked his third point of the half from the resulting kick to level for the first time – two minutes from time Lámh Dhearg had the chance to restore their lead from the spot as Conor Smyth was clipped as he was about to pull the trigger.

Smyth took responsibility for the resulting kick but was denied by McAfee in the Ardoyne goal, Smyth atoned for that miss with a converted free though Ardoyne hit back and levelled for a second time through Joe Gibson as the sides went in level at the break, 1-07-1-07.

Daire Cunningham edged Lámh Dhearg in front two minutes after the restart though Matthew Curran hit back for Ardoyne – Cunningham would land his second point on 42 minutes and the Lámhs had a cushion thanks to a confident point from advancing wing-half back Lee Clarke.

Tomas McDonald then halved the deficit midway through the second-half with a superb shot that sailed over the black spot to make it 1-10-1-09.

The Hannahstown men began to the move through the gears as substitute Kieran Fay-Kelly landed a fine point from a placed ball off the ground – Michael Braniff then made room for himself and shot high over the bar and Fay-Kelly converted a second free to move his side 1-13-1-09 ahead.

Ardoyne suffered a further set-back as referee Mark McDonald dismissed Pearce Rice for a second bookable offence – however with little under five minutes remaining Ardoyne found the net for a second time to set-up a grandstand finish.

The North Belfast side broke well and moved the ball wide and into the path of Kevin Duffy who bore down on goal – Duffy’s angled shot whistled low past the post but Joe Gibson somehow kept the ball in at the line and hung the ball high into the night sky where Sean Brown was lurking to fist to the net and reduce the deficit to the minimum, 1-13-2-09.

Kieran Fay-Kelly was denied a goal at the back post by Brian McAfee but Conor Smyth landed a converted free to ease his sides’ nerves. Impressive substitute Fay-Kelly then landed his third point since his introduction and the insurance point came courtesy of Michael Braniff as Lámh Dhearg ran out 1-16-2-09 winners at the full-time whistle to claim the U-16 B Football Championship.

South Antrim Chairman Frank Caldwell presented captain Daire Cunningham with the trophy alongside the Lámh’s league crown and the Hannashtown side will turn their attention to next Fridays U-16 hurling B final with St Galls before attention switches to the All-County final in October.

Lámh Dhearg: A Tumelty, C Rogan, T McKenna, D Clenaghan, N McGarry (0-01), D Murray (0-01), L Clarke (0-01), A McCloskey, C Smyth (0-04f), D Cunningham (0-02), F Mervyn, D McArdle, C Boyd (0-01), M Braniff (0-03), C Goss (1-00). Subs:  M O’Boyle for D Clenaghan (31 mins), K Fay-Kelly (0-03, 0-02f) for T McKenna (41 mins), D Hardy for C Goss (45 mins).

Ardoyne: B McAfee, L Roberts, B McKeown, O Maguire, C Corr, B O’Neill, R McGranaghan, T McDonald (0-01), O Corrigan (0-01), K Duffy (0-01), J Gibson (0-04, 0-02f), M Curran (0-01), O Mullan, P Rice, F Grew (1-01). Subs: S Brown (1-00), F Campbell.

Referee: Mark McDonald (St Galls)DYLN9388

 

 

 

 

 

by thesaffrongael

McLarnon’s men come up trumps to reach the semi-final

Antrim Junior Football Championship quarter-final

St Agnes’ 0-10

St Malachy’s 0-6

In my preview during the week I made the comment, ‘on league form St. Malachy’s should win this one but Roy McLarnon’s side have a habit of raising their game when it comes to the championship’.

Well raise their game they did as they outscored St. Malachy’s by four points in an entertaining contest at St. Teresa’s on the Glen Road and they now go through to the semi-final where they are likely to be cast in the role of underdogs again.

Aggies did most of the damage during a good spell in the opening half and good first time ball into Ronan Carroll and Cormac McBride was to cause the ‘Mal’s’ defence a lot of early problems.

During the second half play deteriorated with both sides hitting just two points apiece but it was during that dominant spell in the opening half that St. Agnes did the damage.

The boys in Black hit eight points between the 17th and 23rd minutes to put themselves in pole position and it was a scoring blitz that St. Malachy’s were unable to recover from.

Both were to finish with 14 men after St Malachy’s substitute, Anthony Dobbin struck out at Conor Turley in the 51st minute that led to a brief flare-up with Dobbin and  St Agnes’ Brendan McLarnon shown red, but this was to have no bearing on the outcome.

The losers enjoyed plenty of possession and territory in the second period, but wayward shooting and staunch defensive play by the opposition defence in which Diarmuid Kelly at full-back excelled denied them on several occasions.

The game began with the Markets men on the front foot and they took the lead after two minutes when a long ball in was palmed down to Karl McCavana by Nathan Rice and ‘Hyper’ applied the finish.

St Agnes’ were slow to  settle, but they were soon up and running as they put together a good  move and midfielder, Conor McLean sent over the equaliser.

Two Ronan Carroll frees within a minute set them on their way although St Malachy’s replied on 11 minutes when Rice kicked a great point from near the right sideline on the 20 meter line.

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The Aggies were back on the attack from the restart and their direct approach again paid-off with McLean putting Cormac McBride in for his first of the afternoon.

St Malachy’s responded with McCavana turning provider for Stephen Dobbin whose shot from the right just curled inside the post.

The ‘Aggies’ were beginning to take control however and after Carroll bounced off a challenge to score, McBride came into his own, landing three from play in as many minutes between the 21st and 23rd minutes to help his side into a five point lead.

Mclarnon’s side were playing some great football, but they faded coming up to the  break and St Malachy’s grabbed a crucial score on half-time as Ciaran Vernon kicked a free to leave just four in it at the break, 0-8 to 0-4.

As the light rain came down for a time things were to deteriorate on the restart with St St. Agnes missing a couple of early opportunities and St Malachy’s began to enjoy more possession but they couldn’t capitalise.

Aggies finally raised a flag through Carroll who bounced off a challenge to score and he added another on 49 minutes that just dropped over the bar to make it a six-point game.

Then came that incident with Anthony Dobbin striking out on Turley that was spotted by the officials and after a bit of jostling in the aftermath, both he and McLarnon saw Red.

To their credit St Malachy’s kept battling to the final whistle and Patrick Turley saw his drop-shot tipped over for a point on 59 minutes.

In a seven minutes period of extra time St Malachy’s pressed hard but could manage only one late score by Patrick Smyth that flew over, but this was too-little, too-late as St Agnes’ move on to the semis.

ST AGNES’: C Carroll; J Grieve, D Kelly, B McLarnon; F McBride, M McKillop, C Flannery; C Turley, C McLean (0-1); N Gillespie, M Caldwell, C Pelan; B Crossan, R Carroll (0-5, 2 frees), C McBride (0-4). Subs: E O’Hagan for C McLean (51), P Caldwell for C Pelan (59).

ST MALACHY’S: S Turley; C Corr, C Connolly, G Rice; C Martin, M Connolly,  A Connolly; P Smyth (0-1 free), C Devlin; N Rice (0-1), C Murray, C Vernon (0-1 free); K McCavana (0-1), P Turley (0-1), S Dobbin (0-1). Subs: A Dobbin for C Corr (38), S Coleman for A Connolly (43), S Carson for K McCavana (57), D Quinn for S Dobbin (59).

REFEREE: Kevin Parke (St Enda’s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by thesaffrongael

Super T’s make light work of Glenavy

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Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship

St Teresa’s 3-12-1-06 Glenavy

By Kevin Herron at the Bear Pit

St Teresa’s made light work of disposing of recently relegated Glenavy with a comfortable 3-12-1-06 win at the Bear Pit on Saturday afternoon.

Stephen Carey hit the opening goal of the game midway through the first-half – by which point Glenavy had failed to register their opening score. Owen Gallagher, Malachi Doherty and Ciaran Loney would eventually respond before the half was out but St Teresa’s were 1-07-0-03 to the good.

Philip Maguire rifled home the Super T’s second goal but Alex Gallagher responded for Glenavy within sixty seconds – the Chapel Hill club fared slightly better in the second half hour but would concede a third goal to Conor McCann before the afternoon was out as St Teresa’s booked their place in the Quarter-final and a clash against St John’s.

St Teresa’s went into Saturday afternoons encounter as overwhelming favourites against a Glenavy side whose relegation back to Division Two was confirmed after defeat at the hands of St Enda’s last Wednesday evening.

Colin Toal’s side were deeply depleted with a raft of regulars unavailable and their luck wasn’t about to change in the opening exchanges as St Teresa’s quickly set about seizing control of proceedings.

Anton Taylor landed a fine point inside the first sixty seconds and Niall McCann doubled his sides lead after receiving a neat pass from Liam Gault.

Alex Gallagher and Michael McCourt were both off target for Glenavy in the early stages and St Teresa’s continued to pick their visitors off with the ever reliable Philip Maguire landing a fine point to put his side three to the good.

John Mallon increased St Teresa’s lead courtesy of a converted free and midway through the opening half St Teresa’s found the net  – Mallon was involved as he slipped in midfielder Stephen Carey who confidently burst forward and rifled past Fergal Green to give his side a 1-04-0-00 lead.

A second goal almost presented itself within sixty seconds – Eoin Gault picked out namesake Liam who unselfishly palmed the ball to the unmarked Conor McCann, but with the keeper to beat McCann saw his fisted attempt go over rather than under the bar.

With the game 17 minutes old, Glenavy finally registered their first score – Thomas Gallagher burst down the left channel and pulled the ball across where Owen Gallagher was waiting to punch over the bar.

Mallon converted his second free of the half in response though Glenavy had finally found their rhythm and gradually settled into the game -their second point arrived through Malachi Doherty after a pass off the shoulder from Ciaran Loney.

A third converted John Mallon free ended St Teresa’s first-half scoring – though the Super T’s were forced into some late defending. A quick move through the hands saw Charlie Gallagher pick out namesake Thomas who in turn found full-back Patrick whose shot was parried well by St Teresa’s goalkeeper Anthony Varndell.

They had to instead settle for a point from Ciaran Loney but had a mountain to climb at the break – trailing 1-07-0-03.

Anton Taylor increased St Teresa’s lead with back to back converted frees within the first eight minutes of the restart and on the 40th minute the Super T’s had the ball in the net for the second time.

Philip Maguire played an excellent one-two with Anton Taylor before confidently bearing down on goal and firing into the roof of the net.

Anton Taylor then added his third point of the half as his side led 2-10-0-03– however within sixty seconds of Taylor’s point Glenavy hit back with a goal.

Alex Gallagher was causing the St Teresa’s a few problems and on 41 minutes his low scuffed shot wrong footed Anthony Varndell and hit the net to make it 2-10-1-03.

Fergal Green needed to be alert to turn away Conor McCann’s driven shot from Anton Taylor’s square pass just before the midway point in the second-half – Glenavy hit their fourth point of the afternoon and it was the Gallagher’s who combined once more as Patrick picked out Alex whose shot sailed accurately between the posts.

St Teresa’s final two points of the contest fell to Liam Gault and Anton Taylor (free) – while Malachi Doherty added Glenavy’s fifth of the afternoon from a similar scenario.

A minute from time Conor McCann rubbed further salt in the wounds as the corner-forward’s low drive couldn’t be diverted away from danger by the covering Glenavy defenders on the line and St Teresa’s were now 3-12-1-05 to the good.

Malachi Doherty landed a fantastic point on the stroke of full-time – however in the grand scheme of things it mattered little as St Teresa’s ran out 3-12-1-06 at the conclusion and claimed their first senior championship win under the guidance of Sean McGoldrick, Cathal McEvoy and Conor McCann Snr.

The Super T’s reward for victory is a quarter-final derby meeting with St John’s – bringing back memories of a famous quarter-final win over the same opponents at Rossa Park back in 2014.

St Teresa’s: A Varndell, C Mallon, D McCann, R Mallon, N McCann (0-01), E Gault, J Mallon (0-03, 0-02f), P McCaffrey, S Carey (1-00), C McGoldrick, P McGoldrick, L Gault (0-01), A Taylor (0-04, 0-03f), P Maguire (1-01), C McCann (1-01). Subs: M Mallon for L Gault (52 mins), S Maguire for L McCann (54 mins), E Connelly for S Carey (56 mins).

Glenavy: F Green, M Nelson, P Gallgher, R Philips, M Hamill, C Hamill, N Scullion, P Treanor (0-01), M Doherty (0-03), O Gallagher (0-01), M McCourt, A Gallagher (1-01), C Gallagher, T Gallagher.

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by thesaffrongael

Aldergrove blown away by ruthless Gorts

LOCC Solicitors Intermediate Football Championship

Gort Na Mona 2-16-1-09 Aldergrove

By Kevin Herron from the Bear Pit

At the midway point in this Intermediate prelim clash between Gort Na Mona and Aldergrove on Saturday afternoon there was just the minimum separating the sides and a ding dong second-half was in prospect – however Gort Na Mona steam rolled their way to the quarter-final outscoring their promotion rivals 2-08-0-03 in a dominant and confident thirty minutes of football.

The Turf Lodge men began the opening half in the ascendancy but Aldergrove rallied and led at the break thanks to Matthew Jardine’s goal with less than ten minutes to the break.

Gort seized the initiative after the break and were three to the good before Dermot McVeigh crashed home their opening goal of the afternoon – substitute Shane Scullion found his sides second minutes after his introduction to cap a glorious second-half for the Division Two promotion chasers.

There was very little to separate the sides going into the encounter with Gort arguably starting as slight favourites after their one-point win in the league in the reverse fixture at Enright Park ten days previous.

And indeed the Turf Lodge men settled quickest with Darren Boyd registering the first two points of the afternoon from play and a converted free – full-forward Padraig McHugh added a third point after a neat through ball from Brendan Corr but a goal may have been on the cards had McHugh taken time to survey his surroundings.

Aldergrove responded through a converted Fearghal Burke free and Burke doubled his tally within sixty seconds as his shot squeezed inside the upright after combing with Gerard Mallon.

Darren Boyd edged his side two –points ahead with a second converted free on the 13th minute – though Aldergrove were soon back on level terms.

Midfielder Ryan Owens determination yielded back to back scores, the first after Seany Fay picked out Tomas O’Callaghan who popped the ball over his shoulder to the advancing Owens and on 17 minutes Matthew Jardine unselfishly slipped in his midfield partner who curled the ball over the bar to level at 0-04-0-04.

The sides traded further points through Aidan McDonagh and Stephen Gorman before the opening goal arrived with little under ten minutes of the first-half remaining.

Gerard Mallon picked out the run of Ronan Hanna who threaded Jardine in one-on-one with Gort keeper Thomas McCaffrey and Jardine burst towards and net and coolly slotted past McCaffrey to give his side the lead for the first time, 1-05-0-05.

Gort Na Mona responded positively and were level by the stroke of half-time Darren Boyd was the architect with all three scores – two of which were close range converted frees and the third was a glorious hanging point after Dermot McVeigh recycled possession in the corner.

Although Gort had the late momentum it was Aldergrove who edged ahead at the break – Tomas O’Callaghan linked up with Fearghal Hanna whose high shot sailed between the posts to give his side a 1-06-0-08 lead at the interval.

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Gort Na Mona almost regained the lead four minutes after the restart when Dermot McVeigh’s attempted point dipped and crashed off the crossbar – referee Sean Laverty awarded a free in the aftermath for an illegal lift off the deck and Boyd converted the resulting free to tie the game for the fourth time.

Patrick McCaffrey then gave his side the lead for the first time since the 18th minute and it was a lead his side would fail to relinquish – ten minutes into the second-half Christopher Carson slipped in McVeigh who rounded Shane O’Neill in the Aldergrove goal and watched on in amazement as his shot from a narrow angle clipped the outside of the post and somehow stayed out.

Gort increased their lead to three however a further two points – Padraig McHugh picked out substitute Dessie McClean from a quick free and McClean shot over the bar, whilst McHugh doubled his afternoon tally two minutes later.

On 43 minutes the goal that Gort had threatened finally came to fruition as Dessie McClean robbed Gerard Mallon in possession – Brendan Corr picked up the charge and fed McVeigh who confidently rifled to the net to give his side a 1-12-1-06 lead.

It took Aldergrove until the midway point in the second period to finally register the opening score of the half – a Seany Fay shot that deflected over the bar but Gort Na Mona were in no mood to go easy on their opponents. Goalkeeper Thomas McCaffrey made his way forward to convert a 45’ and McHugh then combined with goal scorer McVeigh for his first point of the afternoon.

Darren Boyd almost curled home a second goal of the afternoon for his side – however five minutes from time substitute Shane Scullion would make an immediate impact.

Brendan Corr was shown a black-card by referee Laverty and Scullion replaced the Gort’s number ten – Patrick McCaffrey’s ball across the face of goal was poorly dealt with by Aldergrove keeper O’Neill who dropped the ball at the feet of Scullion and the substitute couldn’t believe the gift on offer and took advantage, rounding O’Neill and rifling home to give his side a 2-14-1-07 cushion.

Eamon McCourt responded for Aldergrove with a point which was a mere consolation at that stage – sharpshooter Darren Boyd ended his afternoon’s scoring in response and youngster Niall Melaney made his presence felt upon his arrival with a lovely turn and shot over the bar.

Gerard Mallon would land the final score of the game for Aldergrove and the whistle sounded in the immediate aftermath as Gort Na Mona celebrated a comfortable second-half exhibition.

The Turf Lodge side will take on Dunloy in the Quarter-final and on this showing will feel they have every chance of victory over Cuchullians.

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Gort Na Mona: T McCaffrey (0-01 45’), C Connely, T McGoran, C Devlin, G Doyle, D McErlean, B Burns, C Carson, P Conlon, B Corr, D Boyd (0-08, 0-05f), A McDonagh (0-01), D McVeigh (1-01), P McHugh (0-02), P McCaffrey (0-01). Subs: D McClean (0-01) for A McDonagh (38 mins), S Scullion (-00) for B Corr (53 mins – Black card substitute), D Hughes for D McClean (60 mins), N Melaney (0-01) for D Boyd (62 mins).

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Aldergrove: S O’Neill, P Cushley, F Carson, T O’Callaghan, S Gorman (0-01), C McVeigh, F Hanna (0-01), M Jardine (1-00), R Owens (0-02), G Mallon (0-01), F Burke (0-02, 0-01f), C O’Kane, S Fay (0-01), R Hanna, M Smart. Subs: E McCourt (0-01) for F Carson (31 mins), J Trowlen for P Cushley (41 mins), P Morris for M Jardine (46 mins), C Totten for R Hanna (49 mins), E Masterson for M Smart (53 mins).

Referee: Sean Laverty (Moneyglass)