U21 Football Championship – Group 3
All Saints, Ballymena 0-7 Dunloy Cuchullains 6-14
Brendan McTaggart reports from Slemish Park, Ballymena
Dunloy made it two wins from two in the U21 football championship on Tuesday night with a thoroughly comprehensive victory over All Saints. Despite a slow start where the home side held a two point lead mid-way through the first half, the Cuchullains took over and dominated.
The home side’s chances were harmed with the early dismissal of senior player Connell Lemon after just ten minutes and half back Anthony McAvoy with a quarter of the match still remaining but the Cuchullains ran riot in the second half to rack up a 25 point victory.
Full forward and man of the match Eoin ‘Sammy’ O’Neill was the hat-trick hero on the night for the Cuchullains although he wouldn’t have known too much about his second major in the first half while Seaan Elliott, Deáglán Smith and substitute Ronan Molloy also added goals for their side.
With 10 different scorers on the night, it was a complete team performance by the Cuchullains. All Saints forward line of Brendan McDonnell, Eoin Campbell and Shea O’Brien always looked dangerous but they couldn’t get enough quality ball to make a difference. The home side played with the wind in the opening half and tactically had their game plan perfect. Isolating their dangerous forwards while winning the lions share of possession in midfield. Even with the early dismissal of Lemon for an off the ball incident, the home side were more clinical and opened a two point lead by the 13th minute with Brendan McDonnell landing all four points for the Saints.
Dunloy were wasteful in front of the target in the opening exchanges but as the half progressed they began to make the man advantage tell. The sides were tied on five points each when O’Neill scored two goals in as many minutes to shift the momentum firmly in Dunloy’s favour. His first was a predatory goal after Emmet McAllister lost the flight on a long range pointed effort from Seaan Elliott, the ball went loose and O’Neill swept the ball to the back of the net. O’Neill’s second came after an incisive move between the Smith brothers Deáglán and Anthony released Eoghan McGrath through on goal. ‘Tuggy’s’ goal bound effort ricocheted off O’Neill’s back to the net though to give the Cuchullains a 2-5 to 0-5 lead at the short whistle.
Man of the match Eoin ‘Sammy’ O’Neill
The visitors to Slemish Park extended their lead to 10 points with Eoghan McGrath (two), Seaan Elliott and Conal Cunning (free) finding the target. The Ballymena men responded with a fine score from Brendan McDonnell to take his tally to 0-5 for the match but Dunloy went through the gears to take the game away from the home side.
A blistering run from Seaan Elliott resulted in the Cuchullains third goal in the 44th minute before the homes side were reduced to 13 men just two minutes later. Anthony McAvoy’s seeing red for a black card to go along with his earlier yellow.
The fourth Dunloy major came moments later, midfielder Smith starting and finishing a flowing move through the heart of the All Saints defence before firing beyond McAllister in the All Saints goals.
As both sides made changes, Dunloy continued to dominate. O’Neill completed his hat-trick in the 55th minute with a tidy finish with Ronan Molloy adding the sixth major for the Cuchullains in the last minute of normal time.
A comprehensive win for the Cuchullains who have all but sealed their seeded position for the ‘A’ grade once the round robin phase is completed.
TEAMS
All Saints: Emmet McAllister; Matthew Downey, Padhraig Magill, Eoin Walsh; James McDonnell, Rhys O’Mullan, Anthony McAvoy; Niall Shannon, Rónán Ward; Kavan Keenan, Connell Lemon, Ryan McKenna; Eoin Campbell, Shea O’Brien, Brendan McDonnell.
Dunloy: Oisin McPoland; Oisin McErlean, Aaron Crawford, Anton McGrath; Conor Kinsella, Callum Scullion, Ryan Elliott; Keelan Molloy, Deáglán Smith; Chrissy McMahon, Conal Cunning, Eoghan McGrath; Anthony Smith, Eoin O’Neill, Seaan Elliott.
Scorers for All Saints: Brendan McDonnell 0-5; Shea O’Brien 0-2 (2 f’s)
Scorers for Dunloy: Eoin O’Neill 3-00; Seaan Elliott 1-2; Deáglán Smith 1-1; Conal Cunning 0-3 (1 f); Eoghan McGrath 0-3; Ronan Molloy 1-00; Keelan Molloy 0-2 (0-1 f); Chrissy McMahon 0-1; Aaron Crawford 0-1; Anthony Smith 0-1.
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Glen Rovers, Armoy)