Under-21 Football Championship (Phase One)
Tir na nOg Randalstown 1-14 Con Magees Glenravel 0-06
Having opened their under-21 account with a full return of points and a win at Cargin in mid-week, Tir na nOg returned to their home ground on Saturday and retained the winning habit when they proved too strong for the visitors from Glenravel.
The Whitehill side did take a time to gain the upper hand over the hard grafting Glensmen in the early stages with their net minder Conal Kerr proving most defiant. The Con Magee’s net minder pulled off a number of excellent blocking saves but despite such resistance the Whitehill Blues led 0-08 to 0-04 at the end of the opening period.
The home side started the second half on the positive and although they were forced into change in the opening minutes as the impressive Emmett Murray had to retire with a leg injury, they had seized the initiative by the 4Oth minute nipping 0-13 to 0-04 ahead and the end looked in sight.
The Glensmen tried to respond but the home side were defiant in their rear guard actions and when centre back Darren McCormick initiated a sweeping counter in which Sean Duffin, Eamon og Mc Allister, and Aiden Toland played respective roles the impressive Ciaran O’ Neill delivered to the back of the net and the die was cast.
Glenravel retained focus right to conclusion adding a couple of late points but the home side had enough in hand and took opportunity to give their bench playing time in the closing stages.
Tir na nOg started their second game in the new look under-21 football championship as favourites as they welcomed Glenravel to Whitehill on Saturday afternoon but nothing separated the sides in the opening phase.
Eamon Og McAllister had opened account for the home side with a 2nd minute point but Glenravel replied through Eoin Hynds at the other end to tie the contest.
Aaron McNeilly raised a white flag to edge Tir na nOg ahead again but Odhran McAlennan nipped away to make it 0-02 apiece at the 12th minute.
Tir na nOg stepped on the gas after a tentative start in which a few chances were missed with the pace laden Emmett Murray leading the charge and points from the latter, Aiden Toland, Dara Feagan, and Aaron Mc Neilly saw them at 0-07 to 0-02 at the 22nd minute.
Damien Hagen’s side looked in charge and only a few missed opportunities and the intervention of the Glenravel keeper Conal Kerr, who stood tall on a couple of occasions to deny Aiden Toland and Aaron McNeilly, kept the Con Magee’s in touch.
The visitors added a point to their total in the 25th minute after their net minder had made another excellent save with the clearance opening the way for Aiden O’ Donnell to split the posts and when mid-fielder Eoin Hynds followed Aaron Mc Neilly’s lead with another for the Glensmen they were still much in the hunt at the end of the opening period with Tir na nOg at 0-08 to 0-04 ahead.
Tir na nOg started the second half with a couple of early scores from the excellent Emmett Murray but although the corner man was forced out of the action shortly after, the home side were on the march.
Ciaran O’Neill was leading by example in the blue and white and it was after a brace of points from Barry McCormick and another from Dara Feagan that the 17 year old was much involved in a sweeping movement which saw him finish to the net and the Whitehill boys were 1-14 to 0-05 ahead.
The Randalstown lads looked in for another major shortly after as centre back Darren McCormick got on the end of another well laid approach but the Glenravel keeper came to his side’s rescue once more.
The home side eased up on the accelerator in the latter stages taking opportunity to give game time to the ‘bench’ and a further point from replacement Dean Wright and a couple from Glenravel’s Aiden O’ Donnell and Darragh Donaghy in reply saw the home side conclude with a 1-14 to 0-06 advantage and a place in the quarter finals beckoning.
Tir na nOg: SP McAtamney, Oliver McAtamney, Daniel Martin, Declan Mallon, Eamon Og McAllister (0-01), Darren McCormick, Peter Cullan, Barry McCormick (0-02), Sean Duffin, Michael Toland (0-01), Aaron McNeilly (0-03), Ciaran O’ Neill (1-00), Aiden Toland (0-01), Dara Feagan (0-02), Emmett Murray (0-03)
Subs
Stephen Carey for E Murray
Ciaran Porter for D Feagan
Dean Wright for A Mc Neilly
Daniel Hastings for B Mc Cormick
Glenravel: Conal Kerr, Declan McAuley, Charlie Henry, James brown, Ruairi Lennon, Conor Carey, Aiden Mc Kenna, Niall Swann, Eoin Hynds (0-02), Darragh Donaghy (0-01), Aiden O’ Donnell (0-02), Seannan Black, Odhran Mc Alennan (0-01), Adam Neeson, Conleth O’ Loane
Subs
Michael Laverty for J Brown
Caolan Mullan for O McAlennan
Referee Gerard Dougan (Kickham’s)