Five-star St Ergnat’s claim U-21 B honours

Lamh Dhearg 0-10-5-14 St Ergnat’s Moneyglass

By Kevin Herron from Colaiste Feirste

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass put on a five-star display as they ruthlessly thrashed Lamh Dhearg 5-14-0-10 at Colaiste Feirste this evening to lift the Antrim U-21 B Football Championship.

A first-half hat-trick from corner forward Dermot McErlean had Moneyglass in control at the break and further goals from full-back Sean Kelly and midfielder Tiarnan Duffin completed the rout.

St Ergnat’s began the game as favourites following their semi-final win over All Saints Ballymena but would need to keep close tabs on Cameron Flynn in the Lamh Dhearg full-forward line.

St Ergnat’s landed the first punch inside of two minutes – Jack McCoy linked up with Eamonn Kelly whose popped pass to Ronan Graham was sent into the path of Dermot McErlean and the corner forward hit the net despite the best efforts of Gerard Smyth in the Lamh Dhearg goal.

**Lamh Dhearg’s Eoin McKeown is closed down by St Ergnet’s Patrick McCormick.**

The Hannahstown men rallied though as Cameron Flynn fed Declan Smyth who hit an excellent point in response.

Eoin McKeown conjured up a further fine score and a converted Mark Finnegan free on eleven minutes restored parity at 0-03-1-00.

Ben Rice saw his shot charged down but Pearse Fegan edged Lamh Dhearg ahead on 13 minutes, popping over the bar on the turn.

St Ergnat’s levelled the game up through a converted Conaill Prenter free just past the midway point and the Moneyglass men seized control on the game in the final quarter of the opening half.

On 16 minutes a long punt into the full forward line paid dividends once more as Dermot McErlean beat Gerard Smyth to the loose ball and rifled home from a tight angle to make it 2-01-0-04.

Sixty seconds later and St Ergnat’s found their third goal of the evening as McErlean beat Ryan Diamond to the ball and fired to the net for his third inside of 17 minutes to make it 3-01-0-04.

**St Ergnets celebrate their win over Lamh Dhearg in the Under 21 B Football final at Colaiste Feirste . Pics by John McIlwaine**

Jack McCoy added a further point despite his side having a penalty appeal turned away – at the other end Pearse Fegan shot over his second point of the half after a burst from Declan Dunne.

St Ergnat’s ended the half with four successive scores to lead by double figures at the break – all coming courtesy of Conaill Prenter.

The first could have been another McErlean goal but for an unselfish pass across the face of goal that Prenter turned over.

Ronan Graham’s pop to Prenter yielded a second and two further scores in injury-time from a free and play ensured his side were in firm control and 3-06-0-05 ahead at the interval.

Dermot McErlean increased his sides lead three minutes after the restart with a point after a patient and probing move.

Mark Finnegan replied with a converted free at the other end but further trouble loomed as St Ergnat’s added their fourth of the evening.

For the fourth time corner-forward McErlean was involved – this time in the providers role as he showed determination to chase a lost cause and played a pass across the face of goal that was fisted to the net by full-back Sean Kelly.

**Dermat McErlean is challenged by Lamh Dhearg goalkeeper G Smyth.**

Finnegan replied with his third converted free but two points in less than sixty seconds from Patrick McCormick and McErlean had Moneyglass 4-09-0-07 ahead with twenty minutes still to play.

Jack Summersgill landed a marvellous point as Lamh Dhearg set about salvaging and restoring some pride.

Though on 42 minutes St Ergnat’s widened the margins further with their fifth goal – a confident finish to the corner of the net from midfielder Tiernan Duffin put the game beyond all reasonable doubt .

Conaill Prenter would add his sides next three scores in between a confident Ben Rice point.

Prenter ended the evening with 0-08 to his name before departing to rapturous applause from the St Ergnat’s faithful.

Patrick McCormick and Eamonn Kelly then finished the Moneyglass’ scoring on a dominant evening and only a smart save from Gerard Smyth prevented substitute Enda Duffin from piling on further misery on the goal front.

Ben Rice finished the evenings scoring but the Hannahstown men were outclassed and beaten 5-14-0-10 by a rampant Moneyglass side who were deservedly crowned champions at the final whistle.

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass: G Murray, D Scullion, S Kelly (1-00), Peter McCormick, Patrick McCormick (0-02), P Tohill, E Kelly (0-02), T Duffin (1-00), M McLaughlin, J McCoy (0-01), R Graham, B Hamill, G Murray, C Prenter (0-08, 0-02f), D McErlean (3-01). Subs: E McErlean for M McLaughlin (34 mins), E Duffin for B Hamill (55 mins), O Duffin for P Tohill (55 mins), M Martin for C Prenter (58 mins).

Lamh Dhearg: G Smyth, R Fegan, J Trainor, N McParland, R Diamond, J Boyd, J Summersgill (0-01), D Larkin, D Dunne, E McKeown (0-01), D Smyth (0-01), B Rice (0-02), M Finnegan (0-03f), C Flynn (0-01), P Fegan (0-02). Subs: JJ Hawkins for D Larkin (8 mins), M Pettigrew for C Flynn (45 mins), A Cunningham for J Boyd (46 mins).

Referee: Tomas Eastwood