Buncrana Cup
Armagh 0-5 Antrim 2-10
Antrim U16 footballers began their Buncrana cup campaign with a comprehensive victory over the Orchard County in the Athletic grounds. Played in horrendous conditions the Saffrons elected to play against the gale force wind in the first half and quickly set about their task of keeping the locals outside the ‘45 and making them shoot from distance. Thus the game pattern was set, and with Armagh finding it difficult to get themselves into scoring positions a turnover by Antoin McLaughlin resulted in a quick break up the field where Sean Duffin was fouled. Ryan McQuillan slotted the resulting free into the wind. Antrim continued to force Armagh to turn over the ball and their quick break outs resulted in McQuillan slotting two more frees. A short kick out by John McCooey was worked brilliantly up the field by Conleith O’Toole and Dan McNicholl, and with the Armagh defence stretched the powerful Finn Mailley thumped the ball to net. Another intelligent kick out by the Antrim Keeper saw Conail McGirr find Captain Sean Duffin with a long ball and the Creggan forward feed Ronan McKillop but the All saints lad shot rebounded off the post into the arms of the vigilant Callum Higgins who passed across the box for McQuillan to drive to the net. Armagh’s first point of the half came in the twenty ninth minute with St Pats Armagh midfielder Campbell put over a free from 25 metres. Half time Armagh 0-1 Antrim 2-3.
To say Armagh had been shocked by the quality of the opposition tackling and intensity of Antrim is an understatement. The home side came out in the second half much more determined and began to get to grips with the game. The midfield battle between Campbelll and Eunan Quinn became quite a dual, with both lads finding their shooting boots to slot points in the opening exchanges. Sean O’Callaghan at Centre back for Antrim , was in fine form, and marshalling his defence to once again limited Armagh’s scoring chances. The home side did manage another point from the pacey Clarke quickly followed by two more from McKeever. At this point Antrim introduced a number of substitutions and the fresh legs seemed to reinvigorate the away side , with Aidan McErlean, Matthew Maynes and O’Toole all scoring excellent points. Antrim closed out the game with Dan McNicholl adding another single and McQuillan slotting two more frees. An excellent overall performance by the young Antrim side who now play Monaghan in Dunsilly on the 16th March in the next round. Final score Armagh 0-5 Antrim 2-10
John McCooey St Brides
Antoin McLaughlin Davitss
Darragh Doherty St Josephs
Patrick Moyes Rossa
Conleith O’Toole St James (0-1)
Shaun O’Callaghan All Saints
Conail McGirr St Galls
Eunan Quinn Erins Own (0-1)
Daniel McNicholl Casements(0-1)
Finn Mailley St Josephs (1-0)
Sean Duffin Creggan Capt
Ronan McKillop All Saints
Barra McCaffrey Rossa
Callum Higgins Con Magee
Ryan McQuillan Con Magee (1-5)
Subs
Jack Hannon(St Marys Aghagallon) for Patrick Moyes
Callum Montgomery (st Marys Rasharkin) for Eunan Quinn
Matthew Maynes St Johns (0-1) for Ronan McKillop
Aidan McErlain St Ernatts (0-1) for Sean Duffin
Mark Canavan St Brides for Conleith O’toole