ACCL Division 2
Tír na nÓg 4.16 (28)
St. John’s 0.5 (5)
In a re-fixed game that was scheduled for last Thursday night but called off last minute due to thunder and lightning, St. John’s made the trip to Whitehill to face Tír na nÓg in both team’s first games of the league campaign.
On a cool bright evening in Randalstown the home side ran riot throughout and used the opportunity to give many young players the opportunity to make their mark in the senior team. Minor County star Emma McAreavy scored 1-3 from corner forward within the first 10minutes with Emily Falloon and Aimee McAtamney tagging on two points each. St. John’s scored on their first attack up the field but this was cancelled out when Aimee McAtamney dropped a long range free into Caitlin McGaughey who got Tír na nÓg’s second major of the game.
Tír na nÓg continued to dominate with Dervla O’Neill and Caitlin Martin setting up attacks after breaking from defence. Aine Mooney kept the home sides full back line in tight order and held St. John’s to a single point until the 17th minute when they spilt the posts and got their second.
Cameron McGaughey continued to attack from wing half back and found her sister Caitlin who put the ball over the black spot. Before the end of the half Tír na nÓg tagged on another 13, with Aimee McAtamney striking 1-2 and Emily Falloon making no mistake with a 45 to leave the half time score 3.10 to 0.3.
With many youngsters introduced for the home side in the second half, Niamh Martin made her mark finishing with a tally of 13. Carrie-Ann Williamson pulled off a couple of excellent saves for the visitors and Una Simpson, Orla Corr and Eimhear Costello caused the Tír na nÓg defence a few headaches with some demanding runs and accurate passes inside. Emily Fallon continued to cause stress to the St. John’s defence and finished with another 2 points while Medb O’Dolan also got in on the act and scored a well taken score which was to be the last of the game.
In an action packed week Tír na nÓg travel to Dunloy on Thursday evening and St. John’s face Cargin away from home.
Tír na nÓg
1. H. Crilly 2. C. McAreavy 3. A. Mooney 5. C. Martin 6. O. McKeown 7. Cameron McGaughey 8. D. O’Neill 9. C. Bicknell 10. N. Callan 11. A. McAtamney 12. E. Falloon 13. E. McAreavy 14. Caitlin. McGaughey 16.R Bonnes 17. M. Shannon 18. J. McLoughlin 19. M. O’Dolan 20. N. Martin 21. S. McMullan 22. C. McStravick 23. C. O’Neill
Subs used: R. Bonnes for E. McAreavy, N. Martin for Caitlin McGaughey, M. O’Dolan for N. Callan, J. McLoughlin for C. McAreavy, C. McStravick for O. McKeown, C. McStravick for C. Martin
Scorers: E. McAreavy (1.3), E. Falloon (0.4- 3 frees), A. McAtamney (1.4), C. McGaughey (1.1), N. Martin (1.3), M. O’Dolan (0.1)
