Under-16A Football Championship (quarter-final)
Erin’s Own Cargin 4-12 St James Aldergrove 2-13
A late goal from Cargin’s Callum Gribbin settled this U16A football Championship game in Toome last night. With the result still in the balance and time almost up Gribbin struck the killer blow to put the contest out of reach of a battling Aldergrove.
Second half replacement Gribbin got on the end of a move started in defence by corner back Hugh O’ Donnell with the impressive Conhuir Johnston leaving several trailing in his wake to place Gribbin who made no mistake.
The Toome lads held a five point advantage at half time and that lead had increased to 3-11 to 2-05 when full forward Conhuir Johnston bagged his hat trick when he raised a third green flag at the end of the third quarter.
The visitors were first to strike with David Johnston and Ronan Aiken raising whites apiece but Erin’s Own, who had been well beaten by Aldergrove in the league were ahead by the 13th minute with four unanswered points through Eunan Quinn (2), Tom Shivers and Conhuir Johnston.
Aldergrove regained advantage when Ronan Aiken found the net at the other end but the home side, after a tentative opening slowly gained control. Cahir Donnelly, Conan Johnston, and Diarmuid Mc Peake got to grips in defence while Conan Kennedy was more than willing to take the game to the opposition, carrying the ball forward at every opportunity.
Conhuir Johnston struck with a second goal as Conan Johnston, Shane Gribbin, and Eunan Quinn combined to open the way for the talented full forward as Cargin settled well to the task to put his side into a 2-07 to 1-05 interval advantage.
Cargin began the second in a similar mode but the impressive Daniel Shiels grabbed a 42nd minute goal to bring an end to a period of the home sides dominance in which they had raised four white flags. Conhuir Johnston completed his hat trick shortly after and the home side looked in charge.
The Crumlin lads had other ideas however and led by the talented Daniel Shiels they set about reeling back their hosts. The visitors piled on the pressure and looked on their way to complete an unlikely comeback as they reduced the deficit to a couple of points, 3-11 to 2-11 by the 57th minute.
Daniel Shiels led the way with five excellent points and with both David Johnston and Ronan Aiken making contribution they looked very much on the march.
The visitors might well have been back on terms but Cargin net minder Shea Laverty came to his side’s rescue with a good save to deny Shiels after a strong approach in the 55th minute.
The Cargin lads, having seen what had previously looked a comfortable advantage eroded, looked in some trouble and those problems were exacerbated further when centre forward Eunan Quinn was issued with a black card in the frantic activity of the closing stages.
Progress to the last four now looked in doubt as Aldergrove pressed in pursuit of further scores with time still on their side but as they pressed forward Cargin’s corner back, Hugh O’ Donnell made a vital interception.
Cahir O’ Donnell completed the clearance and Conhuir Johnston collected and broke through the middle before placing Callum Gribbin to finish with aplomb.
Aldergrove kept battling in the closing stages which included seven minutes added time but the home side stood firm in defence and a late Shane Gribbin point saw them through to a place in the semi-final.
Cargin: Shea Laverty, Hugh O’ Donnell, Cahir Donnelly, Diarmuid Mc Peake, Cahir O’ Boyle, Conan Johnston, Conan Kennedy (0-01), Odhran Molloy, Charlie Mc Cann, Shane Gribbin (0-01), Eunan Quinn (0-07), Caomhinn Kennedy, Kian Scullion, Conhuir Johnston (3-02), Tom Shivers (0-01)
Subs:
Ben Mc Larnon for C Kennedy
Callum Gribbin (1-00) for K Scullion
Aldergrove: Ruairi McBriar, Ruairi O’ Neill, Logan Fleming, Eamon Magee, Aiden Irvine, Malachy Burns, Dylan Brazier, Eoin Gough, Adam Connolly, Glenn Dunham, David Johnston (1-02), Ronan Aiken (0-02), Conal Hanna, Matthew Keenan, Dan Shiels (1- 09)
Referee Richard Leahy (St Comgall’s)