Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship
Lamh Dhearg 3-13-1-06 Ahoghill
From Kevin Herron at Corrigan Park
Lamh Dhearg advanced to the quarter-final of the Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship after a comfortable 3-13-1-06 victory over Ahoghill at Corrigan Park this evening.
Despite making a blistering start and hitting the net through Marc Jordan, the Lamhs laboured slightly and scores from Neil O’Connell brought the hosts back into contention at the break.
Terry McCrudden’s goal was almost instantly cancelled out by Diarmuid Graham at the beginning of the second half – but a Declan Smyth goal saw the Hannahstown men back in the box seat and they drove onto victory and a clash with Creggan in the quarter-final in two-weeks time.
Lamh Dhearg began the game as favourites against an Ahoghill side who could have been forgiven for having their minds on the upcoming promotion and relegation play-off clash with Moneyglass.
With less than sixty seconds on the clock it was the Lamhs who forged ahead, working the ball back toward goalkeeper John Finucane – the red hands launched a stinging counter and super passing move saw Kevin Quinn and Ryan Straney combine, Straney’s popped pass releases Marc Jordan who rifled into the top corner- giving Francis Neeson little chance.
Paddy Cunningham (free) and Ryan Murray hit the Hannahstown sides first two points of the contest and both linked up excellently for a superb Cunningham point to make it 1-03-0-00 early on.
A converted Donal Graham free got Ahoghill off the mark and midfielder Neil O’Connell followed up with a second before the midway point.
Momentum was with the country side and Patrick Graham and PJ O’Connell (free) cut the deficit to two points (1-03-0-04).
An outstanding Declan Lynch score was followed by a long scoreless period, eventually ended with a second Neil O’Connell point of the half.
Lamh Dhearg ended the half with back to back points from Eoin McKeown and Ryan Straney to claim a 1-06-0-05 advantage at the interval.
The Lamhs replicated their start to the opening half- though not as quickly. Three minutes after the restart Eoin McKeown’s lofted pass to Pearse Fitzsimons was fed across to Terry McCrudden unmarked and the corner-forward palmed the ball to the net to give his side a 2-06-0-05 lead.
The celebrations were short-lived however and Ahoghill replied almost instantly with Diarmuid Graham untidily scrambling the ball to the net to make it 2-06-1-05.
Paddy Cunningham (free) and PJ O’Connell exchanged points but in the final twenty minutes it was one way traffic at Corrigan Park as the Lamhs kicked-onto victory.
A third converted Paddy Cunningham free of the evening was followed by a well taken point from substitute Conor Murray.
With a quarter of an hour remaining it was game, set and match as Lamh Dhearg conjured their third goal of the evening.
A Kevin Quinn pass on top of goalkeeper Francis Neeson was palmed to the net by substitute Declan Smyth to ensure his side were 3-10-1-06 to the good.
Smyth (45’) and Ryan Murray followed up with further points and Paddy Cunningham finished off the job for the Hannahstown men with a fourth converted free of the evening, followed by his second point from play as his side ran out 3-13-1-06 winners and booked their place in the quarter final in two-weeks time.
Lamh Dhearg: J Finucane, P Larkin, P Mervyn, M McGarry, D Lynch (0-01), M Herron, B Rice, P Fitzsimons, K Quinn, E McKeown (0-01), R Straney (0-01), M Jordan (1-00), P Cunningham (0-06, 0-04f), R Murray (0-02), T McCrudden (1-00). Subs: C Murray (0-01) for R Straney (34 mins); C Nolan for P Larkin (39 mins); D Smyth (1-01, 0-01 45’) for T McCrudden (41 mins); R Diamond for D Lynch (52 mins); M Finnegan for R Murray (54 mins); D Bellew for E McKeown (56 mins).
Ahoghill: F Neeson, B Graham, S O’Connell, G Graham, E Brady, S McMahon, F O’Neill, M Graham, N O’Connell (0-02), D O’Neill, PJ O’Connell (0-02, 0-01f), E Graham, R Graham, D Graham (0-01f), P Graham (0-01). Subs: D Graham (1-00) for D O’Neill (23 mins); T McGlone for D Graham (42 mins); J Downey for P Graham (60 mins).
Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)
