Division One Relegation Playoff
First Leg
St Mary’s, Ahoghill 1-12 St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass 1-12
Wednesday August 28
Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Uí Cheallaigh, Portglenone
60 minutes of football later and we’re no further forward to finding out who will snatch that last remaining place in Division One for the 2020 season. With it being effectively still half time in this one, two later points from substitute PJ O’Connell ensured no one had an advantage after an hour of topsy turvy football between two evenly matches sides.
Moneyglass started the contest more fluent than Ahoghill but were wasteful with their final ball. They tried to force openings in the Ahoghill defence but the St Mary’s men were well organised while looking to counter when the opportunity arose. The St Ergant’s side held a three point lead on two occasions during the opening 30 minutes but took a one point lead into the half time break.
Ahoghill started the second half well however and when Eoin Graham’s looped effort found the back of Mark Carey’s net, they had taken the lead and looked to push on. Moneyglass hit back however with man of the match Dermot McErlain scoring their goal with just over 15 minutes remaining to edge his side ahead once again.
Moneyglass looked like they would hold some sort of advantage for the second leg when Conor Boyd split the posts with a free in the 56th minute but that was their last score of the game with a Gerard Graham free and a brace from PJ O’Connell ensuring it’s still all to play for when these two meet again.
Moneyglass showed one change from the side who were so impressive in their win over Dunloy in the championship at the weekend, Kevin Marron coming in for the injured Seanchann Duffin. Ahoghill probably started slightly better from the first whistle but they were wasteful in possession and while Gerard Graham (free) and Martin Graham gave them an early two point lead, Moneyglass began to exert their running game to create chances at the other end of the pitch. Conaill Prenter landing his first of three points for the match in the seventh minute to score his sides first point of the match before McErlain (free) and Eamonn Kelly followed suit to give Moneyglass the lead in the 17th minute.
With Patrick McCormick prominent along with Jack McCoy and Sean Kelly providing width, a brace from the lively Kevin ‘Kindo’ Marron gave Moneyglass a deserved three point lead with just over ten minutes of the first half remaining. Ahoghill were wasteful with their final ball into the forwards with Conor Boyd and Gavin Murray more often than not sweeping up the loose ball.
Ahoghill got firing again in the 21st minute, Diarmuid Graham with their first score in 18 minutes and as the half progressed, spaces began to open up at either end. Prenter opened the three point lead again for Moneyglass but Ahoghill finished the half on top. Dairmuid Graham with his second of the match before Gerard Graham’s second free left one between the sides in the last minute of the half.
Jack McCoy and Colum Duffin edged Moneyglass into another three point lead but there was still time for Neill O’Connell and Joe Downey to split the uprights. Downey’s point the highlight of the half as he struck the ball with the outside of his left foot and judged his effort perfectly with the ball coming in right to left on the stroke of half time.
Half time: Moneyglass 0-8 Ahoghill 0-7
Despite Moneyglass playing more football in the first half, Ahoghill’s perseverance brought them back to within touching distance. Martin Graham and Neill O’Connell were beginning to get on top in midfield with Sean McMahon keeping tabs on Colum Duffin. Just four days ago and on the same pitch, Smiley was hugely influential in guiding his side to the next round of the championship but he had the freedom of Páirc Ui Cheallaigh then and McMahon ensured he wasn’t getting the same luxury on Wednesday evening.
Conaill Prenter opened the scoring after the restart in the 32nd minute with his third point of the game but Ahoghill hit back to score the opening goal of the game and take the lead. Eoin Graham collecting the ball on the inside forward line and while surrounded, he still managed to get his shot away at goal. Moneyglass ‘keeper Mark Carey wasn’t that far off his line but the ball still managed to loop behind him and fall into the bottom corner. A sublime finish or a piece of good fortune, either way it gave Ahoghill the momentum in this tie and when Fionnbar O’Neill pointed with the next attack, the Cloney side had a two point lead and looked to be gaining in strength.
It was Moneyglass who turned the tide however with substitute Niall Boyd finding the range to half the deficit before McErlain pounced to score the St Ergnat’s goal in the 45th minute. Prenter with the initial break and he found McErlain on the charge. Bugsy cut inside and fired to the bottom corner from 20 yards to give Francis Neeson no chance in the Ahoghill goal and restore the Moneyglass lead.
Donal Graham responded for Ahoghill but Moneyglass were controlling the tie and a brace of frees from McErlain and Conor Boyd gave them a three point lead for the third time in the match with four minutes of normal time remaining. Boyd’s score was Moneyglass’ last of the tie however as Ahoghill piled on the pressure at the death. Scores from Gerard Graham (free) and two from PJ O’Connell, the last in the fifth minute of injury time ensured the scores were tied at the full time whistle.
The only downside to this is the fact we have to wait two weeks for the second leg. It’s set up perfectly for what promises to be a tantalising second leg with these two evenly poised at ‘half time’.
TEAMS
Ahoghill: Francis Neeson; Bernard Graham, Stephen O’Connell, Gerard Graham; Eamonn Brady, Sean McMahon, Fionnbar O’Neill; Martin Graham, Neill O’Connell; Diarmuid Graham, Donal Graham, Eoin Graham; Ronan Graham, Joe Downey, Patrick Graham.
Scorers: Gerard Graham 0-3 (3 f’s); Eoin Graham 1-00; Diarmuid Graham 0-2; PJ O’Connell 0-2; Fionnbar O’Neill 0-1; Martin Graham 0-1; Neill O’Connell 0-1; Joe Downey 0-1; Donal Graham 0-1.
Moneyglass: Mark Carey; Sean Kelly, Tiernan Duffin, Peter McCormick; Jack McCoy, Conor Boyd, Eamon Kelly; Dermot McErlain, Colum Duffin; Jimmy McMeel, Paul Tohill, Patick McCormick; Gavin Murray, Kevin Marron, Conaill Prenter.
Scorers: Dermot McErlaine 1-2 (2 f’s); Conaill Prenter 0-3; Kevin Marron 0-2; Niall Boyd 0-1; Colum Duffin 0-1; Eamon Kelly 0-1; Conor Boyd 0-1 (1 f); Jack McCoy 0-1.
Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)
