U21 Football Championship Quarter Final

St. John’s  1-5 (8)

Tír na nÓg 5-8 (23)

Despite celebrating their Annual Dinner the night before Tir na nOg, Randalstown served notice that they had their eyes firmly focused on the U21 Championship with this impressive victory over St. John’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday morning.

The first 10 minutes of this game were fairly even with both teams playing most of their football around the middle of the field, getting to grips with the slippery conditions under foot. The visitors missed a few scoring opportunities before full forward Stephen Carey finished to the back of the net after 8 minutes to set them on their way. Man of the match Ciaran Dobbin jinked past his man to get his first score of the game as he displayed electric pace when attacking down the flank. Mid-fielder Darragh Fagan added his first score of the game before St. John’s reduced the deficit with their first attack scoring a goal.

Fagan doubled his tally with a well taken free after a foul on talisman Dobbin and Naomh Eoin only managed one more point in the opening half whilst Ciaran Dobbin added a further 1-1 to the visitors score leaving the half time score 2-4 to 1-1

Despite leading by 6 points it was evident this game was not put to bed just yet. St. John’s proved this when they scored the opening 2 points of the half to reduce Whitehill’s lead to 3 and it looked like we were in for a battle.. SubstituteEmmett Murray made an instant impact with his introduction at half time. And after just 5 minutes he found the back of the net twice. He finished the first with his right foot after a strong attacking run from Darren McCormick and the second palmed to the net after Eamon Óg McAllister turned over a kick out and Ciaran O’Neill played the ball across the square.

Dobbin tagged on two further points assisted by Aodhan Tolan who had a fantastic game at centre half forward and Oliver McAtamney before being denied by the bar. St. John’s would only manage another two points in the half while further points for the Randalstown men came from Dobbin, Fagan and a 58th minute goal from a 45 from Ciaran O’Neill.

This results sets up a Randalstown derby between Tír na nÓg and Creggan in one week’s time.

Tir na nOg: 1. R. Conceicao 2. M. Porter  3. D. Mallon 4. O. McAtamney 5. C. O’Neill 6. P. Cullen 7. A. McNeilly 8. D. McCormick 9. D. Fagan 10. E. Óg McAllister 11. A. Tolan 12. C. Dobbin 13. D. Hastings 14. S. Carey 15. J. Webb 16. E. Murray 17. R. Griffin 18. T. Potter

Sub: R. Griffin for D. Hastings (HT), E. Murray for S. Carey (HT), D. Hastings for M. Porter (40mins), T. Potter for E. Óg McAllister (56mins).