Homefit ACFL Division One (reserve)
Erin’s Own Cargin 2-20 Gort na Mona 2-08
Cargin’s second string got back to winning ways at a cold and windy Toome on Friday evening when they gained the points at the expense of the visiting Gort na Mona.
The Toome men having started the present campaign on the positive with a first round win over Portglenone were knocked out of their stride last time when they lost to St Brigid’s but were quickly out of the start blocks for this one.
The West Belfast side did signal intent when Conor Mc Cann bagged a 9th minute goal but such was soon to be negated when Eunan Quinn nipped through the middle to find the net at the other end.
Eunan Quinn, David Johnston, Odhran Mc Guckin and the indomitable Kieran Close raised early white flags before the visitors grabbed their goal but Quinn’s response at the other end left the home side leading 1-04 to 1-00.
A Eunan Quinn pointed free edged the home side further ahead and although Tiernan Morton replied for the Gorts with a couple of minors at the other end Quinn replied with a couple for the Toome men with PJ Quinn and Kieran Close also raising white flags.
The Erin’s Own had taken firm control as the opening period drew to a close and as half time drew near a superb diagonal long range delivery from Benen Kelly opened the door for corner man PJ Quinn to finish in style to the back of the net.
A 31st minute free by the visitors Tiernan Morton was the last score of the half with Cargin taking respite at 2-09 to 1-03.
Cargin had the breeze at their back for the second half and opened brightly with Conan Kennedy, Odhran Mc Guckin and Ronan Devlin with a long range effort hitting early points.
Gort na Mona were on the back foot but they were about to respond as a superbly delivered Niall Melaney cross opened the way for the incoming Brian Mc Carthy to punch to the back of the net.
An excellent score coming to aid the cause of the visitors but the home side were quick to strike back as Shane Gribbon and replacement Shay Bovill fired between the posts to see their side 2-14 to 2-03 ahead at the three quarter mark. Indeed the gap could have been greater but net minder Brian Burns made an excellent save to deny Ronan Devlin what looked a certain goal.
Back to back points from Niall Melaney kept the visitors fading hopes alive but any glimmer of light was quickly extinguished as Shane Gribbin added back to back points in the Cargin cause with Eunan Quinn, PJ Quinn, and Ronan Devlin following suit and that was that.
Conor Fitzsimmons and the hard working Niall Melaney added late points to the Gort na Mona cause but these were merely consolation scores with Cargin crossing the winning line full value for their 2-20 to 2-08 winning margin.
Cargin: Shay Bovill (0-01), Sean og Quinn, Gerard Mc Corley, Malachi Johnston, Brian og Devlin, Brendan Laverty, Ronan Devlin (0-02), Benen Kelly (0-01), Eunan Quinn (1-05), David Johnston (0-01), Kieran Close (0-04), Shane Gribbon (0-03), PJ Quinn (1-02), Odhran Mc Guckin (0-02), Conan Kennedy (0-01)
Subs
David Mc Elhone for G Mc Corley
Tony Scullion for B Devlin
Mark Keegan for D Johnston
Tomas Laverty for S Bovill
Shay Bovill for O Mc Guckin
Ben Dobbin for S Gribbon
Gort na Mona: Brian Burns, Darren Cahill, Michael Sabhaois, Barry Chambers, Sean Campbell, Ciaran Donnelly, Conor Mc Cann (1-00), Shay Mc Stravog, Brian Mc Carthy (1-00), Aiden Dempster, Niall Melaney (0-04), Tiernan Morton (0-03), Conor Fitzsimmons (0-01), Paul Mullan, Aiden Donnelly
Referee John Moran (Aldergrove)