Month / May 2021

by thesaffrongael

Hard working Gorts secure the points

Homefit ACFL Division 1

Gort na Mona 1-13 Aghagallon 0-13

On a great evening for football with the playing surface at Pairc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh in great condition both sides played their part in an entertaining encounter with Gort na Mona securing the points against St Mary’s Aghagallon with a hard working display.

The first quarter saw both sides exchange scores and as the water break approached the hosts got a free 20 meters out when Dermot McVeigh was fouled, he picked himself up and when everyone else seemed to switch off he took a quick free and was rewarded with a goal.

Before the half time break St Mary’s had pulled level again with Darryl Mc Alernon scoring twice, Gort na Mona missed a few chances to add to their lead with Thomas McCaffery leaving his goal to hit three long range frees but only converted one of them. The hosts did enter the break with the minimum between the teams when Niall Mulaney opened his account with a well taken score from the right that skimmed the bar as it went over.

Half time Gort na Mona 1:05 St Mary’s 0:07

Gort na Mona got out of the blocks better in the second half with Patrick McCaffery and

Caoimhean Magee picking up points – and Magee was instrumental in them holding onto that lead, chasing every breaking ball and orchestrating those around him to do the same.

Niall Mulaney and Gareth Magee traded a couple of pointed frees each to keep the score board ticking over but the best score of the game came when Aidan McDonagh collected the ball on the side line in front of his own dug out. He drove forward and then along the touch line, approaching the goal from a tight angle he tested Luke Mulholland in the Aghagallon goal but he was equal to it and parried the shot over the bar.

That period belonged to the hosts and they extended their lead to 1:10 to 0:09.

The final period was notable as both teams struggled to keep possession of the ball – sloppy passing was typified when as St Mary’s pushed forward Patrick Mc Caffery found himself in acres of space and despite screaming for the ball it fell short and he had to check his run resulting in a covering challenge. However Niall Mulaney scored from the resultant free. Aghagallon did mount a mini revival with Jack Lenehan fielding well in the middle of the park to set himself up for a point and Jamie Lamont for another but the trustworthy Niall Mulaney ensured the gap wasn’t allowed to close and he was on hand to slot over a beautiful point from the shadow of the wall and another two frees.

Gareth Magee did get two from play. As the game came to a close Gort na Mona broke in numbers with some good inter-passing resulting in corner back Conor Connolly finding himself in a shooting position and he opted for goal when a point would have sealed the victory. His shot was well blocked by Luke Mulholland and the ball stayed in play to allow one final attack by the visitors. However the hosts were determined to hold what they had and unable to penetrate the 20 metre line Jack Lenehan was forced to shoot for goal from distance, and his blocked effort saw referee Darren McKeown bring the game to a close.

Gort na Mona: Tomas Mc Caffery (0:01f), Conor Connolly, Tiernan Keenan (0:01), Michael Savage, Ciaran Donnelly, Neil Henry, Padraig Courine, Caoimhean Magee (0:01)

Padraig Mc Hugh, Sean Campbell, Patrick Mc Caffery (0:02) Tiernan Morton, Aidan Mc Donagh (0:01) Dermot Mc Veigh (1:01) Niall Mulaney 0:06 4f)

Reece Coleman for Padraig Courine, Darren Cahill for Tiernan Morton

St Mary’s: Luke Mulholland, Steven Branagan, Dan Donnelly, Aidan Mulholland, Jamie Lamont (0:03), Darryl Mc Alernon (0:02) Paul Mulholland, Jack Lenehan (0:01), Niall Mc Shane, Jack Hannon, Dessie Marshall, Marc McAfee, Ruairi Loughran, Ruairi McCann (0:01) Gareth Magee (0:06 4f), Pauric Maginnis for Paul Mulholland, Liam Russell for Ruairi McCann, Conor Mc Kavanagh for Ruairi Loughran, Hugh Hannon for Dessie Marshall

by thesaffrongael

Lisburn hold off late St Malachy’s rally

Antrim Football League Division 3

St Malachy’s 2-7 St Patrick’s Lisburn 2-10

Naomh Padraig Lisburn travelled to Cherryvale on Wednesday evening and beat old rivals St Malachy’s by 2-10 to 2-7 in Division 3 of the Antrim Fooball League.

Oisin McMullan opened the scoring for Lisburn in the first minute, and though St Malachy’s were soon level through a Anto Devlin point, the visitors pushed on with points from Jack McMullan and Marko Chernek in the 7th and 8th minutes to take a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. St Malachy’s came back to level with points in the 10th and 13th minutes through Anton McGreevy and they hit the front when a McGreevy 45 went all the way to the Lisburn net.

Naomh Padraig came back to level on 19 minutes when Aaron Thompson found the St Mal’s net and in the dying minutes of the first half Conor Dixon and Frances McMeel fired over points to give them a two point cushion at the half time whistle.

Oisin Gormon increased the visitors lead a minute into the second half when he sent over a point from play but the home team replied five minutes later through top scorer McGreevy. Four points without reply from Francis McMeel (2), Conor Dixon and Conor Erwin put Lisburn in command as they opened up an eight point lead, but St Malachy’s were far from finished and they produced a late rally that brought points from Jack McGivern and Patrick Turley and an injury time goal from Conor Russell to leave just three between them at the end.

by thesaffrongael

Around the world but St. Ergnat’s still unbeaten

ACFL Division 2

Moneyglass 0-12 Dunloy 0-9

With the Moneyglass pitch unplayable St. Ergnat’s seemed to have been around the world for a shortcut before travelling to Dunloy and defeating the Cuchullian’s by three points. Attempts to switch the game to Portglenone were scuppered when the home side were informed that they would have to concede home advantage but in the end it didn’t matter.

When the action did get going this repeat of last year’s Intermediate final turned out a thoroughly entertaining affair but in the end it was Intermediate champions Moneyglass who prevailed again.

The early exchanges were fairly even with Seanchan Duffin hitting two early points for Moneyglass and Kevin McQuillan and Caolan Gillan (0-2) edging the Pearse Park side 0-3 to 0-2 ahead after 12 minutes play.

Visitors Moneyglass took a time to settle but gradually began to gain the upper hand and points from Niall Boyd, Jack McCoy, Ryan Doyle and two from Colum Duffin  had them four ahead with Declan McGarry relying with a late point for Dunloy to leave the half time score 0-7 to 0-4 in favour of the visitors.

Patrick McCormick and Colm Duffin extended the visitors lead to five after five minutes of the second half with Declan McGarry replying for the Cuchullain’s with a point in the 8th minute. McGarry was to prove Dunloy’s greatest scoring threat and his prowess from the placed ball kept his side in touch but it was the St. Ergnat’s men who kept their noses in front.

Colm Duffin gave another solid performance at midfield as he added his fourth point in the 42 minute with McGarry replying from a couple of frees. Niall Boyd for Moneyglass and Karl Fitzpatrick for Dunloy added further points before Dunloy made victory secure with the final point of the game, almost on time.

A second win from two starts for the Moneyglass side and they now joint St. James Aldergrove and Tir na nOg on four points and these three are the sides that the rest will have to catch if they are to be in the hunt at the end of the league campaign.

by thesaffrongael

Late points seals it for the Saints

Antrim Football League Division 2

Con Magees 0-10 all Saints 0-12

A strong third quarter by visitors All Saints set them up for a win over local rivals Con Magees in Wednesday evening’s Division 2 League tie at Fr Maginn Park, Glenravel. The home side had the better of the opening half and led by 0-9 to 0-7 at half time. However all was to change after the restart as All Saints took control to hit six of next seven scores, and though the home side fought back to level matters going into injury time All Saints finished strongly and sealed the win with two late points from Michael McCarry and Brendan McDonnell.

In a game played in constant rain Con Magees got away to a great start when Eoin Hynds pointed frees in the second and fourth minutes. Brendan McDonnell opened All Saints account in the fifth minute but a pointed free from distance by Aidan O’Donnell and a sweetly struck point from play by Rian Lennon had the Glenravel men 0-4 to 0-1 to the good, though Rory McVeigh pulled one back for the visitors just before the first half water break (Con Magees 0-4 All Saints 0-2)

Sean McVeigh pointed on 18 minutes for All Saints to close the gap to a single point, but points from Darragh Donaghy and Eoin Hynds on 21 and 22 minutes put the home team three ahead. All Saints had the ball in the back of the Con Magees net as Kavan Keenan fired home, but the score was ruled out for a ‘square’ infringement, though Michael McCarry pulled a point back for the men in black to leave just two between the sides at the interval. (Con Magees 0-9 All Saints 0-7)

The Ballymena men flew from the traps at the start of the second half and they were level inside two minutes as Emmet Killough and Peter ‘Pizza’ McReynolds fired over points. Eoin Hynds came back with one from a free for Con Magees, but it was to be their last score for 17 minutes as the visitors took control. Pizza, Ronan McKillop and Michale McCarry came back with points to put the Saints two ahead by the second half water break and they increased that lead to three on 20 minutes with an excellent point from Kavan Keenan.

Glenravel were in trouble but they responded well and a sweetly taken point from out on the right wing from Conleth O’Loan was followed by one from David Higgins from close range and another from an Eoin Hynds free to tie the scores.

Going into injury time it looked like the points would be shared but All Saints finished strongly as McCarry and McDonnell fired over points to seal the win.

CON MAGEES

Shaun O’Boyle, Darragh Donagy, Paul McCurry, Conor Carey, Calum Higgins, Niall Swann, Eoin McCusker, Eoin Hynds, Conleth O’Loan, Declan Traynor, Rian Lennon, Sean McKay, David Higgins, Aidan O’Donnell.

ALL SAINTS

Steven McAvoy, Joe Rafferty,  Cormac Lemon, Rhys O’Mullan, Kavan Keenan, Ciaran McGarry, Emmett Killough, Sean Mcveigh, Peter McReynolds, Matthew Corr, Connell Lemon, Shea O’Brien, Michael McCarry,  Rory McVeigh, Brendan McDonnell

Referee – Gerard Dougan (Creggan)

by thesaffrongael

Creggan and Rossa can’t be separated

Homefit ACFL Division 1

Kickham’s Creggan 0-7 Rossa 0-7

Kickham’s Creggan and vastly improved O’Donovan Rossa could not be separated on the Staffordstown Road last night in this keenly contested ACFL Division 1 encounter. On a glorious evening for football Kickham’s and Rossa fought out an entertaining drawn game that finished 0.07 apiece. With no County players permitted to play it was a great opportunity for panel players to nail down a place on the starting 15 come championship. Kickham’s got away to a flyer with Sean Duffin claiming the first point but following a great move up the field by Rossa’s Michael Armstrong hit a fantastic effort heading to the top corner but somehow Kickham’s keeper Mark Dougan at full stretch pushed it for a ‘45’. As the game progressed Armstrong put Rossa level on the 6th minute only for Tiernan Burke to give Kickham’s back the lead.

Jamie McCann extended the Kickham’s lead to two but Stephen Beatty began to impose his influence on the game as he hit three points in succession to give Rossa a 1 point lead. Creggan replied and with half time approaching a great mark taken by Tiernan Burke who then kicked the point himself left it all square at the break. At the start of the second half Paddy Coey and Dominic McEnhill exchanged points and with both teams emptying their benches to give as many players as possible some game time it was left to Coey to tag on Kickham’s last 2 points with Dominic McEnhill replying with The last 2 for the visitors. Both teams will be happy with the outcome and a chance to look at their bigger panel. On a different note everyone at Kickham’s GAC wish Michael Armstrong and Stephen Beatty a speedy recovery as both were forced to retire tonight with injuries.