Reserve Football Shield group 1
St. James 4-9 Tir na nOg 3-13
Daniel O’Neill finished to the Aldergrove net with practically the last touch of the ball to grab victory from the jaws of defeat for Tir na nOg in this excellent reserve football shield group 1 encounter in Crumlin tonight. Four minutes earlier a Paddy Burns goal from the penalty spot and a fisted Paul Cushley point appeared to have won it for the Aldergrove men but Tir na na nOg had other ideas.
Darren O’Kane closed the gap to two with a point in the 30th minute and in the final passage of play of the game O’Neill found himself in the right place at the right time to apply the coup de grace and earn his side victory by the narrowest of margins.
It was James’ Aldergrove who got off to a flying start when Ryan McCarthy fired to the Tir na nOg net within 35 seconds but Tir na nOg replied through Darragh Fagan and Joshua Higgins to leave just one in it with only two minutes on the clock.
Paddy Burns from a ‘45’ edged the home side two in front but Higgins replied with a point at the other end and might have had a goal as play swung from end to end with both sides giving it everything.
Ryan McCarthy for the Crumlin side and Daniel O’Neill for the visitors exchanged further points to leave Aldergrove just one in front with 12 minutes gone before Joe Donnelly and Michael Smart added points for the home side to leave them three in front at the first water break.
It was visitors Tir na nOg who made the better start as play resumed with Michael Tolan firing to the Aldergrove net to level matters before Daniel O’Neill fisted over a point to put the visitors ahead for the first time.
Their lead was short lived however as Joe Donnelly climbed to palm home a Ryan McCarthy cross at the other end but as play continued at breath taking pace it was Tir na nOg who were to enjoy the next three scores.
Points from Josh Higgins, a Darragh Fagan ‘45’ and another from Oliver McAtamney saw the Whitehill men edge ahead once more and another ‘45’ conversion by Fagan saw the visitors lead 1-9 to 2-4 at the interval.
St. James introduced Andy Flood at the start of the second half and he was to have a telling influence on proceedings as the home side opened brightly with a point from Seanie Fay and a Fergal Hanna goal in the 4th minute to hit the front once more.
Darragh Fagan for the Randalstown side closed the gap to the minimum once more with a superb point and the same player levelled matters following a Mark in the 13th minute and it was going to take something special to separate these two evenly matched sides as they headed for the second water break.
Daniel O’Neill looked to have produced it when he took a pass from Daniel Hastings before sending a looping shot to the Aldergrove net as play got under way again but the home side were once again able to respond.
They hit back with points from Paddy Burns and a couple from substitute Conleth O’Toole to level matters once more with Darren O’Kane eding the visitors noses in front again as he split the posts at the other end in the 22nd minute.
It was clear this one was going to go right down to the wire with both sides playing out of their skins and play swung back in favour of the Crumlin men once more as Andy Flood was grounded as he raced through on goal and referee Charlie Hemsworth pointed to the penalty spot despite protests from Tir na nOg.
Paddy Burns tucked the spot kick out of reach of the despairing dive of Sean Paul McAtamney and when the usually reliable Fagan missed a free at the other end the momentum appeared to be very much with the Crumlin men.
Another substitute, Paul Cushley fisted over to reinforce that theory and move St. James three in front with only minutes remaining but Tir na nOg quite simply refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded for their persistence.
Darren O’Kane pointed to close the gap to two as the game edged into time added on and Daniel O’Neill, who had been excellent all evening got in for his second goal to clinch victory for his side.
In a game where it was a pity there had to be a loser, both sides deserve great credit for an excellent game of football played at real championship intensity. St. James still top the table with 8 points from 5 starts with Glenavy in second place with 6 points from 4 starts.
Tir na nOg’s win tonight puts them back in the chase for second place with 5 points from 4 starts and it will all be decided in the final round of fixtures next week when St. Joseph’s host All Saints while Tir na nOg travel to St. Paul’s.
