Reserve Football Cup
Casement’s Portglenone 3-10 Erin’s Own Cargin 1-15
A late Stephen Kelly point gave Portglenone both points in this top of the table clash in section one of the reserve cup at a rain washed Portglenone on Friday evening.
Despite the wet conditions and a slippery surface the onlookers huddled under the protection of umbrellas were well served by the bill of fare produced and in the event a late white flag hoisted by second period replacement Kelly in the 59th minute proved a winner.
Cargin started better than their hosts and after Benen Kelly opened their account with a first minute point Stephen Gribbon got on the end of a move initiated by Odhran Molloy and Peadar Mc Keever to finishing to the net and the Toome men were away in style.
The home side were quick to recover and they had drawn abreast of their visitors by the 10th minute as Adrian Mc Aleese and the sharp shooting Niall Kelly raised a brace of white flags apiece.
Cargin, with Odhran Molloy and Eunan Quinn in control at mid-field, hit back with five unanswered points with Eunan Quinn helping himself to a couple and Peadar Mc Keever, Shane Gribbon, and PJ Quinn all on target as they nipped into a 1-06 to 0-04 lead by the 20th minute.
Niall Kelly replied for the Bannsider’s when he defied an acute left sided angle in the 23rd minute with PJ Quinn replying at the other end but the home side were to dominate the closing minutes of the half.
BJ Donnelly was on hand to return the leather to the back of the net after the Cargin net minder Tomas Laverty denied Niall Kelly’s crisp delivery with Donnelly providing the finish.
Niall Kelly added a couple of points and one from Ciaran Mc Kenna saw the home side take the lead before a late Shane Gribbin reply at the other end ensured the sides were on par, 1-08 apiece at the short whistle.
It was Casement’s who came racing out of the blocks at the start of the second half to dominate the opening period and move into a seven point lead in the space of a few minutes.
Aiden Mc Aleese fired to the net after 30 seconds and then Micheal Donnelly opened the way for Ronan Kelly to add another before the visitors knew what had hit them.
A Niall Kelly point followed in the 33rd minute and the Casement’s had moved 3-09 to 1-08 clear and looked in charge.
Cargin were in trouble but Donal Mc Keever looked to his bench for help and indeed the arrival on the scene of Darren ‘Scaldy’ Craig and Michael Clarke produced the tonic required.
Craig seized hold of the rudder and aided by Tony Scullion and fellow replacement Michel Clarke got his side going again.
The visitors took control and Casement’s were forced back on the defensive but such was the dominance of the visitors that the seven point deficit was wiped out by the 56th minute.
PJ Quinn and Eunan Quinn helped themselves to a couple of points apiece before they were reduced in numbers when Peadar McKeever was shown black in the 52nd minute but further points by Eunan Quinn and Tony Scullion saw the game tied at 3-09 to 1-15 with the long blast imminent.
A draw looked the likely result but in the event replacement Stephen Kelly was to have the last say on proceedings and his 59th minute point ensured the Portglenone men breasted the winning line with points secured at 3-10 to 1-15.
Casement’s: Jordan Hyndman, Declan Dobbin, Ciaran Lynch, Kevin O’ Kane, Patrick Graffin, Paddy Carey, Conor Magee, Michael Donnelly, Callum Lynch, BJ Donnelly (1-00), Ciaran Mc Kenna (0-01), Ronan Kelly (1-00), Aiden Mc Aleese (1-02), Niall Kelly (0-06), Adrian Carey
Subs
Declan Mc Erlain for A Carey
Cory Mc Laughlin for C Lynch
Stephen Kelly (0-01)
Cargin: Tomas Laverty, Sean Og Quinn, David Mc Elhone, Brian Og Devlin, Tony Scullion (0-01), Gerard Mc Corley, Ronan Devlin (0-01), Odhran Molloy, Eunan Quinn (0-04), Shane Gribbon (1-01), Peadar Mc Keever (0-01), Benen Kelly (0-01), PJ Quinn (0-04), Ryan Mc Kernan, Paudie Mc Laughlin
Subs
Darren Craig for O Molloy
Michael Clarke for S Gribbon
Referee: G Dougan (Kickham’s)
