Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship
Group 3 Round 1
Lámh Dhearg 3-14 – 2-16 Aghagallon
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Lámh Dhearg held off a late fightback by 14-men Aghagallon to make a winning start to their 2021 Senior Football Championship campaign.
Despite getting themselves into a promising position early-on a Eunan Walsh goal levelled proceedings, but in the aftermath the visitors were reduced to 14-men after Daniel Donnelly received a straight red-card.
It seemed to spur on Kevin Murray’s charges who opened up a four-point advantage- though goals from Declan Smyth and Pearse Fitzsimons later in the half would tilt the balance of play at Hannahstown.
Terry McCrudden’s goal ten minutes after the restart restored his sides lead in a game that ebbed and flowed and it looked as if the Lámhs had did enough until Pauric Maginnis slotted home late-on to provide a nervy finish.
The hosts would hold-out against the heavy pressure to gain a first group stage win against familiar foe.
Lámh Dhearg opened up on the front foot with Paddy Cunningham converting back-to-back frees. The first after he had his run halted and the other after a drag back on Terry McCrudden.
Aghagallon almost had the first goal when Adam Loughran burst through the Lámh Dhearg defence at ease and fisted it across to Ryan O’Neill, it was overcooked though, and O’Neill steered the ball to Gareth Magee who found Ruairi McCann for the reply.
Paddy Cunningham restored his sides two-point advantage with his third converted free and Conor Murray then kicked a magnificent point from Marc Jordan’s offload and the hosts appeared to have settled quickest.
All their early work was undone though as Aghagallon picked them off with ease immediately.
Luke Mulholland’s kick-out was fielded by Adam Loughran who picked out Jack Lenehan off the shoulder, the midfielder burst forward and offloaded to Eunan Walsh who confidently shot past Mark McIlvenny to level at 1-01-0-04.
The visitor’s joy was short-lived though as referee Darren McKeown’s attention was drawn to an incident at the other end of the field and after consultation with his umpire the St Gall’s official issued a straight red card to Daniel Donnelly for an incident with Conor Murray.
The 14-men would edge ahead for the first time in the aftermath with Marc McAfee kicking a fine point from in-front of the posts and Gareth Magee then measured up another shot that sailed between the posts shortly after.
Marc McAfee curled over a super point to move his side three ahead at the first half water-break and their purple patch continued with Gareth Magee swinging over his second point of the half to make it 1-05-0-04.
The hosts needed inspiration and found a route back into proceedings, Pearse Fitzsimons knocked on Mark McIlvenny’s kick-out and sent Declan Smyth in the clear- Smyth slipped the ball off to Conor Murray who was held up and sent it wide to Eoin Matassa and wing-half back picked out Smith in the centre for a finish to the net.
Magee instantly hit back with a point to send his side two-points clear with Paddy Mervyn swinging one over at the other end in response.
Aghagallon went two ahead again after a lung-bursting run from Eunan Walsh finished with him popping the ball between the posts.
Paddy Cunningham was on-hand to respond with his first point from play of the evening after receiving a nice lay-off from Conor Murray.
A fourth converted free from the veteran levelled proceedings at 1-07 apiece, but Aghagallon again forged ahead after Gareth Magee slipped the ball out wide for Conleth McAlindan who returned it Magee for his third point of the half.
The lead would change hands in the aftermath however, Pearse Fitzsimons got a hand on Mark McIlvenny’s kick-out and flicked it to the on-coming Declan Smyth, Fitzsimons continued his run and took the fist pass from Smyth before guiding a shot across the face of Luke Mulholland and into the net to give his side a 2-07-1-08 lead.
Magee would half the deficit before the break after taking the ball on loop and swinging it over to ensure the bare minimum separated the sides at the interval.
Early free’s were traded behind the sides upon the resumption through Paddy Cunningham and Gareth Magee.
Adam Loughran twice restored parity for Aghagallon in-between another conversion from Cunningham which had the scores locked at 2-09-1-12.
The crucial moment arrived on 39 minutes when Paddy Mervyn played a one-two with Ross Murray and then guided the ball into the path of captain Terry McCrudden who slotted the ball past Luke Mulholland.
Marc Jordan followed that up with an outstanding point and things were becoming frayed with a few coming togethers starting to develop in the aftermath of McCrudden’s strike.
Lámh Dhearg moved five ahead through a nice Ryan Murray point and the sides would trade blows for the much of the last quarter of proceedings.
Gareth Magee converted a free to end a scoreless period of almost 15 minutes for his side. At the other end Michael Hines made an immediate impact after collecting a pass from Ryan Murray and weighting up his options he hoisted the ball high between the posts.
Further points were traded as Oisin Lenehan played a one-two with Jamie Lamont, rode heavy traffic, and steered the ball over- Paddy Cunningham played a pivotal role in the next score as he lofted in a high ball that Conor Murray collected and laid off to brother Ryan for a score.
The repetition continued with Ruairi McCann withholding heavy pressure and finding Jack Lenehan for a score to make it a four-point game, only for Terry McCrudden to swing over from Ryan Murray’s pass at the other end.
McCrudden’s score proved his sides last and a 3-14-1-15 it appeared the game was won with little over three minutes remaining- although Aghagallon didn’t read the script.
A converted free from Gareth Magee reduced arrears to four again and a grandstand finish was on the cards when Ryan O’Neill broke resulting kick-out and set his side on the front foot.
Adam Loughran kicked the ball forward and a quick pass through the hands saw Gareth Magee lay it off and substitute Pauric Maginnis picked up the reins and scuffed a low shot across the face of goal and in to make it 3-14-2-16 and give his side renewed hope of claiming a share of the spoils.
The visitors were afforded the chance of an equaliser when they earned a late free, but after Adam Loughran took it quick to Eunan Walsh – Walsh dropped the ball high into the square where Marc Jordan intercepted to ensure his side held on for a narrow win on home soil.
Lámh Dhearg: M McIlvenny, R Murray, M Jordan (0-01), M McGarry, E Matassa, A McAufield, D Smith, C Hannan, P Fitzsimons, C Murray (0-01), P Cunningham (0-07, 0-06f), D Smyth (1-00), T McCrudden (1-01), R Murray (0-02), P Mervyn (0-01). Subs: B Rice for C Hannan (47), P Larkin for M McGarry (50), M Hines (0-01) for A McAufield (52), D Larkin for D Smyth (56).
Aghagallon: L Mulholland, P Branagan, D Donnelly, A Mulholland, D McAlernon, R O’Neill, J Lamont, D McAlernon, J Lenehan (0-01), E Walsh (1-01), A Loughran (0-02), M McAfee (0-02), G Magee (0-08, 0-03f), R McCann (0-01), C McAlindan. Subs: S Devlin for P Branagan (38), O Lenahan (0-01) for D McAlernon (47), P Maginnis (1-00) for C McAlindan (51).
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)