Month / August 2021

by thesaffrongael

Aggies off to a winning start

GYMCO JFC Group 2

McQuillans 0-6 St Agnes 1-13

St. Agnes opened their JFC campaign with a good win over McQuillan’s in Ballycastle last night. In perfect conditions on the Whitepark road the teams played out a cagey enough opening ten minutes. Ronan Carroll opened the scoring for the visitors before Darren McKillion equalised for the home side.

Fine points from Declan McLarnon and Ronan Carroll eased the visitors into a two point lead. The home teams management of Conor Kelly and Liam Boyle ( remember him: captain of Antrim’s All Ireland U21 winning team of 1969) had the home team well set up and difficult to break down.

Darren McKillion converted a free for Ballycastle to make the score 3-2 but two further points from Peter Lavery and Conal Turley had the black and whites 0-5 to 0-2 in front at the water break.

On the resumption two pointed frees from Feargal McKillion reduced the arrears to a single point as McQuillan’s enjoyed a bit of success but a fine fisted point from James Halleron and a brace from Conal Turley made the half time score StAgnes 0-8 McQuillans 0-4.

An outrageous point from a Conal Turley free away out on the left side-line opened the scoring and stretched the “Aggies” lead to five points but full forward Caolan McCaughan replied from a free to make it nine points to five points.

  • St. Agnes Ronan Carroll scores from the penalty spot

 StAgnes now playing with confidence and patiently retaining the ball and probing for openings forced a penalty which Ronan Carroll despatched to the net with some aplomb to leave it 1-9 to 0-5 at the second water break.

The home team resorted to firing in high balls in the closing stages but the St. Agnes defence stood firm and a solitary point from Caolan McCaughan point was the home side’s only reward.

This proved to be Ballycastles final score.The visitors were now in firm control playing some nice football resulting in points from Shane Moran and Brian Crossan with top scorer Conal Turley and arguably the man of the match completing the scoring with two points, one from a free.

A ten point win was no less than the Aggies deserved but ‘the town’ to their credit kept fighting to the bitter end.

Tiffy Quinn and RoyMcLarnon’s charges will be well pleased with a good night’s work given they lost four players for various reasons in the build up to the game.They will also know sterner tests lie ahead but a fine win nonetheless given McQuillans beat them two years in a row in the championship.

Best for St Agnes in an overall fine team performance were Bob Carroll, Ryan Reilly, Cormac Flannery, Conal Turley, Ronan Carroll and Declan McLarnon while fir the home team Eoin Maybin, Darren McKillion, Feargal McKiernan and Caolan McCaughan were best .

by thesaffrongael

All Saints open with a win at the crickey

OB Construction IFC Group 1

Kickham’s Ardoyne 3-7 All Saints 2-13

All Saints travelled to Fennell Park to open their intermediate championship campaign against last year’s Junior Champions, Ardoyne who had acquitted themselves well in the league.

All Saints started this game in whirlwind fashion with a well taken goal by Kavan Keenan inside 30 seconds.

It looked as though the visitors would dominate as they registered a further 2 points from McCarry from frees leaving them 5 points up in the first 7 minutes.

However, Ardoyne started to settle and got their first score on the board from a Cormac Mullan free followed by a goal from Aidan McNeill following a mix up in the All Saints defence to narrow the gap to 1 point.

Both sides exchanged a further point apiece to leave it a one point game at the first water break with All Saints leading 1.3 to 1.2.

All Saints then extended their lead with a well taken goal by Conal Lemon just after the water break.

However, Ardoyne continued to battle hard and contest every ball keeping themselves in the game registering a further 3 points in the 2nd quarter to just a single score from the Ballymena side.

As half time approached, All Saints were reduced to 14 men as Peter McNicholl received a black card giving Ardoyne the numerical advantage. Despite this, the Sl;emish Park side retained their 2 point lead at half time, leading on a scoreline of All Saints 2.4 to Ardoyne 1.5.

On the restart, Ardoyne registered the first score of the half through Cormac Mullan to close the gap to 1 but All Saints then hit a purple patch with 4 unanswered points to extend their advantage to 5 points despite being a man down.

However, Ardoyne showing grit and determination clawed their way back registering a 2nd goal from Joe McNeill and and a further point from a Cormac Mullan free to close the gap to 1 point and at this stage the momentum seemed to be swinging in favour of the North Belfast side. However Michael McCarry then extended All Saints lead to 2 points as the water break approached leaving the score 2.9 to 2.7.

Ardoyne continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and reduced the gap to 1 point from a Mullan free and it still looked anybody’s game at this stage.

The visitors stepped it up a gear as the clock ticked down and registered 4 unanswered points to extend their lead to 5 and give themselves some breathing space. Ardoyne, continued to ask questions of the All Saints defence however and registered their 3rd goal and final score of the game from Declan McCormick as the final whistle approached.

All Saints will have been relieved to take the 2 points back up the road and Ardoyne will have been encouraged by this performance against one of the favourites for the competition.

All Saints:

Conor Brennan

Matthew Downey

Peter McNicholl

James McDonnell (0.1)

Conal Lemon (1.1)

Ciaran McGarry

Emmet Killough

Sean McVeigh (0.1)

Paddy McAleer

Kavan Keenan (1.0)

Michael McCarry (0.5 4F)

Shea O Brien

Brendan McDonnell

Conor Stewart (0.2)

Ronan McKillop (0.1)

Subs:

Reece O Mullan for Peter McNicholl (37 mins)

Peter McReynolds (0.2) for Shea O Brien (45 mins)

Joe Rafferty for Ronan McKillop (50 mins)

Ardoyne scorers: Aidan McNeill 1-1, Cormac Mullan 0-4, Declan McCormick 1-1, Joe McNeill 1-0, Kevin Lynch 0-2.

by thesaffrongael

Sheerin goals prove vital as Tir na nÓg see off St Teresa’s challenge

OB Construction IFC Group 1

Tir na nÓg 2-17 St Teresa’s 1-15

Two goals from full forward Kevin Sheerin were to prove vital as Division 2 League champions Tir na nÓg were made to work hard for their four point win over visitors St Teresa’s at Whitehill on Wednesday evening. ‘Skimper’ struck in the 13th minute with the Glen Road side leading by 0-5 to 0-4 and ten minutes later the big full forward showed his soccer skills when he created an opening and fired in a shot which was deflected past Jarlath Patterson in the St Teresa’s goal.

Cathal McOscar Photography

Sheerin and Darragh Fagan had given the Randalstown men a two point lead by the third minute, but St Teresa’s came back to level with points from Anton Trainor and John Mallon in the 4th and 5th minutes. Right half forward Aaron McNeilly restored the Tir na nÓg lead with a point on seven minutes, but the visitors hit back with two points in a minute to take the lead for the first time. McNeilly levelled matters once again when sent over a free, and though St Teresa’s edged ahead in the 12th minute through Paul McGoldrick, Philip Maguire and Niall McCann but Sheerin’s first goal in the 13th gave the home side back the lead.

Barry McCormick and Sean Duffin added points before ‘Skimper’ grabbed his second major of the game which helped his side to a 2-8 to 0-10 cushion at half time.

When Darragh Fagan pointed early in the second half to give Randalstown a five point cushion it looked like they were comfortable, but St Teresa’s hit back with a goal from Sean Gault and points from Anton Trainor and Conor O’Rawe between the 34th and 38th minutes to draw level once again. Darren McCormick edged Tir na nÓg back ahead, but once again the visitors drew level through Conor Mallon and it was clear the home team were in a real battle. However when the chips were down they found another gear and four points on the trip from Darragh Fagan, Ciaran O’Neill, Eamon Og McAllister and Kevin Sheerin helped them to victory.

TIR NA NÓG

Sean Paul McAtamney, Brandon McLarnon, Ciaran McGrellis, Peter Cullen, Ciaran O’Neill, Barry McCormick, Caoimhin Duffin, Darren McCormick, Ryan O’Neill, Aaron McNeilly, Sean Duffin, Darragh Fagan, Ciaran Dobbin, Kevin Sheerin, Daniel Martin.

ST TERESA’S

Jarlath Patterson, Aidan Dugan, Anto Varndell, Conor Mallon, Conor O’Rawe, Paul McGoldrick, Colm McGoldrick, Darren McCann, John Mallon, Philly Maguire, Niall McCann, Paul Johnston, Anton Taylor, Joseph Rainey.

Referee – Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

by thesaffrongael

Champions Cargin off to a flying start

Northern Switchgear SFC Group 1

Erin’s Own Cargin 1-23 St Ergnat’s Moneyglass 0-00

Cargin opened their account in the first game of the 2021 championship when they proved far too strong for their near neighbours, and parish rivals Moneyglass before a good attendance in Toome on Wednesday evening.

Moneyglass had arrived as the reigning Intermediate champions with quite a number of players missing through injury and never looked like causing their neighbours any problems.

Cargin stated on the front foot and despite losing the services of Justin Crozier, injured during the warm up, and both Mark Kelly and the indomitable Michael McCann in the opening quarter, it never knocked them out of stride with their replacements filling the void at ease.

Pat Shivers split the posts in the opening couple of minutes and a couple more from Kieran Close and points from Tomas McCann and David Johnston had the champions 0-06 to 0-00 ahead at the first water break.

Colum Duffin was battling hard to get his side going at mid-field but Kevin McShane and John Carron were dominant in this department for the Erin’s Own while Cargin were rock solid at the back and this trend was set to continue throughout.

The home side were forced into change in the opening quarter with Benen Kelly replacing Michael McCann and Eunan Quinn replacing Mark Kelly with both turning in impressive performances.

David Johnston and Kevin Mc Shane added points apiece in the 16th and 19th minutes but despite the best efforts of Moneyglass they could find no way through a strong home defence. The one way traffic continued and a 29th minute Tomas McCann point ensured the champions a 0-09 to 0-00 interval lead.

The second period was to prove a replica of what had preceded in the first thirty minutes as the home side took the opportunity to introduce a couple more replacements with Paudie Mc Laughlin and Ciaran Bradley coming into the action.

Eunan Quinn opened with an eye catching 32nd minute point before Ciaran Bradley signalled his arrival with another, a couple of minutes later.

Moneyglass kept battling with Jack McCoy and Niall Boyd introduced from the bench but Cargin continued to call the shots and points from Paudie McLaughlin, Eunan Quinn and the excellent James Laverty saw them 0-14 to 0-00 ahead at the second water break and the die cast.

The last quarter proceeded in the same vein with the home side dominating and Moneyglass looking leg weary and resigned to their fate.

Cargin continued to apply the pressure with Tomas McCann leading the charge and the wily front man helped himself to a further half dozen points in the last quarter with a Benen Kelly goal in the 58th minute and points from Ciaran Bradley (2) and Gerard McCorley concluding the scoring.

Cargin: Shay Bovill, Kevin O’ Boyle, Gerard Mc Corley (0-01), Ronan Gribbin, Ronan Devlin, James Laverty (0-01), Sean og O’ Neill, Kevin Mc Shane (0-01), John Carron, David Johnston (0-02), Michael Mc Cann, Mark Kelly, Pat Shivers (0-02), Tomas Mc Cann (0-08), Kieran Close (0-02)

Subs

Eunan Quinn (0-02) for M Mc Cann

Benen Kelly (1-00) for M Kelly

Paudie Mc Laughlin for P Shivers

Ciaran Bradley (0-03) for Kieran Close

Brendan Laverty for Ronan Devlin

Moneyglass: Gary Murray, Peter McCormick, Tiernan Duffin, Jervis Weir, Kevin McPeake, Fearghal Duffin, Miran Neeson, Ciaran Kelly, Collum Duffin, Sean Kelly, Pat Mc Cormick, Conor Boyd, Aiden Mc Erlain, Ryan Doyle, Connor O’ Kane

Jack Mc Coy for C O’ Kane

Niall Boyd for R Doyle

Luke O’ Donnell for S Kelly

Referee: Karol Doherty (Rasharkin)

by thesaffrongael

Glenravel prevail in an open flowing game

OB Construction IFC Group 1

Glenravel 1-14    Davitts 0-09

By Aodh O’Loan

Glenravel dominated the third quarter of this game to open a gap that their Belfast opponents failed to close. Both sides were even several times during the first half with the local lads just edging ahead by two points on the short whistle. But a goal on the stroke of the second water break turned a five point lead into an eight point gap for Con Magees and the game went from an uphill struggle to an insurmountable challenge for Davitt’s.

The opening ten minutes were very even with both sides level four times exchanging points to get to a 0-04 each score line. The home team then pushed ahead recording four points in as many minutes to go into a four point lead half way through the half. Davitt’s impressive centre half forward, Stephen Tully put over a couple of placed balls to reduce the gap to two with nine minutes left to the break. Both defences were getting on top at this stage and neither side scored in those closing minutes so Glenravel led by two points 0-08 to 0-06 at half time.

Tully again pointed from a free in the opening minute of the second half to leave the minimum between the teams, but five minutes into the second half, Con Magees hit a purple patch and scored four points without reply to put five between the sides. Glenravel delivered a killer blow just before the water break when a long ball deceived Davitts centre back and when Eamon Fyfe collected the ball he had only one thing on his mind. In fairness the defender did get back to put Fyfe under pressure but the ball ended up in the back of the net. Referee Gregory Walsh immediately blew for the water break.

Davitts were now really up against in, trailing by eight points when ten minutes earlier the gap was only a single point. Reeling from that goal, Davitts struggled to get back into the game and when the home side added two more points to lead by ten with ten minutes left the result was certain – just the margin to be decided. Credit to Davitt’s who worked hard to the end and did record the final two scores to reduce the gap to eight. But the game petered out to the inevitable conclusion with neither side able to raise a flag in the closing seven minutes.

This was a good, free flowing game of football with both sides scoring from distance but Glenravel had just a little too much finishing power up front and came out deserved winners 1-14 to 0-09. Both sides will face tough opposition this coming Sunday when Davitts host local rivals Ardoyne at 2pm whilst Glenravel make a trip to the Glen Road to play St Teresa’s; throw in for this one is 2pm also.

CON MAGEES

Shaun O’Boyle, Cathal Hyndes, Conor Carey jnr, Johnny Fyfe, Calum Higgins, Niall Swann, Conleth O’Loan, David Higgins, Eoin McCusker, Rian Lennon, Aidan O’Donnell, Eoin Hynds, Eamon Fyfe, Ronan Higgins, Declan Traynor.

DAVITT’S

  1. Aaron Slane 2. Conor Toner 3. Michael Rowntree 4. Anton McLaughlin 5. Paul McKinney 6. Danny Wallace 7. Chris Gallagher 8. Caoimhin Slane 9. Anthony Rowntree 10. Gerard Slane 11. Stephen Tully 12. Conor Sullivan 13. Marcus Toner 14. Michael Connolly 15. Anthony McGrattan 16. Oscar Deevy 17. Ryan Park 18. David Nugent 19. Thomas Maguire 20. Christopher Raffert

Referee – Gregory Walsh