Reserve Football Championship Group 1 

St. Mary’s Aghagallon 3-06 – 2-12 Lámh Dhearg 

By Kevin Herron 

Lámh Dhearg kept their composure late-on to edge out Aghagallon 2-12-3-06 in Friday evenings Reserve Championship clash at Pairc Na nGael. 

It was a game that toed-and-froed throughout with goals from Michael McStravick and Liam Russell cancelling out a strong start from the visitors.

Sean-Paul Gibson struck for his side to rally before the break and Francis Dugan added another after the restart to nudge his side in front again.

The visitors were poised for victory until McStravick struck his second goal to draw the sides level, though Dugan and Niall McGarry would add late points to ensure their side got over the line on a rain-sodden night in the South-West. 

Lámh Dhearg began on the front foot with early points from Niall McGarry (free) and Daniel Murray. 

A foul on Liam Russell gave Michael McStravick the chance to register a reply- but it was one he would spurn in the lashing rain in Aghagallon. 

Niall McShane had the chance to conjure the first goal of the game after a stray kick-out from Brendan Elliott went straight to the midfielder, but Elliott redeemed himself with a low save and the resulting 45’ was sent wide. 

Back-to-back Francis Dugan points extended the Lámhs lead, the first after he was fouled, and Dugan dusted himself down to convert. The full-forward then claimed an advanced mark and made it two points from two opportunities. 

Aghgallon finally responded after Joseph Lavelle was felled, the resulting free was missed by Michael McStravick – but after some shouting in the build-up to his kick; referee Paul Burns called for a retake and McStravick converted at the second time of asking. 

At the other end Niall Rodgers needed to be alert to turn away Francis Dugan’s goal-bound effort, though Dugan would increase his tally by converting a free shortly after to move his side 0-05-0-01 ahead. 

A second Aghgallon goal chance went abegging when Niall McShane skewed an effort wide, however Liam Russell kicked his sides second score following the first half water break. 

The hosts had the chance to pull level when Kieran Hamill went down under the challenge of Ronan Fegan and Paul Burns signalled for a penalty. 

Michael McStravick seized responsibility from 12-yards and slotted it home to restore parity at 1-02-0-05. 

Better was to come when a second goal from play put Aghagallon in-front for the first time. Kieran Hamill was again involved with an interception, he found McStravick who in turn picked out Liam Russell and the corner-forward turned his marker and shot low across Elliott and into the net. 

Michael McStravick increased his sides lead with a nice point distance before Lámh Dhearg rallied. 

Having conceded 2-02 without reply; Sean-Paul Gibson steered a shot low past Niall Rodgers from Francis Dugan’s assist to give his side renewed hope and he would follow that up with the levelling point 60-seconds later.  

But it was Aghagallon who edged ahead at the interval thanks to a Senan Donnelly point which gave his side a 2-04-1-06 half-time lead. 

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The hosts extended their lead after the break, through a Liam Russell point after exchanging passes with Joseph Lavelle. 

The lead changed hands again shortly after, Francis Dugan spurned an early free but didn’t drop his head and latched onto a through ball from Sean-Paul Gibson to net and give his side a 2-06-2-05 lead. 

Gibson himself almost claimed his second goal of the evening, though a double save from Niall Rodgers prevented any further damage. 

Anto Byrne swung over a nice point to double his sides advantage – but Patrick Branagan replied immediately at the other end after Ruairi McShane soloed forward and offloaded to the half-back. 

Lámh Dhearg stretched their lead after Dugan converted his third free of the evening and Sean-Paul Gibson added another point after some good possession football. 

The pendulum was about to swing once again, and the balance of power was restored when a short free was played into the path of Michael McStravick who shot to the net to draw the sides level at 3-06-2-09. 

The visitors showed grit and determination in the closing stages to regain the lead after Francis Dugan took advantage of a stray kick-out from Rodgers and swung over his fourth point of the evening. 

Niall McGarry would add to his free early in the game with another two efforts late on and at the other end Francis Dugan made a terrific double block to deny Niall McShane the chance of a leveller as Lámh Dhearg edged to their third victory in succession.  

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St Mary’s Aghagallon: N Rodgers, C Henry, R Laverty, E Brown, S Branagan, P Branagan (0-01), R Mulholland, S Donnelly (0-01), N McShane, M McStravick (2-02, 1-01f), S Branagan, K Hamill, J Nelson, J Lavelle, L Russell (1-02). 

Lámh Dhearg: B Elliott, L Clarke, P Larkin, M O’Boyle, R Fegan, A McGuigan, C Boyd, R Diamond, A Byrne (0-01), N McGarry (0-03f), D Murray (0-01), SP Gibson (1-02), A Cunningham, F Dugan (1-05, 0-03f, 0-01 advanced-mark), C Plyford. 

Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgalls)

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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 59^th 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 10^th 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 20^th minute.

Niall Kelly replied for the Bannsider’s when he defied an acute left sided angle in the 23^rd minute with PJ Quinn replying at the other end but the home side were to dominate the closing minutes of the half.

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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 33^rd 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 56^th 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 52^nd 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 59^th minute point ensured the Portglenone men breasted the winning line with points secured at 3-10 to 1-15.

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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)

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Reserve Football Cup – Group 2

St Brigid’s 2-13 St Gall’s 1-10

Despite playing fmore that fifty minutes of the game with just fourteen men St Brigid’s beat St Gall’s by six points in Friday evening’s Reserve Cup Football game at Musgrave Park. The South Belfast side had goalkeeper James McKenna sent to the bench for ten minutes just three minutes into the game after dragging down St Gall’s corner forward Kevin Brady and he was just back on the pitch a few minute when he offended again, this time receiving a yellow care, and subsequent red.

St Gall’s, who were trailing by a point when the penalty was awarded, slotted the ball home and they were still a goal to the good at the first water break on 1-3 to 0-0-3. However after the short pit stop St Brigid’s came flying out the traps and midfielder Conor Slevin brought them level with an excellent individual goal, before Conor Taylor edged them ahead a minute later.

Mark Cumming brought St Gall’s level soon afterwards but St Brigid’s were getting on top and despite losing Brady to a red card they went on to lead by 1-7 to 1-5 at half time.

A succession of great points from left half forward Peter Lundy saw St Brigid’s maintain the upper hand and they had stretched their lead to 1-10 to 1-7 by the second water break. Mark Cummings was keeping St Gall’s in touch with some top class scores, but three in a row from full forward Peter Webb appeared to have St Brigid’s safe as they pulled five clear going down to the home straight.

However St Gall’s came back with two points from Michael Hopkins and David Cummings to leave just a goal between the sides and when the St Brigid’s stand in keeper was blown up for time wasting there was a chance for the men from Milltown. It wasn’t to be as the home team won the throw-up ball and when the ball was moved to the other end of the field substitute Ryan Murtagh fired home to seal the win.

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