Under-20 A FC Group (round one)
Erin’s Own Cargin 1-1 St Galls 5-11
Erin’s Own Cargin have won the last two minor championships and were tipped by some punters as favourites for this competition but a second half goal blitz from visitors St. Gall’s in Toome today turned that notion on its head.
In a game played with real championship fervour it was the home side who led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but that was to change shortly into the second half.
Niall Burns, who had featured prominently in the Milltown men’s Reserve Cup semi-final victory on Thursday evening, grabbed a superb 36th minute goal to see the Milltown Blues hit the front with Paudie McLaughlin replying almost immediately with a goal at the other end.
At this stage it looked anybody’s game but the home side were reduced in number when mid fielder Benen Kelly was shown red at the end of the third quarter and shortly after the impressive Niall Burns got in for the visitors second goal.
St. Gall’s had certainly seized the initiative and they went on to add a further three goals as their busy corner forward Niall Fallon added a couple with Dara Delaney adding the third to put the game out of reach of the home side.
Things got heated in the closing quarter with Cargin’s Pat Shivers (two yellows), Jack Mc Allister (red), and St Galls Kian Cruikshank (red) and Matthew McCaffrey (black) all forced to watch the closing proceedings from the sideline.
The shower which had preceded the throw in had moved onward as Paul Burns initiated proceedings and the home side were first to score as Pat Shivers stroked a 40 metre free between the posts in the second minute.
The opening half was nip and tuck as points at one end soon found reply at the other and the visitors replied to Shivers opener as Conal McCabe pointed and Barry Mc Caffrey sent a free between the posts to give them the lead.
PJ Quinn nipped away to square the issue but the Milltown men went a couple ahead again through Barry and Michael McCaffrey to lead 0-04 to 0-02 after 10th minutes.
Cargin were edging matters at mid-field at this stage with Pat Shivers prominent as a target man and they replied with three unanswered points to lead 0-05 to 0-04 at the first break.
An opening quarter which was fiercely contested continued in the same vein in the second as Niall Burns split the posts for the visitors with Paudie McLaughlin replying at the other end. Pat Shivers extended the Cargin lead again but a super score from Niall Burns at the other end left just one in it at the break with Erin’s Own leading 0-7 to 0-6.
The second half was just a minute old when the home side increased their lead when Tom Shivers fired between the posts with Barra McCaffrey replying with a point for the Milltown side.
Things were about to change however as Niall Burns drove through the home sides defence to add a super goal to ensure a 1-08 to 0-09 advantage to the city lads.
The home side made an immediate response and Shea Laverty’s kick-out was fielded by Eunan Quinn whose delivery opened the way for Paudie McLaughlin to fire to the back of the net and move Cargin ahead once more.
Their lead was short lived however as the visitors began to take control and Dara Delaney found Niall Murray and he made no mistake as he drove to the corner of the net to give his side a lead they would hold until the end of the game.
A Barra McCaffrey point increased the St Galls lead at the start of the final quarter and Cargin suffered another blow when Benen Kelly saw red.
St Galls were now dominating and Niall Burns sent Niall Fallon in for their third goal and when the latter added another the die was cast.
Cargin tried to response but were finding it difficult to break down a solid St. Gall’s defence and Pat Shivers was shown red before replacement Jack McAllister followed suit and the end was nigh.
The Toome side added a couple of late points through Tom Shivers and PJ Quinn and in a bad tempered finish St Gall’s Mid fielder Kian Cruikshank was shown(red) and Matthew Mc Caffrey (black) but there was to be no way back for the home side.
Cargin: Shea Laverty, Sean Gribbin, Sean og Quinn, Cahir Donnelly, Conan Johnston, Sean og O’ Neill, Malachi Johnston, Eunan Quinn, (0-01), Benen Kelly, Conan Kennedy, Paudie Mc Laughlin (1-02), Sean Mc Auley, PJ Quinn (0-03), Pat Shivers (0-03), Tom Shivers (0-02)
Subs
Shane Gribbon foe S Gribbin
Jack Mc Allister for Conan Kennedy
St Gall’s: Aiden O Maolin, Gerard Achaill, Dualtach Johnston, Fergus Donnelly, Conal Mc Girr, Conor Reagan, Matthew McCaffrey (0-01), Niall Burns (2-04), Kian Cruikshank, Conal Mc Cabe (0-01), Niall Mc Areavey, Dara Delaney (1-00), Niall Fallon (2-00), Conn Doherty, Barry Mc Caffrey (0-05)
Referee Paul Burns (St Comgall’s)
