Both finals of the Reserve Football Cup and Reserve Football Shield are scheduled for this Saturday and both fixtures have the potential to provide excellent entertainment and close finishes.
St. Brigid’s face St. Gall’s in the Reserve Football final at Davitt’s while neighbours Aldergrove and Glenavy meet in what could be a tasty Shield finals at Dunsilly.
Reserve Cup Final
St. Brigid’s v St. Gall’s (Davitt’s Park 4-00pm Saturday)
Both St. Brigid’s and St. Gall’s were impressive in their semi-final wins over Creggan and Portglenone respectively and there are strong arguments in citing both as favourites for Saturday’s final at Davitt’s but I’m going to sit on the fence on that one.
An injury time goal from mid fielder Conor Slevin following a mistake in the Creggan defence saw St Brigid’s secure their place in Saturday’s final following an excellent semi-final at Dunsilly. Nothing separated the sides in the opening period but it was the South Belfast men who got away to a flyer with points from Peter Webb and Conor Slevin sandwiching a 3rd minute Damien Magee goal.
It was nip and tuck for most of the way but St. Brigid’s finished the stronger with Slevin’s goal and a late point from Peter Webb securing victory and were worthy winners in the end and will go into Saturday’s decider with confidence.
In the second semi-final at the same venue back to back goals from the impressive Brendan Bradley and Barry McCaffrey in the third quarter fired St. Gall’s to victory in their semi-final win over Casement’s
The lower Fall’s side gained an early numerical advantage when Casement’s had a man dismissed after only 12 minutes but the South West side remained very much in contention until that double strike just prior to the second water break.
St. Gall’s pushed on to finish well on top and a Barra McCaffrey point concluded the scoring and saw the Milltown men finish comfortable 2-10 to 0-7 winners.
Daniel Foster, Rueben Carelton, Conor Slevin, Cathal Conway, Peter Webb, Darragh Fox, Marcus Lunch and Toirleach Brolly are the men who will carry the St. Brigid’s challenge while Jack Hopkins, Ruairi Wilson, Conall McGirr, Caolan Chada, Brendan Bradley, Barra McCaffery and Niall Burns are the men who can clinch it for St. Gall’s.
St Brigid’s v Creggan: Kevin McGovern, Sean Mc Kernan, Daniel Foster, Joe Mc Carney, Thomas Mc Carney, Rueben Carelton, Peter Lundy, Conor Slevin, Cathal Conway, Niall Lundy, Peter Webb, Ben Doherty, Damien Magee, Darragh Fox, Marcus Lynch
Subs: Toirleach Brolly
Donal Bradley
Donal Harrison
Diarmuid Mc Laughlin
St Gall’s v Portglenone: Niall Mc Curdy, Fergus Donnelly, Jack Hopkins, Eoghan Mc Curdy, Dualtach Mac Liam (0-05), Ruairi Wilson, Conall Mc Girr, Conor Ryan, Caolan Chada (0-01),Michael Hopkins (0-010, Brendan Bradley (1-02), Dara Delaney, Barra Mc Caffrey (1-07), Conn Doherty (0-02), Niall Burns (0-01)
Subs
Oran Mc Ilhatton for Jack Hopkins
Matthew Mc Caffrey for Conor Ryan
Conaill Mc Cabe for F Donnelly
Kevin Bradley for B Bradley
St. James’ Aldergrove celebrate after defeating Glenravel in the Shield semi-final at Dunsilly
Senior Reserve ‘Shield’ Final
St. Joseph’s Glenavy v St. James’ Aldergrove (Dunsilly 4-00pm)
A goal in the 61st minute by late replacement Fearghal Hanna ensured a place in the Senior Reserves Shield final for St James Aldergrove at the expense of Glenravel following an enthralling semi-final encounter at Dunsilly in the semi-final.
The Glensmen had nipped ahead through a 59th minute point from replacement Shanlee Kerr but the Crumlin men responded through Luke Sinclair and when Fearghal Hanna was sent clear by a Conor Morris cross to find the net the die was cast and a place in the decider the reward.
In the other semi-final St. Joseph’s Glenavy and Cuchullain’s Dunloy served up a real thriller at Saturday’s venue. In a game played with real championship intensity play swung from end to end with both sides enjoying periods of supremacy and referee Joe McCavana was kept buy keeping a lid on matters as things heated up in the second half.
David Nelson’s point for St. Joseph’s left the score 1-9 to 0-10 going into the final quarter and the momentum was still very much with the Chapel Hill side but they still had plenty of work to do.
Fergal Green pointed on the restart and when Pearse O’Neill got on the end of a sweet flowing move from deep in their own half to fire to the net in the 21st minute they looked to have taken command.
Holders Dunloy came back strongly however and a penalty goal from Karl Fitzpatrick stepped up to fire past Gareth Collins and leave just one between the sides.
It was to prove to be the game’s final score however and it is Glenavy who will meet neighbours Aldergrove in what is sure to be a tight final.
Oisin McGarry, Michael McCarthy, Chris Browning, Odhran Creaney, Declan Gough, Oisin Graham, Conor Morris and Sean Fay are the men who can lead St. James’ to victory while St. Joseph’s will pin their hopes on Gareth Collins, Tim Honeyford, Francis McMullan, Francis Corr, Dominic Gallagher and Fergus Cunningham to bring the Shield back to Glenavy.
Aldergrove v Glenravel: Oisin Mc Garry, Conor Totten (0-02), Michael Mc Carthy, David Aiken, Chris Browning (0-01), Odhran Creaney, Declan Gough (0-02), Danny Bell, Oisin Graham (0-01), Conleth O’ Toole, Conor Morris (0-05)), Michael Smart, Glen Dunham (0-01), Ryan Mc Carthy (0-01), Sean Fay(0-03)
Subs
Fionn Mc Donagh (1-01) for D Bell
Fearghal Hanna for D Gough
Aaron O’ Connor for S Fay
Luke Sinclair (0-03) for O Creaney
Glenavy v Dunloy: 1 Gareth Collins, 2 Conor Mulholland, 3 Tim Honeyford, 4 Oliver Brankin, 5 Matthew Magee, 6 Francis McMullan, 7 Michael Fox, 8 Michael Kane, 9 Francis Corr, 10 Pearse O’Neill, 11 Dominic Gallagher, 12 Sean Magill, 13 Fergus Cunningham, 14 Stephen Eastwood, 15 David Nelson Subs: 19 Darragh Doherty, 17 Fergal Green 18 Stephen Doone