Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship quarter-final
Erin’s Own Cargin 3-16 St Gall’s 0-07
Reigning champions Erin’s Own Cargin took another step in defence of their title when they brushed aside the challenge of former All Ireland club champions St Gall’s to reach the semi-finals at Hightown on Saturday afternoon.
The Toome men dominated from start to finish and opened account through a Jamie Gribbin point and when Paudie McLaughlin added a goal a minute later they never looked back.
Gribbin settled the butterflies in the first minute after being sent away by Ronan Devlin and Pat Shivers collected in the centre before placing McLaughlin to despatch to the back of the net.
A slick getaway from the Toome men and Damien Cassidy’s men looked well prepared for this challenge.
St Gall’s have a proud record in Antrim, Ulster, and at All Ireland level and responded with back to back points from Barra Mc Caffrey and Caolan Chada, but in the event that was as close as the Milltown men would get as Cargin took control
The impressive Paudie McLaughlin grabbed a second major before the first water break to aid Cargin to a 2-04 to 0-02 lead as they dominated the central zone with Kevin McShane and Pat Shivers on top and they moved well clear 2-08 to 0-04 at the short whistle and barring major accident on the way to the semis.
Pat Shivers added a point before and after the first water break with Ciaran Bradley following with another before the Milltown side replied with points from Barra McCaffrey and Kevin Niblock but Tomas McCann added a couple at the other end to ensure a ten point lead at half time.
St Gall’s introduced Mickey Pollock for the second half but it was Cargin who maintained a firm grip on proceedings, strong and unyielding in defence with Justin Crozier and James Laverty to the fore.
They continued to dominate in the central sector and a Tomas McCann goal saw them in total control as early as the 40th minute at 3-09 to 0-04
The elusive Mc Cann added a further three points to make addition to the Cargin total and although Kevin Niblock pointed a free just prior to the last break the score came as scant consolation and the Toome men were on course for a place in the semis.
Cargin emptied their bench but the pace did not slacken and although the gallant Milltown men raised flags through Barra McCaffrey and Aodhan Gallagher there would be no halting the rampant champions with Pat Shivers, Kieran Close and Tomas McCann replying to see Erin’s Own take a step onward into the semi-final.
On today’s showing they will be hard to beat but asre likely to face a sterner test from the winners of tomorrow’s clash between St. John’s and Creggan at the same venue.
Cargin: Michael Magill, Sean og O’ Neill (0-01), Justin Crozier, Brendan Laverty, James Laverty, Kevin O’ Boyle, Ronan Devlin, Pat Shivers (0-03), Kevin Mc Shane, Ciaran Bradley (1-00), Michael Mc Cann, Jamie Gribbin (0-01), Paudie Mc Laughlin (2-00), Tomas Mc Cann (0-08)
Subs
Kieran Close (0-01) for M Kelly
David Johnston for J Gribbin
Gerard Mc Corley for R Devlin
Gerard Mc Cann for K Mc Shane
John Carron for Ciaran Bradley
St. Gall’s: Chris Kerr, Shane O’ Hagan, Marcus Donnelly, Conor Stinton, John Mc Caffrey, Ryan Irvine, Eoghan Mc Cabe (0-01), Aodhan Gallagher (0-01), Thomas Bunting, Caolan Chada(0-02), Terry O’ Neill, Sean Kelly, Barra Mc Caffrey (0-02), Kevin Niblock (0-01),
Subs
Michael Pollock for T O’ Neill
Mark Cummings for S O’ Hagan
Niall Burns for N O’ Neill
Tomas O’ Ciaran for T Bunting
Conaill Murray for K Niblock
Referee: B Toland (Lamh Dhearg)
