Under-17 Football League
Erin’s Own Cargin 4-13 St Paul’s 3-06
Cargin got off the mark in the under-17 league as they gained victory over last year’s beaten championship finalists St. Paul’s in the opening round of the league in an entertaining encounter in Toome on Sunday.
The home side looked set for an easy win when they led 3-08 to 1-03 in the opening stages of the second half but the visitors aided by the addition of Niall Mc Kenna, Lorcan Philips, and Bairie Burns late in the game gained impetus but missed a late penalty and Ryan O’ Neill added a goal at the other end to ensure a home win.
The Toome lads nipped away to an early advantage via Callum Gribbin and Conhuir Johnston but the visitors had drawn abreast through Oisin Mc Cann, Ryan Mc Coy and Shea Burns but with Charlie McCann dominant in the middle and Conhuir Johnston and Callum Gribbin impressing in the attack Cargin had earned a 1-07 to 0-03 advantage as the end of opening period approached.
A precision based approach via Conhuir Johnston, Callum Gribbin and Dermot Quinn had opened the way for corner man Patrick O’ Neill to fire to the net in the 29th minute but the visitors were to have the last say with a late Shea Burns strike and the gap stood at 1-07 to 1-03 at the break.
Cargin made a strong start to the second half and an early Cahir O’ Boyle point was followed by a back to back goals after Conhuir Johnston left several defenders trailing in his wake to find the net.
Johnston then combined with Patrick O’ Neill saw the corner man find the net again and the home side were back in control.
Cargin continued to press as Conhuir Johnston weighed in with another couple of points to give his side a 3-10 to 1-03 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
St. Paul’s rang the changes and it was the excellent Lorcan Philips who delivered for Shea Burns to find the net and the 46th minute strike was to change the trend.
Callum Gribbin added a point for the home side and Conhuir Johnston made reply as Shea Burns split the posts at the other end and the Erin’s Own boys had been nudged out of the comfort zone as the visitors now in command in the central zone pressed onwards.
Back to back points from Lorcan Philips and Patrick Crawford reduced the deficit and when Shea Burns was fouled in the box a penalty was the prompt decision.
In the event the 58th minute award was despatched wide of the posts and a 60th minute clearance from Cahir O’ Boyle opened the way for Ryan O’ Neill to find the net at the other end to ensure Cargin took the chequered flag and the points at stake, on a 4-13 to 3-06 verdict.
Teams
Cargin
Daniel Mc Cann, Patrick Matchyk, Hugh O’ Donnell, Eoin Scullion, Ciaran Mc Peake, Ben Mc Larnon, Cahir O’ Boyle (0-01), Charlie Mc Cann, Kian Scullion, Jack Harney, Conhuir Johnston (1-05), Diarmuid Quinn, Ryan O’ Neill (2-00), Callum Gribbin (0-06), Patrick O’ Neill (0-01)
Subs
Tom Mc Cann
St Paul’s
Adam Carroll, Eoin Brown, Dermot O’ Sullivan, Ciaran Mc Alea, Conleth Canavan, Oisin Mc Cann (0-01), Michael Flanagan, Ewan Mc Greevey, Ryan Mc Coy, Darren Mc Guinness, Paddy O’ Donnell, Shea Burns (2-01), Patrick Crawford (0-02), Stephen Bradley
Subs
Niall Mc Kenna
Lorcan Philips (1-01)
Bairie Burns (0-1)
Referee V Boyle (Cuchullian’s)
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