ACFL Division 1
Erin’s Own Cargin 0-18 Tir na nOg 1-06
A personal haul of 0-08 by centre forward Ciaran Bradley featured prominently as Cargin proved to be the better side as the Toome men recorded a nine point victory over the visiting Tir na nOg on Wednesday evening.
Ronan Devlin’s men deserved their victory over their visitors but the Whitehill men gave their hosts a run for their money and indeed it took some stout defending in the Toome men’s defence to deny the Randalstown men a couple of goal chances in the course of the hour.
Tir na nOg net minder, Sean McAtamney came forward to despatch a 29th minute penalty to the back of the net and it took the tenacity of Sean Og O’ Neill and a superb ‘rob’ when Kevin Kerr was about to pull the trigger to deny the wing man a certain goal.
The visitors arrived in Toome following a win over St Gall’s on Sunday and were forced to field with an extensive injury list but Kevin O’ Kane’s charges stood toe to toe with their hosts in the opening quarter.
Cargin were first to open as Ciaran Bradley pointed in the 2nd minute to punish an indiscretion on Mark Kelly but the visitors were quick to respond as Kevin Sheerin took aim from 30 metres and directed between the posts.
Similarly when the hard grafting David Johnston sent Michael Clark in to raise white, Darragh Feagan rose highest in the edge of the box to fist over the bar and tie the contest for a second time.
The Whitehill side remained on par with their hosts and were still on terms at 0-03 apiece at the end of the opening quarter.
Cargin took some time to settle into the game but with Gerard McCann starting to make his presence felt they added unanswered points through McCann, John McNabb and three from Ciaran Bradley to ensure a healthy 0-08 to 0-03 lead as half time approached.
Tir na nOg were still in there fighting and their endeavours were rewarded in the latter stages when Darragh Feagan was upended en route to the posts and when the match official pointed to the spot up came their keeper, Sean Paul McAtamney to blast to the back of the net.
That last minute strike reduced the Cargin advantage to just a couple of points at 0-08 to 1-03 and left all to play for in the second half.
Ciaran Bradley and Darren Fagan exchanged points at the start of the second half but the home side began to get on top with Gerard and Paul Mc Cann gaining control in the vital central sector. Ciaran Bradley added back to back points before Paul McCann followed suit as the Toome side moved five points clear 0-12 to 1-04 by the 40th minute.
A fine Ronan Grbbin long range point brought quick reply from Darragh Feagan at the other end but try as they might there would be no way back for the visitors.
David Johnston added a point to the Cargin total when he raised a 50th minute white with Ronan Gribbin, Mark Kelly and Ciaran Bradley following suit as the home side moved clear.
Tir na nOg kept going to the end and it took a last minute intervention from Cahir Donnelly to deny Aaron Mc Neilly as he threatened to score.
A late Tom Shiver’s Point concluded the home side’s total with the final score coming from the visitors Aaron Mc Neilly with Cargin breasting the winning line 0-18 to 1-06 ahead.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-1), David Johnston (0-01), Cahir Donnelly, Brendan Laverty, Justin Crozier (0-01), Sean Og O’Neill, Ronan Gribbin (0-02), Gerard Mc Cann (0-01), Paul Mc Cann (0-01), Benen Kelly, Ciaran Bradley (0-08), Paudie Mc Laughlin, PJ Quinn, Mark Kelly (0-02), Michael Clarke (0-01)
Subs
Kevin Mc Shane for M Kelly
Tom Shivers (0-01) for P J Quinn
Odhran Molloy for G Mc Cann
Enda Mc Grogan for P Mc Laughlin
Eoin Coyle for M Clark
Tir na nOg: Sean Paul McAtamney (1-0), Ethan Higgins, Peter Cullen, Ryan Crilly, Ciaran O’ Neill, Caomhinn Duffin, Oliver Mc Atamney, Joshua Higgins, Ryan O’ Neill, Kevin Kerr, Sean Duffin, Darragh Feagan (0-03), Kevin Sheerin (0-01), Aaron Mc Neilly (0-02), Conor Hastings
Subs
Pearce Sheerin for J Higgins
Brandon Mc Larnon for C Hastings
Declan Higgins for E Higgins
Referee: Conall Roberts (St John’s)
