Geordie McGuckin reports from Kelly Park
A 45th minute goal, the product of fine approach work by John Carron and Jamie Gribbin and finished by Sean og O’ Neill proved the decisive score as Cargin ended the unbeaten run by Casement’s in a close hard fought contest at Kelly Park Portglenone on Tuesday evening.
Little had separated the sides from the start and it was that major score from the young centre back which saw the Cargin men move into the clear water of a three point lead.
The Toome men, having gained the advantage did not let it slip, and an excellent long range point by the home side’s Michael Hagen in the 56th minute was as close as the Casement’s were to get.
Cargin stood strong in defiance in the latter stages with James Laverty and the ever excellent Michael Mc Cann leading from the front to ensure the points were going to Toome.
An unbeaten trail from the start of the season and the visit of the current league champions on a fine early spring evening with the Portglenone sod bathed in sunshine ensured a big gathering was in attendance.
The crowd gathered in anticipation and in the event they were not to be disappointed with the fare produced in a close fought end to end encounter which proved good value for money.
Casement’s were first to give employment to the scoreboard attendant with an early white flag raised by Oisin Doherty who despatched a 2nd minute free between the posts.
Cargin were quick to make reply as Jamie Gribbin fully punished an indiscretion on Tom Shivers, enjoying his first ever start in the Erin’s Own jersey, when he despatched the award between the posts.
The home side spurned a couple of chances in the early minutes and were made to pay when Gerard Mc Cann broke through the Casement’s rearguard to blast to the back of the Casement’s net.
The Portglenone men were not found wanting however and soon afterwards Michael Hagen was quick to pounce on a breaking ball to drive to the back of the Cargin net.
The tit for tat activity of the opening minutes was to establish the trend for most of the opening period and after twenty minutes of endeavour the sides remained on terms.
Back to back points from Paul Mc Cann and Jamie Gribbin saw the visitors gain slight advantage before another Michael Hagen point from a placed effort brought the hosts back on level terms at 1-03 apiece.
Similarly when a fine James Laverty point saw the Toome men get a view from the front, it provoked a swift reply from the home side when Oisin Doherty was quick to pounce when Cargin netminder John Mc Nabb parried away a Paddy Kelly shot to fire the rebound home.
Casement’s enjoyed a two point lead as the short blast drew near but Cargin were to finish strongly with late white flags raised in turn by Justin Crozier and James Laverty to ensure the visitors were alongside their hosts again as the sides took respite at 2-03 to 1-06.
Cargin hit the front again shortly into the second period with a point from Jamie Gribbin but their advantage was to prove short lived as back to back points from Paddy Kelly, and an excellent follow up from full back Shane Delargy regained advantage for the home side.
Cargin had been forced into change at the interval as Kevin McShane was introduced to replace the ailing Ciaran Bradley, and the newlywed marked his arrival with a fine point. The key score of the game followed soon afterwards when Sean Og O’ Neill raced through and combined with John Carron and Jamie Gribbin to fire home a great goal, which gave the Cargin men an advantage which they were not to relinquish.
It was end to end stuff in the last quarter as Oisin Doherty and Michael Mc Cann swapped points before back to back white flags, raised in succession by the impressive Michael Hagen, reduced the Cargin lead to just two points, and it looked like the Portglenone men had the wind in their sails.
However a smashing finish from Sean Og O’ Neill saw the visitors stretch three ahead again and the Casement’s men had to be content with a late Michael Hagen point from long range.
The home side pressed to close the gap but the visitors managed the game well in those tense final minutes to seal the win by a two point advantage 2-11 to 2-09 and bring the home side’s winning run to a close.
Referee B Toland (Lamh Dhearg)
Teams
Casement’s
Rian O’ Neill, Ronan Delargy, Shane Delargy (0-01), Jonny Convery, Ryan Convery, Paddy Carey, Ruairi Hagen, Dermot Mc Aleese, Paddy Kelly (0-01),Coary Mc Laughlin, Conal Delargy (0-01), Aiden Mc Aleese, Oisin Doherty (1-02), Ronan Kelly, Michael Hagen (1-04).
Subs
Michael Donnelly for P Kelly
Cargin
John Mc Nabb, David Johnston, Kevin O’ Boyle, Cahir Donnelly, Justin Crozier (0-01), Sean og O’ Neill (1-01), Ronan Gribbin, Gerard Mc Cann (1-00), James Laverty (0-02), John Carron, Ciaran Bradley, Paul Mc Cann (0-01), Tom Shivers, Michael Mc Cann (0-02), Jamie Gribbin (0-03)
Subs
Kevin Mc Shane (0-01) for C Bradley
Michael Clarke for P Mc Cann
Brendan Laverty for G Mc Cann
