Month / July 2022

by thesaffrongael

 Cargin recover from slow start to gain the verdict

Switchgear SFC (Group 4)

Erin’s Own Cargin 3-10 St Enda’s 0-14

Despite giving visitors St Enda’s a four point start Cargin recovered to gain the verdict in the opening game in Group 4 of the Switchgear Senior Football Championship in Toome today.

 A Ronan Gribbin goal in the 13th minute initiated the fight back and it was a late major from second half substitute Tom Shivers which sealed victory to put Cargin in a strong position for a quarter-final place

St Enda’s arrived in Toome as outsiders for today’s game and it took an excellent save from St Enda’s net minder Paddy Flood to deny Tomas McCann a goal just seconds into proceedings.

The corner forward delivered the awarded ‘45’ between the posts but this was to be the only mark made by the home side for a while as the visitors took the game to their hosts.

An Oran Eastwood 4th minute point from a free opened account for the Hightown men and further scores from Donal Walsh, James Mc Auley, Conor Maxwell, and Conor Morgan followed to ensure an early 0-05 to 0-01 advantage.

Cargin looked in trouble but a well laid counter attack involving Ronan Gribbin and Paul McCann saw the central defender finish with a goal to level the score at 1-02 to 0-05.

Back came St. Enda’s and Oran Eastwood’s 17th minute point ensured advantage for Carl McCabe’s men but the home side came back strongly and points from Pat Shivers, Paul Mc Cann, and a couple from Tomas McCann ensured a three point advantage as the end of the half approached.

The visitors were to have the last say however and points from Oran Eastwood and Kian Healy left only a point between the sides at the break with Cargin leading 1-06 to 0-08.

St Enda’s started the second half strongly and a Finn Nagle point courtesy of a mistake in the home defence saw the sides draw level.

Cargin were struggling to get their game going again but Tomas McCann bagged back to back points before Sean Og O’ Neill followed with a 42nd minute goal.

Cahir Donnelly and Paul McCann, who had an excellent hour, were involved in the approach, before Tomas McCann’s cute delivery opened to way for the advancing wing half back to find the net.

Cargin looked to have gained control but St. Enda’s responded and came back with points from Donal Walsh and Oran Eastwood and a great point from Kian Healy to put them in a strong position as the tie entered the latter stages.

A fine Justin Crozier point eased concerns but back came the Hightown men with Kian Healey leading the charge and Back to back points from Oran Eastwood ensured only a couple of points separated the sides.

A black card to Benen Kelly saw Cargin reduced in number and the home side looked in a bit of trouble but they found a response. Ronan Gribbin and Jamie Gribbin combined to open the way for replacement Tom Shivers to grab a 59th minute goal and the die was certainly cast.

St Enda’s net custodian Paddy Flood was issued with a black card for a foul on the advancing Shivers as the relieved home side greeted the final whistle with a hard earned 3-10 to 0-14 winning verdict.

The Toome men will travel to Rossa in the last game of their section with St Enda’s due to play hosts to Rossa in a fortnight’s time.

Cargin: J Mc Nabb, J Crozier (0-01), C Donnelly, K O’ Boyle, B Kelly, R Gribbin (1-00), S og O’ Neill (1-00), K Mc Shane, G Mc Cann, C Bradley, P Mc Cann (0-02), D Johnston, G Gribbin, P Shivers (0-02), T Mc Cann (0-06)

Subs

T Shivers (1-00) for P Shivers

M Kelly for D Johnston

M Clarke for J Gribbin

St Enda’s: P Flood, C Lyttle, M Mc Namee, C Maxwell (0-01), P Healy, J Mc Auley (0-01), C Mc Auley, P Curran, M Morgan, K Kalla, C Morgan (0-01), D Walsh, F Nagle (0-01) O Eastwood (0-06)

Referee: C J Roberts (St John’s)

by thesaffrongael

St. John’s top the group on day 1

Northern Switchgear SFC Group 1

St. John’s 3-15 St. Gall’s 1-9

A strong and aggressive St John’s proved too strong for neighbours St. Gall’s in this opening game in group 1 of the Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship at Corrigan Park today. The Corrigan Park side pushed up on the St. Gall’s kick-out and played with an intensity the visitors just could not match.

Goals from Mark Fitzsimmons in the first half and Padraig Nugent and Loughlin McCurdy in the second helped the ‘Johnnies’ to a 12 point victory in the end and served notice to Lamh Dhearg and Kickham’s Creggan, the other two teams in the group, that they will be serious challengers.

Ross Hannigan got the Johnnies on their way with a point after 30 seconds before St. Gall’s replied through Niall Burns and Eoghan McCabe to briefly take the lead with 6 minutes gone. Conall Bohill level matter and Mark Fitzsimmons and Paddy McBride from a long range free had St. John’s 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 16 minutes.

Michael Pollock who had a great game for St Gall’s

The opening goal arrived two minutes later when Mark Fitzsimmons punished a mistake by the visitor’s defence to finish to the net and further points from Paddy McBride, Fitzsimmons and Ross Hannigan had the Corrigan Park side eight ahead after 20 minutes.

Substitute Niall Fallon took advantage of a slip by St. John’s keeper, Brian Neeson to fire to the net in the 23d minute and further points from Ruairi Wilson and Niall Burns in response to a Ryan McNulty 50 yard free for the home side left St. John’s 1-8 to 1-4 ahead at the break.

It still looked anyone’s game as the sides took the field for the second half but it was St. John’s who stepped up the intensity on the restart with Paddy McBride from a free and Ross Hannigan moving them six ahead after three minutes play.

Back came St. Gall’s with Niall Burns and Eoghan McCabe on target and Micky Pollock involved in everything good the visitors could muster but the Milltown side were having to work harder for their scores.

Conall McGlade moved St. John’s four ahead with a great point in the 16th minute and the home side were then awarded a penalty which Padraig Nugent tucked away before Paddy McBride followed with a point to put his side in a strong position with ten minutes remaining.

St. Gall’s were still fighting hard to get back into contention and Micky Pollock replied with a point in the 22nd minute but when Locky McCurdy chipped the keeper at the other end, a minute later it was as good as over.

Pearse Donnelly, Conall Bohill and substitute Conor Adams added points for St. John’s in the closing stages with Niall Burns kicking a consolation score for the Milltown Row side and it is the men from the Whiterock who top the group on day one following holders Kickham’s Creggan’s draw with Lamh Dhearg in the other game in group 1

St. John’s: 1 Brian Neeson, 2 Padraig Nugent, 3 Adrian Oliver, 4 Ciaran Garland, 5 Ross Hannigan, 6 Ciaran Kerr, 7 Andy McGowan, 8 Simon McDonagh, 9 Ryan McNulty, 10 Conall McGlade, 11 Paddy McBride, 12 Conor Hand, 13 Conall Bohill, 14 Loughlin McCurdy, 15 Mark Fitzsimmons. Subs: Donal Nugent for Conor Hand, Pearse Donnelly for Andy McGowan, Luke Peden for Conor McGlade, Joseph Garland for Adrian Oliver

St. Gall’s: 1 Niall McCurdy, 2 Cormac Bradley, 3 Cormac Flannery, 4 Eoghan McCurdy, 5 Marcus Donnelly, 6 Eoghan McCabe, 7 Dultach McLiam, 8 Ryan Irvine, 9 Thomas Bunting, 10 Niall O’Neill, 11 Niall Burns, 12 Ruairi Wilson, 13 Brendan Bradley, 14 Michael Pollock, 15 Callum Walsh. 20 Niall Fallon for Brendan Bradley, John McCaffrey for Thomas Bunting

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfield’s)

by thesaffrongael

Prenter’s late point earns Antrim a second bite at the cherry

TG4 All Ireland Junior Football Championship final

Antrim 1-13 Fermanagh 1-13

A last gasp point from an Orlaith Prenter free earned Antrim a second bite at the cherry against Ulster rivals Fermanagh in Sunday’s TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Final at Croke Park.

After leading for most of the game Antrim fell behind entering the final minutes and it appeared their chance of a third All Ireland title at this grade had gone. However they were awarded a free in the last minute of the game and Prenter coolly slotted over her sixth point of the day to set up a replay in two weeks’ time at a venue to be decided.

Fermanagh started brightly andwere were ahead early one with points from Smyth and O’Brien, but one they got their first score through Aine Turbity they pushed on with two Prenter points and one from Grainne McLaughlin to lead by 0-4 to 0-2 by the twelfth minute.

However Fermanagh’s deadly duo of Bláithín Bogue (who ended with 0-7) and Eimear Smyth (who had 1-3 to her name) kept their team in touch and a Bogue point on 17 minutes cup the gap back to a single point midway through the first half, but a brilliantly taken goal by Antrim’s Maria O’Neill stretched the Saffrons lead to four.

Bogue kept her team very much in touch with three more points from play, but Antrim were able to respond when put under pressure and points from the elusive Orlaith Prenter and team captain Cathy Carey gave the Antrim girls a three point cushion at the half-time hooter. (1-7 to 0-7)

Lara Dahunsi who was awarded the Player of the Match trophy

It looked like Fermanagh were back on terms two minutes after the restart, but Bogue’s palmed finish from a high Smyth free was ruled out for a square ball after a lengthy consultation. The Saffrons were a players short by this staged aftr losing corner-back Niamh McIntosh to the sin-bin but to their credit her fellow defenders stepped up to the mark. Fermanagh were beginning to dominate territorially but Antrim were keeping them at bay with points from Cathy Carey, Orlaith Prenter and Maria O’Neill

Although they were under pressure they still maintained a cushion, and when Maria O’Neill was sent through on target by a brilliant Prenter pass it appeared the game clinching goal was on, but O’Neill’s rocket rocket-like shot cannoned back of the post and the danger was cleared.

Fermanagh were keeping the pressure on however and when they were awarded a penalty, (for a foul that appeared to be marginally outside the penalty area) Eimear Smith fired the ball home to cut the deficit to a single point.

Maria O’Neill crashes a shot off the woodwork during the second half

Fermanagh levelled matters with a point from Erin Tierney and when Smyth put them ahead for the first time since the third minute, with a great long range point, Antrim’s hearts’ sank

There was to be one more opportunity however when the Antrim were awarded a late free and the excellent Prenter kept her composure to slot it over and earn her team a second bite at the cherry in two weeks’ time.

Orlaith Prenter with her dad Brendan and mum Mary after the game. This was Orlaith’s first appearence in Croke Park but Brendan had played on the sacred sod when he guarded goals for Antrim hurlers over 30 years ago. Coincidentally his last appearance at headquarters was for Creggan hurlers in the 2014 All Ireland Club Junior Hurling final, which also ended in a draw, and his team won the replay

Scorers for Antrim: O Prenter 0-6 (0-4f), M O’Neill 1-1, G McLaughlin 0-3 (1f), C Carey 0-2, A Tubridy 0-1.

Scorers for Fermanagh: B Bogue 0-7, E Smyth 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), A O’Brien, S Britton, E Tierney 0-1 each.

Antrim: A McCann; D Coleman, A McFarland, N McIntosh; M Mulholland, S Tennyson, S O’Neill; L Dahunsi, Á Tubridy; C Taggart, C Carey, M O’Neill; B Devlin, O Prenter, G McLaughlin.

Subs: O Corr for C Taggart (33), T Mellon for Devlin (34), A Taggart for McLaughlin (40).

Fermanagh: R Gleeson; E Keenan, M McGloin, S McQuade; N McManus, S McCarville, C Bogue; B Bannon, A O’Brien; E Maguire, B Bogue, S Britton; C McElroy, E Smyth, L Grew.

Subs: E Tierney for Maguire (19), E Douglas for McManus (41), Maguire for Grew (55).

Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).

by thesaffrongael

Aldergrove push on to win by seven

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

OB Construction IFC Group 4

St. James Aldergrove 1-17 St. Teresa’s 1-10

When Sean Maguire fired home a St. Teresa’s goal in the 13th minute of the second half to reduce the deficit to a point it looked like we were in for a barn storming finish in Crumlin last night. The home side, St. James’ Aldergrove were able to respond however with a goal of their own from Seamus McGarry and they pushed on to win by seven points.

It was St. James who got off to a great start and they kicked the opening five points of the game by the 11th minute through Conor Morris (mark), Declan Gough, Ronan Hanna and two from Seamus McGarry and appeared to be coasting.

You never get anything easy against St. Teresa’s however and John Mallon replied from a couple of pointed frees to serve notice that the Glen Road side were not there just to make up the numbers.

McGarry with his third point of the game and Philip Maguire for the visitors exchanged points to keep the gap at three as things began to liven up before Fearghal Hanna edged the home side four in front with a point in the 17th minute.

Free taker, John Mallon keep St. Teresa’s in touch and Mark Small followed with another from play in the 21st minute to leave just the minimum between the sides as things began to liven up with referee, Eamon McAuley issuing a number of yellow cards at this stage of the game.

It was the Crumlin side who found another gear in the run up to half time with Anthony Kidney striking a long range free between the uprights and Conor Morris and Kidney again on target with impressive scores to move the hosts 0-10 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.

St. James increased that lead to seven, three minutes into the second half through Conor Morris and Ronan Hanna but St. Teresa’s replied through Anton Taylor and a John Mallon free to keep the gap at five with only seven minutes of the new half gone.

It was nip and tuck at this stage as Fearghal Hanna with an excellent long range point for Aldergrove and John Mallon for the visitors exchanged further points but a Sean Maguire goal for St. Teresa’s in the 13th minute following a build-up involving several players, brought the visitors right into contention.

Suddenly the momentum had switched to the Glen Road side but St. James regrouped and conjured a goal of their own, five minutes later with county panellist Seamus McGarry applying the finish to again put a bit of daylight between the sides.

Eoghan Hamill replied with a point to cut the gap to three after 20 minutes but it was the home side who found another gear as Anthony Kidney from another excellent long range free, Gerard Mallon and Ronan Hanna put a bit of distance between the sides.

There would be no way back for St. Teresa’s this time though they never gave up but a consolation score from Anton Taylor was all they could muster as St. James ran out seven point winners to go top of Group 4 but they don’t play again until the 27th of August when they travel to St. Paul’s.

The Shaw’s Road side make the short journey to the Glen Road on Saturday 13th August to open their account in a group containing only three sides and St. Teresa’s will need something from that one if they are to maintain any hopes of qualifying for a quarter final place.

Aldergrove: 1 Shane O’Neill, 2 Eoin Gough, 3 Christopher McVeigh, 4 Christopher Browning, 5 Gerard Mallon, 6 Brian McQuillan, 7 Fearghal Hanna, 8 Ryan Owens, 9 Conor Browning, 10 Seamus McGarry, 11 Ronan Hanna, 12 Declan Gough, 13 Conor Morris, 14 Anthony Kidney, 15 Oisin Graham, 16 Oisin McGarry, 17 Andrew Flood, 18 David Aiken

St. Teresa’s: 1 Odhran O’Neill, 2 Aidan Dougan, 3 Anthony Vandell, 4 Anton Taylor, 5 Colm McGoldrick, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Darren McCann, 8 Eoghan Hamill, 11 Joe Rainey, 13 John Mallon, 14 Liam Gault, 16 Mark Small, 17 Paul McGoldrick, 18 Philip Maguire, 22 Sean Maguire

Referee: Eamon McAuley (Cargin)

by thesaffrongael

Davitt’s ease to opening win

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship Group 3 

Davitts 1-13-0-10 Rasharkin 

Kevin Herron reports from Davitt Park 

Davitt’s had six-points to spare in the end as they saw off the challenge of Rashakin 1-13-0-10 in their Intermediate Championship opener at Davitt Park this evening. 

The hosts began brightly and registered the opening two points of proceedings in form of placed balls, Aaron Slane converting a 45’ and Christopher Rafferty sending a close-range free between the posts. 

Eamonn McNeill came up with an excellent reply for Rasharkin – though Deaglan Mooney dropped over a point to restore his sides two-point advantage.

Visitors Rasharkin would pull level, goalkeeper Tiernan O’Boyle converted a free and McNeill would double his tally after playing a one-two with Seamus Ellis and steering a shot over the bar. 

Slane came up and kicked a free to edge Davitt’s ahead again, but Ryan Lynch levelled from the same scenario. 

Further scores were traded as Danny Wallace clipped over a splendid point from range and at the other end Eamonn McNeill dropped in a high ball which Ryan Lynch claimed, he took an advanced mark and then shot over on the turn to make it 0-05 apiece. 

Aaron Slane would land his third point of the half from a free and despite seeing Danny Wallace black-carded towards the end of the first period; Davitt’s held a slender lead at the interval. 

The 14-men extended their lead after the break, like the opening half they hit back-to-back placed balls and again it was Slane with a fine kick and Christopher Rafferty- who added to their personal tally’s. 

Seamus Ellis dropped over a reply at the other end- though Gerard Slane saw his shot land on the roof of the net and over to ensure the gap returned to three-points. 

The sides traded scores again as Conor McFerran claimed an advanced mark and converted via the large post, at the other end Tony McGrattan cut-in at the by-line and angled a high shot between the posts to give his side a 0-10-0-07 lead. 

Ryan Lynch sent a close-range free between the posts for Rashakin, though Gerard Slane doubled his account for the half in response as the sides continued to cancel each other out. 

With 52 minutes on the clock the decisive moment arrived in the game as Padraig McParland went steaming through on goal only to be impeded deliberately by Rasharkin substitute Gerard O’Hagan. 

Referee Fionntan McCotter signalled for a penalty and black-carded O’Hagan in a double-whammy for the visitors. 

SPOT ON – Aaron Slane slots home the only goal of the game from the penalty spot

Aaron Slane came forward for the responsibility and confidently dispatched his spot-kick past opposite number Tiernan O’Boyle to give his side a 1-11-0-08 lead. 

The next two scores were traded as Ryan Lynch conjured up a reply- only for Tony Mc Grattan to produce an excellent point and double his tally for the evening. 

Padraig McParland curled over a fantastic point to end Davitt’s scoring for the evening with Rasharkin’s final response coming courtesy of a Donagh Quigg point at the end of a disappointing evening for the Dreen side. 

Davitt’s: A Slane (1-04f), M Rowntree, P McKinney, N Maginn, G Slane (0-02), N McParland, J Scally, C Slane, D Mooney (0-01), C Brown, P McParland (0-01), J Lindsey, T McGrattan (0-02), D Wallace (0-01), C Rafferty (0-02f). 

Rasharkin: T O’Boyle (0-01f), C Kennedy, E McFerran, P Kelly, F Kennedy, C Hasson, O McMullan, S Ellis (0-01), R O’Boyle, S Hasson, E McNeill (0-02), D Quigg (0-01), R Lynch (0-04, 0-01f, 0-01m), A Hasson, C McFerran (0-01m). Subs: T McMullan for A Hasson (38), G O’Hagan for F Kennedy (47), K O’Boyle for P Kelly (55). Blood Sub: C McKeever for C McFerran (25), C McKeever returned (28). 

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)