ACFL Division 1 Reserve
Erin’s Own Cargin 3-12 St Brigid’s 1-09
Cargin’s second string tightened their grip at the top of the table when they gained the verdict over the visiting St Brigid’s on Friday evening.
The Toome side remain unbeaten in the competition and led from the outset in this one with the back in harness Ronan Devlin leading from the front they defied a strong challenge from the South Belfast side.
Cargin had nipped out of the start traps quickly and raising three points in as many minutes via Shay Bovill, PJ Quinn, and Tom Shivers before their visitors made a mark.
Ryan Murtagh opened account for the city lads via a 6th minute free but such prompted quick response from the home side with Ciaran Mc Guckin and Oran Molloy dominant in the central zone.
PJ Quinn, Tome Shivers and the returning Ronan Devlin added points apiece without reply they had moved 0-06 to 0-01 at the end of the opening quarter.
Indeed Cargin could well have been further ahead but PJ Quinn’s shot came back of the upright after he had rounded his marker and looked certain to find the net.
Having played second fiddle to the dominant home side in the opening phase of the game St Brigid’s came more into it in the second quarter with Conor Slevin getting to grips in the central zone.
Niall Duffy’s pace was causing problems to the home side’s defence and they were to raise three further white flags before half time.
Kieran Close had a further point to the home side’s total, but only a score separated the sides at the half way mark when points apiece from Shane Boyle, Peter Lundy, and Ryan Murtagh saw the home side’s advantage reduced to 0-07 to 0-04 at the end of the first period.
With the aid of the breeze in the second period the Musgrave men were quickly into their stride and Conor Slevin pointed a couple of minutes after the restart to close the gap to two.
A fine score from the mid fielder, but it prompted a quick response from the home side and a foul on the incoming Tom Shivers and a smart delivery from the quickly taken free by the former opened the door for Shay Bovill to finish to the net.
Big Oran Molloy added a long range point a couple of minutes later and when Gerard McCorley placed Tom Shivers the youngster added a second goal and the Toome men have gained a 2-08 to 0-05 advantage.
Peter Lundy added a point for the visitors but Tom Shivers replied with a point for the home side at the other end.
Similarly when Conor Taylor added a point in the St Brigid’s cause after a foul on Paudie Mc Loughlin at the other end saw Tom Shivers punish the indiscretion with a similar score.
The home side were in control but the visitors continued to battle and outscored their hosts in the closing stages with Conor Taylor, Damien Magee, and Niall Duffy adding points.
Shay Bovill and Tom Shivers replied at the other end but St. Brigid’s battled to the end with the towering Ryan Murtagh adding a goal.
That late green flag was to prove the last action of the evening with Cargin crossing the winning line at 3-12 to 1-09 to maintain their strangle hold at the top of the table.
Cargin: Shea Laverty, Sean og Quinn, Gerard Mc Corley, Michael Clarke, Brian Og Devlin, Ben Dobbin, Oran Molloy (0-01), Dermot McGuckin, Shay Bovill (1-03), Kieran Close (0-01), Tom Shivers (1-04), Eoin Coyle, Paudie Mc Loughlin (1-00), PJ Quinn (0-02), Ronan Devlin(0-01)
Subs
Sean Mc Auley for M Clarke
Orrin Johnston for T Shivers
Tomas Laverty for R Devlin
St Brigid’s: James McKenna, Liam Finnegan, Joe Mc Carney, Brian Mc Girr, Sean Mc Kiernan Thomas Mc Carney, Niall Finnegan, Conor Slevin (0-01), Mark Lynch, Matt Smith, Ben Doherty, Peter Lundy (0-02), Damien Magee (0-01), Shane Boyle (0-02), Ryan Murtagh (1-01)
Subs
Niall Duffy (0-02)
Referee: B Hopkiss (St Josephs)