Graham Tarmac JFC Group 2
St. Agnes 1-11 Laochra Loch Lao 2-10
Laochra Loch Lao made it two from two with this two point win over a battling St. Agnes at Woodlands on Friday evening. Early in both halves the ‘Aggies’ looked like they were taking control but Laochra Loch Lao came back strongly in the second and final quarters to edge the contest.
Goals from Padraig O’Prey in the 5th minute of the opening half and Kevin Devine in the 16th minute of the second proved the vital scores in the end with both coming at a time when the home side were threatening to take control.
It was St. Agnes who were first on target with points from Kaelan McAllister and Cormac McBride as they opened brightly on an excellent Pairc Naomh Una splendidly marked out by the robotic line marker of Niall McCallin of St. John’s, the first time this piece of equipment has been used in Belfast.
O’Prey got in for the visitor’s opening goal direct from the kick-out but points from Matthew Corr and another from Kaelan McAllister had the home side back in front after 8 minutes and McAllister’s palmed effort might well have been a goal.
Both sides had agreed to a water break prior to the game and in the almost tropical conditions it came as welcome respite but when the action got under way again it was the Irish language side who began to get on top with Conor McGucken and Aaron Strain pointing them into a 20th minute lead.
Declan McLarnon saw his fisted effort come back of a post for St. Agnes with Strain and Tarlach Barclaigh adding point for the visitors and St. Agnes keeper, Colum Carroll drifting up-field for a St. Agnes point to leave the half time score 1-6 to 0-5 in favour of Laochra Loch Lao.
As in the first half it was Roy McLarnon’s side who made the better start to the second half with the excellent Conall Turley and Declan McLarnon on target to close the gap to one with only two minutes of the second half gone.
Conhur MacStacais raced through the heart of the ‘Aggies’ defence for a point and might have had a goal but was denied by a splendid save by Colum Carrol and when Matthew Corr got in for a goal in the 12th minute the sides were level at 1-7 to 1-7 and the momentum looked to have swung in favour of the home side.
A couple more from the impressive Turley saw the Aggies move two in front going into the second water break but it was Laochra Loch Lao who struck with a vengeance on the restart. The visitors went on the attack and Padraig O’Prey, who had been a thorn in the St. Agnes defence laid the ball off to Kevin Devine and he finished to the net from close range.
O’Prey pointed a 19th minute free to edge the visitors two in front with Declan McLarnon closing the gap back to one again as he pointed a free at the other end but that was as close as St. Agnes got as promising attacking moves failed to produce the necessary scores.
Two late pointed frees from their talisman forward Padraig O’Prey edged the visitors three in front with Cormac McBride replying with a consolation point for the ‘Aggies’ but the goal they needed never looked like materialising as Loch Lao stood strong in defence
Laochra Loch Lao now sit joint top of Group 2 with St. Malachy’s who defeated McQuillan’s Ballycastle in the other Group 2 game tonight and these two will meet in the final game of the group stages on Friday 27th of August with the winners topping the group.
St. Agnes: 1 Colum Carroll, 2 Patrick Carroll, 3 Ryan Reilly, 4 Killian McCormick, 5 Conor Compston, 6 Mark Caldwell, 7 Dylan Cunniongham, 8 Kaelan McAllister, 9 Patrick Mulgrew, 10 Conall Turley, 11 Declan McLarnon, 12 Matthew Corr, 13 Paul McClenaghan, 14 Conor McLean, 15 Cormac McBride. Subs: 21 James Halleron, 20 Briandan McLarnon, 17 Paul Kennedy
Laochra Loch Lao: 1 Sean O’Heachain, 3 Conor McCaffery, 4 Sean O’Hainbhheith, 5 Eamon O’Coinn, 6 Connla O’Coinn, 7 Tarlach Barclaigh, 8 Cathal O’Ceallaigh, 9 Aaron Strain, 10 Conor McGucken, 12 Tomas Tolan, 13 Padi O’Tiarnaigh, 14 Padraig O’Prey, 15 Kevin Devine. Subs: Caoilte MacGiolla Fhiondain, Niall O’hAdha, Eanna O’Ceallaigh
Referee: Martin Quinn (St. Enda’s)
