Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship Group 3
Gort na Móna 1-9 Tír na nÓg Randalstown 1-9
A last second point from Patrick McCafferty earned Gort na Móna a share of spoils against Tír na nÓg at Enright Park on Sunday.
The point means that the Gorts still harbour hopes of making the knock-out stages but that will all depend on the outcome of the remaining group three fixture in two weeks’ time when Aghagallon visit Tír na nÓg.
The Gorts will no doubt be hoping for an away win with a margin five or more. Anything else and their season is over.
And their season was almost over today.
McCafferty’s late score capped off a remarkable final five minutes but in truth, it was Randallstown’s sloppiness in attack that allowed them back into the contest.
Michael O’Kane’s side failed to bring the energy levels and discipline they showed in the first half into the second half and were never able to kill off the stubborn challenge of the Gorts.
After falling behind to an early Darragh Fagan point, Pádraig Mulvenna blasted to the net to give the homeside a great start.
Tír na nÓg went on to boss much of the first half after this early setback and dominated possession but they failed to show their dominance on the scoreboard.
As the wide and dropped short stats continued to mount, points did eventually arrive through Barry McCormick and Aaron McNeilly.
They also spurned two goal chances.
Thomas McCafferty saved smartly from Fagan in the 13th minute but Fagan had a better chance just six minutes later when at the end of a sweeping Randalstown move but his weak effort was straight at McCafferty.
McCormick’s runs from half-back were causing the Gorts all sorts of trouble and he added two points to his tally to open up a three-point lead.
But two frees from Pádraig McHugh cut the gap to leave just a point between the sides at the break, 1-2 to 0-6.
McHugh added a point from play early in the second half to level affairs but the visitors responded through McNeilly and Fagan.
With just over five minutes remaining a point from distance from Darren Boyd kick-started a Gorts revival.
Replacement Niall Mellaney showed his worth to his side with two points in as many minutes which gave his side a one point with just over two minutes remaining, but the response from the visitors was as ruthless as it was swift.
Fagan ran down the left and cut in along the end line and his pass found McNeilly in the square who stabbed home to re-establish their two-point advantage.
Boyd and Kevin Sheerin traded scores before Mellaney kicked a third to set up the dramatic finish, before McCafferty’s late score ensures that Group 3 will go to the wire.
Teams & Scorers:
Gort na Móna: Thomas McCafferty, Eamon Scannell, Gavin McKenna, Padraig Cournane, Aidan McDonagh, Michael Savage, Neil Henry, Caoimhe Magee, Darren Boyd (0-2), Padraig Mulvenna (1-0), Christopher Carson, Conor Connelly, Desmond McClean, Patrick McCafferty (0-1), Padraig McHugh (0-3 2f).
Replacements: Ciaran Donnelly for McKenna (44), Niall Mellaney (0-3) for Scannell (45), Brendan Burns for Mulvenna (53), Scannell for Burns (55).
Tír na nÓg: Sean Paul McAtamney, Oliver McAtamney, Brendan McLarnon, Peter Cullan, Ciaran O’Neill, Barry McCormick (0-3 1Mark), Caoimhin Duffin, Christy Sheerin, Joshua Higgins, Aaron McNeilly (1-2), Ciaran Dobbin, Darragh Fagan (0-3 1 f, 1 ‘45’), Aodhan Tobin, Kevin Sheerin (0-1), Daniel Martin.
Replacement: Sean Duffin for C Duffin (41).
Referee: Mr Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
