OB Construction IFC Group 1
Cuchullains 3-17 Naomh Padraig 1-8
Two first half goals from Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning paved the way for a Dunloy victory over visitors Naomh Padraig, Lisburn in the final game in Group 1 of the OB Construction IFC today at Pearse Park to send Cuchullain’s into the quarter-final as runners up in the group.
Coby had the ball in the visitors net before the home crowd had settled on the terrace and was a constant threat until the home management called him ashore late in the game by which time the game was well out of reach of the battling Lisburn men.
Naomh Padraig responded to Cunning’s early strike with three points in reply from Conor Ewing, Marcas Turbitt and Ben McMullan to draw level by the 8th minute but Cuchullain’s replied through Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott and Conal Cunning to re-establish their three point advantage.
The Lisburn side were methodical in their build up play but were too often being turned over by Dunloy’s high press and a second goal from the flying Connon in the 14th minute put the home side in a commanding position.
By half time the home side led 2-5 to 0-4 with Mark Chernek getting Naomh Padraig’s final point when he wriggled free from several defenders to send over from close range but it looked a long way back for the visitors even at this stage of the contest.
Deaglan Smith, who with Eoin McFerran was giving Dunloy the edge at mid-field sent over his second point of the game on the restart as the home side started to introduce their bench and Eoin Gillan added another before substitute, Tom McFerran split the posts with virtually his first touch of the ball in the 7th minute.
Dunloy were growing in confidence with the pace of Nigel and Seaan Elliott causing problems for a Naomh Padraig defence who were coming under increasing pressure and Seaan Elliott, Tom McFerran and Elliott again added points by the 10th minute.
The visitors were unfortunate when the final pass let them down after a good move out of defence split the Cuchullain’s defence open and at the other end Keelan Molloy punished an indiscretion on Conal Cunning before Coby followed with two from play to move his side 13 ahead at the end of the third quarter.
The Lisburn side rang the changes themselves at this stage and came back with a point as Eoin Dixon’s long range effort bounced over but Nigel Elliott replied immediately for the home side with a good point at the other end in the 19th minute.
Two minutes later it was as good as over when Tom McFerran sent a pin point pass across goal to the unmarked Oran Quinn who gratefully palmed the ball to an empty net with Peadar O’Neill desperately trying to get back but to no avail.
Naomh Padraig kept going right to the end and were rewarded with a goal of their own when a Josh McMullan shot dangled tantalisingly into the danger area and Mark Chernek appeared to get the vital touch as he challenged Chris Brogan for the dropping ball.
Dunloy will now meet St. James’ Aldergrove in the quarter-final with the Crumlin side topping their group on score difference despite losing to a St. Paul’s side today who will join them in the quarter-finals as runners up in Group 4 with St. Teresa’s missing out in a group where all three sides won one game each.
Dunloy: 1 Chris Brogan, 2 Oran Quinn, 3 Aaron Crawford, 4 Cathaoir McCloskey, 5 Conor Kinsella, 6 Kevin McQuillan, 7 Anton McGrath, 8 Eoin McFerran, 9 Deaglan Smith, 10 Nigel Elliott, 11 Eoin Gillan, 12 Christopher McMahon, 13 Conal Cunning, 14 Keelan Molloy, 15 Seaan Elliott. Subs: Tom McFerran, Barry McCloskey, Ciaran McQuillan, Karl O’Kane, Adi Scullion
Naomh Padraig: 1 Peadar O’Neill, 2 Jack McMullan, 3 Thomas Burns, 4 Josh McMullan, 5 Oisin Gorman, 6 Marcas Turbitt, 7 Colm Burns, 24 Aaran Thompson, 8 Che Smith, 9 Adam Patterson, 10 Conor Ewing, 11 Eoin Dixon, 12 Sean Burns, 13 Ben McMullan, 14 Mark Chernek, 17 Rory Kennedy. Subs: Kevin Gallagher, Rory Kennedy, Conor Doran, Conor Dixon, Francis McMeel
Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)
