OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, Group One
Patrick Sarsfield’s 3-17 Ardoyne Kickhams 0-8
An impressive Sarsfields secured their place in the knock out stages of the Intermediate Football Championship when they proved too strong for visitors Ardoyne at the Bear Pit on Friday evening. Ahead from as early as the opening minute when team captain Gary Lennon fired the ball to the Ardoyne net, the Paddies played some great football on their way to booking a quarter final spot.
When the Paddies visited Naomh Padraig in the opening round it took them all of 29 minutes before registering their first score of the game, but there was no waiting around for their fans this time out as Lennon pounced on a breaking ball in around the Ardoyne goalmouth and finished decisively with less than sixty seconds on the clock.
Before the game young Sarsfields players formed a guard of honour for the team, but they needed a bit of practice and so they welcomed Ross Carr and his Ardoyne team as well as match referee Colm McDonald as his officials to get warmed up for Gary Lennon leading out the Paddies
Lennon’s goal set the tone of the game and it was clear Ross Carr’s men had a real battle on their hands, but when Aidan McNeill opened their account with a well taken point they began to settle into the game. They kept themselves in touch with points from Cathal Keown and Conor McLaughlin, but the home side were beginning to dominate and picked off some excellent points before Tomas Skillen struck a decisive blow on 21 minutes when he grabbed his team’s second goal after being set up by Caolan McKernan, whose sharp reaction saw him pounce on a loose kick out by the Ardoyne keeper.
That score seemed to deflate the Kickhams and though Aidan McNeill hit a couple of excellent points in reply, the Paddies pushed on to lead by 2-7 to 0-5 at the interval.
The pattern continued after the restart when Skillen added two excellent points, kicking over the first one before cutting in along the end line to fist over the next soon afterwards. Ardoyne kept battling and were rewarded with points from McNeill, Lynch and McLaughlin, but they were never going to claw back the 13 point deficit and when Healy added Sarsfields third goal with a classy finish from a narrow angle on the right, the only thing is question was the size of the winning margin.
Overall a really top class display by the men from Stewartstown Avenue, and considering they did it without their top scorer from the opening round, Kevo McKernan, they look to be real contenders for the title. There is a long way to go yet of course, but anyone who witnessed this display will not want to go toe to toe with the men from the Bear Pit
SARSFIELD’S: M Brady; A McGarrigle, M McPolin, M Johnston; P McPeake, D McKernan, C McKernan; G Lennon (1-5, 0-1f), N McKenna (0-2); J McNally, N McAlea (0-1), K Floyd; T Skillen (1-4, 0-1M), D Smyth (0-1), B Healy (1-5, 0-1f, 0-1M).
Subs: P Herron for A McGarrigle (45), P O’Kane for D Smyth (50), E Quinn for T Skillen (50), R Carson for G Lennon (53), P Murray for D McKernan (55).
ARDOYNE: T Hughes; P Montgomery, SJ Rooney, C Carter; E Corrigan, K Lynch (0-1), J McNeill; O McVicker, D McCormack; A McNeill (0-4, 1f), C Keown (0-1), D Moore; P Marley, C McNeill, C McLaughlin (0-2f).
Subs: R McGranaghan for C Carter (35), C Magee for D Moore (47), O Mullan for P Montgomery (57), O Hickey for O McVicker (60).
REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)
