Northern Switchgear SFC Group 3

Tir na nOg 0-15 Aghagallon 4-13

St. Mary’s Aghagallon topped Group 3 of the Northern Switchgear SFC Group 3 following this comprehensive victory over Tir na nOg at Whitehill on Sunday, eliminating Seunday’s opponents in the process with Gort na Mona joining Sunday’s winners with a superior score difference to the Randalstown side

Before the game a minutes silence was observed for Seamus Walsh, father of South West committee member Colum Walsh and grandfather of Eunan Walsh and a lifelong Aghagallon man and it was fitting that Eunan got his side off to a flier with a goal after 30 seconds.

The visitors to Whitehill dominated the opening quarter and struck with a second goal from Niall McShane after 11 minutes with Paul Mulholland Gareth Magee and McShane all to the fore with some fine points.

Tir na nOg recovered from a slow start and came back with points of their own through the impressive Darragh Fagan 0-5, Aaron McNeilly, Christy Sherrin and Aodhan Tolan but it was Aghagallon who led by 2-5 to 0-8 at the break with all still to play for in the second half.

Ruairi McCann increased the visitors lead with a point on the restart before Damien O’Hagan in the Aghagallon goals brought off as great save as Tir na nOg attempted to make a quick response.

McCann moved the visitors five ahead by the 6^th minute but Tir na nOg came back strongly with points from Sean Duffin, Darragh Fagan and a great long range effort from Aodhan Tolan to bring themselves right back into it with 16 minutes gone.

The visitors replied with a goal from Ruairi McShane to put themselves back in control and when Adam Loughran got through for their third goal in the 14^th minute it looked a long way back for the Whitehill side.

The home side pulled one back through Aaron McNeilly but the momentum was now very much with the visitors as Sean Paul McAtamney got his fist to a Gareth Magee rasper at the expense of a point and Ruairi McCann added another following a mark.

It was starting to go wrong for the home side as Enda McCartan punished a bad kick out to add another point for the Aghagallon men and a long range free from Gareth Magee and Loughran’s second goal of the game put it out of reach with seven minutes still remaining.

Ciaran Dobbin, Barry McCormick with a great long range effort and Aaron McNeilly 0-2 added consolation points for the home side with Magee and Jonathan Hannon concluding the scoring for St. Mary’s.

St. Mary’s now advance to the quarter-finals, a remarkable comeback for last year’s beaten finalists who have struggled throughout this year’s league campaign and indeed face a relegation play-off with All Saints, who finished second in division 2, later in the year.

A long list of injuries and absentees was a contributing factor to that poor league form and on the evidence of Sunday they are a side no one will be looking forward to meeting with most of the missing now back in action.

Tir na nOg: 1 Sean Paul McAtamney, 2 Oliver McAtamey, 3 Brandon McLarnon, 4 Peter Cullan, 5 Ciaran O’Neill, 6 Barry McCormick, 7 Aaron McNeilly, 8 Christy Sheerin, 9 Joshua Higgins, 10 Sean Duffin, 11 Eamon Og McAllister, 12 Darragh Fagan, 13 Aodhan Tolan, 14 Kevin Sheerin, 15 Ciaran Dobbin, 24 Daniel Martin, 21 Conor Mckenna, 20 Conor Hastings, 23 Ryan Crilly, 19 Kevin Kerr, 18 Caopimhin Duffin, 22 Deek O’Kane 17 Ethan Higgins.

Aghagallon: 1 Damien O’Hagan, 2 Paddy Brannigan, 3 Aidan Mulholland, 4 Daniel Donnelly, 5 Eunan Walsh, 7 Ciaran McGinnis, 8 David McAlernon, 10 Jonathan Hannon, 11 Padraig Gowdy, 12 Paul Mulholland, 13 Gareth Magee, 14 Ruairi McCann, 15 Niall McShane, 16 Gavin Baine, 17 Seanan Donnelly, 18 Stephen Devlin, 19 Jack Hannon, 20 Aaron Doherty, 21 Puric Maginnins, 22 Enda McCartan, 23 Adam Loughran, 24 Ruairi McShane, 25 Marc McAfee, 26 Daryl McAlernon, 27 Michael McStravick, 28 Jonathan Harbison, 29 Jack Nelson

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 1

St Johns 0-09-0-09 Creggan Kickhams 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

2021 championship winners Creggan edged through to the quarter-final of the 2022 series despite 13-man St Johns levelling with the last kick of the game in 0-09 apiece draw at Corrigan Park on Sunday evening. 

Ruairi McCann kicked half of his sides six first half scores, which at one stage had them five to the good- though St Johns- who relied heavily upon the free-taking of Paddy McBride over the course of the evening; battled their way back. 

Needing a win to ensure progression the hosts lost Conor Hand and Bam Neeson to red cards in the final quarter but were able to earn a share of the spoils following a late Joseph Garland point. 

The permutations were simple for both sides heading into the eagerly awaited encounter. For St Johns- only victory would see them take a place in the last eight, while Champions Creggan needed to avoid defeat at all costs and would progress with a share of the spoils- though they very much had their eyes set of top-spot. 

Eunan McAteer fisted his side in front in the early stages on the Whiterock Road, but Paddy McBride drew the hosts level with a shot that bounced over Oisin Kerr and the crossbar. 

Creggan regained the lead through a converted Ruairi McCann free- the first of five successive scores that had the County Champions in control of the half. 

They increased their lead through a fine Dominic McAteer score, the full forward would land another effort in-between back-to-back frees from McCann as the Staffordstown Road outfit were 0-06-0-01 to the good. 

The Johnnies were largely second best but halved the deficit at the interval thanks to successive converted frees from Paddy McBride to ensure it was a three-point game at the midway point. 

St Johns started the second period brightly as Luke Pedan found the run of Paddy McBride to swing over his second point from play of the evening. A third converted free followed from the talisman and just a single point separated the sides. 

Ruairi McCann replied for the Champions with a free- their first score since the 25^th minute, but McBride kicked his third score since the break to make it a one-point game yet again. 

Further scores were traded as the game entered the final quarter very much on a knife-edge, Kevin Rice made an immediate impact upon his introduction as he sent a neat pass to Martin Johnston to drop an effort over the bar. 

At the other end St Johns substitute Conor Hand was felled and it gave Paddy McBride the opportunity to hit back, which he took to make it 0-08-0-07. 

With ten minutes remaining and game almost delicately poised the hosts decided to spring Matt Fitzpatrick from the bench and as part of a double substitution- sub keeper Matthew Leydon entered proceedings, allowing Bam Neeson to join the attack in a bid to turn the game in their favour. 

The hosts hopes of victory were dealt a blow when substitute Hand was adjudged to have kicked out off the ball and referee Darren McKeown issued a red card. 

Despite being a man light the Johnnies restored parity thanks to an angled effort from Conal McGlade that dropped over the bar. 

Creggan moved into the driving seat for the final time courtesy of a score from captain Kevin Small. 

They should have wrapped the game up when Jamie McCann broke the resulting kick-out down to Eunan McAteer and he slipped in Ruairi McCann to race through on the Johnnies goal, though Matthew Leydon produced a fantastic save to keep his side in contention. 

As the game ticked into added time St John’s were reduced to 13-men after Bam Neeson was shown red for what appeared to be an off the ball incident, though Creggan substitute Kevin Rice was also shown the line for a pull down that saw him black carded. 

It looked as though Creggan would see the game out and finish on top of the Group 1 standings- however St John’s hit back with the final play of the game ensured they would bow out with a share of the spoils thanks to a splendid Joseph Garland point. 

There wasn’t enough to seek a winner that would have sent the hosts through as Darren McKeown brought proceedings to a close. 

The result meant that Creggan finished level on points with Lámh Dhearg at the top of the ‘Group of Death’ but scoring difference saw them take second spot and sets up a quarter-final meeting with Rossa. 

St John’s will meanwhile turn their attention to the hurling Championship and a clash with Cushendall next-week that could see them advance to the semi-final with a victory in North-Antrim. 

St Johns: B Neeson, C Kerr, C Garland, J Garland (0-01), R Hannigan, P Nugent, P Donnelly, S McDonagh, P McBride (0-07, 0-05f), R McNulty, C Johnston, A McGowan, C McGlade (0-01), L McCrudy, L Pedan. Subs:  C Hand for R Hannigan (42), L Heenan for P Donnelly (45), M Leydon for L Heenan (53), M Fitzpatrick for L McCurdy (53). 

Creggan Kickhams: O Kerr, EC Small, R Johnston, E McAteer (0-01), A Maguire, M Johnston (0-01), J McCann, K Small (0-01), K McCann, T McAteer, F Burke, O McLarnon, L Quinn, D McAteer (0-02), R McCann (0-04f). Subs: Blood sub: S Duffin for O McLarnon (27-30) C McCann for E McAteer (60+4). K Rice for F Burke (46), S Duffin for L Quinn (54), K Burke for J McCann (60+1). 

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)

Northern Switchgear Senio Football Championship (Group 4)

 O’ Donovan Rossa 1-12 Erin’s Own Cargin 0-14

A late, 60^th minute point despatched with the utmost efficiency by busy centre forward Thomas Morgan secured victory for Rossa, and a place at the top of Group 4 after this win over a fancied Cargin on Sunday afternoon at Rossa Park.

A 17^th minute Cormac Mc Gettigan goal saw the Shaw’s road side take the lead after the sides had swapped points in the early stages and were level at 0-04 apiece at this juncture and it was a lead they would not lose.

The home side had been first to register a score when Dominic Mc Enhill punished a foul on Stephen Beatty raising a white flag to punish the indiscretion .

Jamie Gribbin opened the Cargin account after he claimed a mark in reception of a superb Pat Shivers delivery and this set the tempo for the opening phase with score at one end provoking same at the other.

Cargin’s Pat Shivers fired over a couple of points and Ciaran Bradley another for the visitors with Michael Armstrong and Stephen Beatty replying for Hugh McGettigan’s side.

McGettigan’s goal gave Rossa the lead but at half time the visitors had fought back to level the contest at 1-4 to 0-7. Cargin recovered from that setback and late points from Tomas Mc Cann, Jamie Gribbin from long range, and another from Gerard McCann ensured they were back on level terms.

Rossa with the aid of the breeze were first away in the second half with a Stephen Beattie point with Ciaran Bradley providing quick reply but two points from Dominic Mc Enhill saw the home side move a couple of points clear after 40^th minutes.

Pat Shivers and Rossa netminder Michael Byrne then exchanged points and similarly Jamie Gribbin followed suit at the other end with another long range special.

The home side continued to dominate the kick-outs and moved further ahead as the tie entered the last quarter with the indomitable Dominic Mc Enhill adding 2 further points and the Rossa bandwagon seemed to be rolling along to victory.

Cargin introduced the previously injured Michael McCann to the action in the latter stages and this was to influence the pattern of the game.

The Toome men gained in confidence but a good move involving several players saw Ronan Gribbin denied by the post as they fought to get back into contention

Tomas Mc Cann added a 22^nd minute point, with Dominic Mc Enhill quick to reply, but Cargin had grabbed a firm grip on proceedings and a trio of late points from Tomas McCann 0-2 and Pat Shivers saw them back on par and a share of the points looked likely.

Rossa were not to be denied their day in the sun however and a well laid offensive and a deft delivery from Thomas Morgan in injury time ensured victory.

Cargin had a chance to draw level in the 63^rd minute from a ‘45’ but although Justin Crozier got his fist to Tomas McCann’s delivery the ball sailed wide of the posts as Rossa celebrated championship victory and a place in the quarter final stages as Group winners.

Rossa will cross swords with the reigning champions Kickham’s Creggan in those quarter finals while runners up Cargin will meet 2017 champions Lamh Dhearg at the same stage.

Rossa: Michael Byrne (0-01) Matthew Mallon, Ciaran Orchin, Gerard Walsh, Jack Morris, Chris Mc Guinness, Richie Gowdy, Cormac Mc Gettigan (1-00), Eoghan Mc Menamin, Dominic Mc Enhill (0-07), Thomas Morgan (0-02), Stephen Beatty (0-01), Aaron Devlin , Michael Armstrong (0-02), Niall Crossan.

Subs

Pat Moyes for C Orchin

S Pat Donnelly for C Mc Gettigan

Stephen Shannon for R Gowdie

Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Justin Crozier, Cahir Donnelly, Kevin O’ Boyle, Benen Kelly, Ronan Gribbin, Sean og O’ Neill, Gerard Mc Cann (0-01), Kevin Mc Shane, Ciaran Bradley (0-02), Pat Shivers (0-05), Paul Mc Cann, Jamie Gribbin (0-03), Tom Shivers, Tomas Mc Cann (0-03)

Subs

Michael Mc Cann for T Shivers

David Johnston for K Mc Shane

Referee: S Laverty (St Ergnat’s)

Northern Switchgear SFC Group 2

Naomh Muire 1-10 St. Brigid’s 1-14

St. Brigid’s held off a second half comeback from St. Mary’s Ahoghill in a tempestuous affair in Cloney to qualify for the quarter-final of the Northern Switchgear SFC at the expense of their hosts. The permutations were clear. Naomh Muire needed to win by five points while St. Brigid’s quite simply had to win and in the end that is just what they did.

The opening exchanges suggested that the visitors would win with quite a bit to spare as they raced into a 1-8 to 0-1 lead after 28 minutes in a half that they totally dominated to this point, forcing several turnovers including the one that led to their goal from James Smith in the 23d minute.

The home side had persisted with the short kick-out strategy throughout the half but this time it backfired and Stephen O’Connell was caught in possession and the ball was transferred to Smith who drilled his shot low to the corner of the net.

Up to this point St. Mary’s had created quite a number of chances but were abysmal in their finishing or off target with the final pass and had only a superb long range point from Boris O’Connell in the 20^th minute to show for their efforts.

A few tasty challenges seemed to finally bring the home side to life however and when Donal Graham raced clear unchallenged to fire to the net in the 28^th minute Ahoghill suddenly sprung into action.

They finished the half with a flurry and Dan O’Neill pointed before James O’Connell struck a ‘45’ sweetly between the uprights in injury time to leave five between the sides as referee, Patrick Tumelty sounded his half time whistle.

St. Mary’s introduced PJ O’Connell and Owen Neeson for Patrick Dougan and Michael O’Connell at the start of the second half with PJ dropping into a role around mid-field and it seemed to add impetus to the home side’s challenge.

The second half was only seconds old when matters started to get heated as the visitors defence got itself in a bit of a tangle when they failed to deal with a long ball into the danger area and after consulting with his umpires referee Tumelty awarded Ahoghill a 13 meter free which James O’Connell stroked over.

St. Brigid’s responded with points from Joseph Finnegan and Peter Webb and Owen Neeson looked to have pulled one back for the Cloney side but his effort from 30 meters came back of an upright and was cleared to safety.

PJ O’Connell followed with another off target effort as the home side started to enjoy more and more possession but St. Brigid’s continued to look threatening on the break and Peter Webb fisted over at the other end to move his side 1-12 to 1-4 ahead after 8 minutes and they appeared to have weathered the storm.

A Joe Finnegan point in the 17^th minute increased the St. Brigid’s lead to nine as several attempts at goal by the Ahoghill men were thwarted by the St. Brigid’s defence before Stephen O’Connell came forward from defence to fire over the home side’s second point of the half in the 18^th minute.

Suddenly it was Ahoghill who were again calling the shots as James O’Connell pointed a couple of frees and Dan O’Neill added another from play in the 29^th minute to cut the Brigid’s lead down to five but the goal that Ahoghill needed quite simply would not come.

A running battle between James O’Connell and Conor King finally boiled over with King receiving a second yellow after both players had been book earlier but it was St. Brigid’s who stood strong in defence to the end with a late shot from substitute Conor Crossey deflected over for a point to conclude the scoring.

St. Brigid’s will be happy with the result and some of their play in the opening half was top drawer as they moved the ball through the hands at speed but the management will be concerned at the manner in which they got bogged down late in both halves and it is something they will want to address before the quarter-finals.

Ahoghill as always gave it everything but took far too long to get going and in the end were forced to concede to the better team on the day.

The Cloney men will now turn their attentions to the Intermediate Hurling championship and a visit to Gort na Mona on Friday night and a win there would all but earn them a place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare in the group.

Ahoghill: 1 Noel Crossey, 22 Stephen O’Connell, 3 Martin Graham, 4 Bernard Graham, 18 Fionnbar O’Connell, 5 Patrick Dougan, 6 Thomas McGlone, 7 Eamonn Brady, 8 Neil O’Connell, 9 Patrick Graham, 17 Michael O’Connell, 11 Donal Graham, 12 Daniel O’Neill, 14 James O’Connell, 15 Ronan Graham. Subs: PJ O’Connell, Owen Neeson, Conor Crossey

St. Brigid’s: Declan Heery, 2 Peter King, 3 Conor King, 4 John Toner, 5 John Morgan, 6 Ronan Boyle, 7 Oran Boyle, 8 Fergal Meenagh, 19 Jack Dowling, 10 Peter Webb, 11 Patrick Finnegan, 12 Niall Lundy, 13 James Smith, 14 Conor McAleer, 15 Joseph Finnegan

Referee:  Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)