Loughgiel’s bid for their ninth title in a row got underway at Carey on Saturday evening when they beat Ballycastle in first of their round robin games. The girls from the Town did well against the champions in the first half, but after the change of ends the Shamrocks pulled away to win in the end by eleven points
Maeve Kelly, playing at centre back for Ballycastle, got her team off the mark with a pointed free in the opening minute, but Christine Laverty cancelled that out a minute later when she sent one over from play. The Castle edged ahead again with a point from corner forward Aine Donnelly in the fourth minute, but a goal from Annie Lynn thirty seconds later gave the champions a lead they were not subsequently to lose.
Caitrin Dobbin added two quick points to put the Shamrocks four ahead, and though Ballycastle came back with points from Caitlin Heggarty and Fionuala Kelly, a Caitrin Dobbin goal put her team six clear and in a strong position.
The next ten minutes saw Ballycastle get on top and they added three points in a row, one from play by Fionuala Kelly and two from frees by Aine Donnelly to close the gap to two, and though Dobbin came back with two more for the Shamrocks, a Nuala Devlin point just on half time sent them in three in arrears. Loughgiel 2-5 Ballycstle 0-8.
A point from Aine Donnelly early in the second half closed the gap to just two but Loughgiel came back strongly with four in a row, one from Annie Lynn and three in a row from Dobbin. A Maeve Kelly point from a free gave Ballycastle renewed hope, but when Loughgiel hit the next four points, three from the deadly Dobbin and one each from Katie McIllop and Anna Connolly it was clear there was no way back for the girls in black and amber.
Aine Donnelly did pull one back entering injury time but there was still time for two more points for the champions through Katie McKillop and Annie Lynn to seal an opening day win.
LOUGHGIEL
Eimear Boyle, Charlene Campbell, Katie Lynn, Claire McKillop, Maria Lynn, Una McNaughton, Shauna Devlin, Amy Boyle, Lucia McNaughton, Christine Laverty, Mary McKillen, Anna Connolly, Caitrin Dobbin, Katie McKillop, Annie Lynn.
BALLYCASTLE
Danielle McMichael, Maria Donnelly, Niamh Donnelly, Aine McShane, Catherine McShane, Maeve Kelly, Orla Donnelly, Niamh Anne Donnelly, Caitlin Heggarty, Nuala Devlin, Emma Laverty, Fiounuala Kelly, Kathryn Donnelly, Riana McBride, Aine Donnelly.
Lámh Dhearg secured a place in the last eight of Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship, but had to come from behind to do so after fighting back to claim a 2-08-0-14 draw with St Galls at Milltown on Saturday evening.
It was nip and tuck throughout the sixty plus minutes of tense Championship football and it was all square at the midway point.
Niall Fallon’s goal opened up a four-point gap and looked to have St Galls on the way to victory and leave the Lámhs on a 24-hour sweat for their fate.
However, the Hannahstown outfit dug in and got back on terms through a late Conor Murray point to ensure a place in the last eight- their particular position in the Group still to be ironed out.
Lámh Dhearg went into Saturday evenings encounter knowing that a draw or victory would ensure progression on the night. While St Galls only had personal pride to play for after back-to-back defeats to St Johns and Creggan.
The visitors made a solid opening and led through a confident Marc Jordan point and a fisted effort from Conor Murray.
But St Galls hit back with the opening goal of the game after five minutes, Niall Burns shifted the ball to Niall Fallon in the area and Fallon held off the challenge of Fionn Mervyn and popped the ball to un-marked Callum Walsh to punch to the net.
Ben Rice burst forward and floated over an equaliser instantly, though his side fell behind again to back-to-back points from Michael Pollock and Niall Burns.
For the second time in the half parity was restored courtesy of successive Ryan Murray scores- the first from a converted free and that was quickly followed by another from play to make it 1-02-0-05 approaching the midway point in the opening period.
The Lámhs edged ahead again after Owen McKeown dropped a shot between the posts and they doubled their lead when Eoghan McCabe was penalised for catching Ben Rice late with an elbow- McCabe was perhaps fortunate to only escape with a yellow card, nonetheless the resulting free was converted by Ryan Murray.
Despite their lead the Hannahstown outfit would need to see the half out and begin the opening period of the second half a man light after Carl Maxwell was black carded for checking the run of Ryan Irvine after he had popped the ball to Eoghan McCabe.
St Galls would make the most of their numerical advantage and pulled level as Niall Burns landed successive frees.
Conor Murray thought he had struck back after fisting home a high free from brother Ryan- but the goal was ruled out as the umpire felt that Murray had entered the square before the ball and at the break it was 1-04-0-07 and all to play for in the second half.
Upon the resumption St Galls took the lead for the third time, Eoghan McCabe dropped a pass into the path of Niall Burns who conjured up his fourth point of the evening and second from play.
A dreadful stint of shots saw several opportunities to level pass the Lámhs by in the aftermath and things got worse 10 minutes into the half when St Galls found their second goal of the evening.
Eoghan McCabe shifted the play to Callum Walsh, and it was roles reversal of the first goal as he slipped in Niall Fallon to break through a heavy rear-guard and thunder a low shot to the net to give his side a 2-05-0-07 lead.
Ryan Murray eventually kicked the Lámhs into gear through a converted free, though at the other end Niall Burns responded from the same scenario.
Back-to-back points from Marc Jordan and Kevin Quinn halved the deficit- but a fourth converted free from Niall Burns followed.
Second-half substitute Declan Dunne kicked a terrific angled 45’ and Ryan Murray squeezed a shot between the posts to ensure the bare minimum separated the sides.
The Lámhs had the chance to draw level through a Murray free that was spurned, but a few minutes later he atoned for that error and sent a further chance between the posts to make it 2-07-0-13.
St Galls immediately restored their lead at the other end as substitutes Kevin Bradley and Fergus Donnelly combined for the later to float a shot over at the near post.
Two minutes into injury-time the game was level once again thanks to a fantastic outside of the boot effort from Conor Murray that sailed over.
Murray’s score would prove to be the last but both sides spurned late chances to claim the win.
Niall Burns turned the ball over and with John Finucane out of his goal and back-tracking, Burns found Michael Pollock who in turn slipped in Kevin Bradley to go one-on-one with Finucane- though the Lámhs shot stopper won the battle of wits and turned away the low effort.
At the other end Conor Murray dropped a high ball into the path of Declan Dunne whose low shot was blocked by Niall McCurdy- a scramble ensued on the goal-line and referee Karol Doherty eventually hoped the ball.
Ruairi Wilson had a further goal opportunity for the hosts as the game stretched, but he run out of momentum and his tame effort failed to test Finucane.
There were further opportunities for Lámh Dhearg to snatch the win, though Ryan Murray was unable to convert a late free and Kevin Quinn saw the last chance of the evening drift wide of the target as the sides were forced to share the spoils in a frantic finish at Milltown.
Lámh Dhearg will take their place in the last tight but must sit tight and wait for the conclusion of Sundays fixtures before the picture becomes clear as to who they will face in the last-eight.
St Galls: N McCurdy, J Hopkins, C Flannery, E McCurdy, C Bradley, E McCabe, G Mac Adhaimh, M Pollock (0-01), R Irvine, R Wilson, N Burns (0-06, 0-04f), C McGirr, C Walsh (1-00), N Fallon (1-00), M Hopkins. Subs: F Donnelly for M Hopkins (45), C Chada for E McCurdy (52), K Bradley (0-01) for C Walsh (56), O McIlhatton for R Wilson (60+4).
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, F Mervyn, M McGarry, A McAufield, D Smith, D Lynch, C Maxwell, P Mervyn, M Jordan (0-02), O McKeown (0-01), K Quinn (0-01), B Rice (0-01), R Murray (0-06, 0-04f), C Murray (0-02), T McCrudden. Subs: M Hynds for A McAufield (40), D Dunne (0-01 45’) for B Rice (42), A Byrne for C Maxwell (48), S McManus for D Smith (50).
OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship
Con Magees Glenravel 1-14 Michael Davitt’s 1-07
A strong second half by Con Magees saw them safely through to the quarter final of the Intermediate Football Champpionship at Fr Maginn Park on Saturday evening. The home team led by two at half time but three points in four minutes after the restart eased them clear, a task made easier when Davitt’s had two men sent off in the 35th and 42nd minutes. To their credit Davitt’s rallied in the final quarter and three pointed frees from substitute Cricky Laverty saw them reduce the deficit to four. The home side were at sixes and sevens for a while but they found their radar again and three late points saw them win by seven.
Davitt’s goalkeeper Aaron Slane sends over the opening point of the game from a free
Davitt’s goalkeeper Aaron Slane gave the Falls Road men the lead with a pointed free in the third minute, but straight from the kick-out Eoin Hynds made a great catch and called the mark before finding Eamon Fyfe with a great pass, and the full forward finished superbly to the net with the left foot. From the kick out Fyfe intercepted an attempted short pass and placed corner forward Ryan McQuillan for a point but soon afterwards Davitt’s centre forward Padraig McParland popped one over at the other end to cut the gap back to two points.
Davitt’s hit the front on ten minutes when centre back Niall McParand cut in along the Glenravel endline and fired home a goal and when they added a point on twenty minutes they appeared to be gaining control. However that was to be their last score of the first half and the Con Magees finished the half strongly with points from Eamon Fyfe, Eoin Hynds and Fyfe again to lead by 1-5 to 1-3 at half time.
Con Magees Calum Higgins who had a great second half for the Glenravel men.
After the restart Glenravel continued on where they left off and two excellent points from midfielder Calum Higgins and one from Rian Lennon stretched their lead to five. Davitt’s task got harder when they last a player to a second yellow card, and when Calum Higgins, who had a brilliant second half, added another they faced a real uphill battle.
They pulled one back with a great point direct from a sideline kick out on the right but when the lost their second player soon afterwards a difficult task became well-nigh impossible. A pointed free from Eoin Hynds and one from play by Eamon Fyfe stretched the home team lead to seven and appeared to be cruising. However the introduction of substitute Cricky Laverty heralded a ten minute spell when Davitt’s were on top again, Lavery cutting the gap back to four with three excellently finished points from free.
Davitt’s Gerard Slane comes out of defence with the ball.
There was a nervousness among the home fans, seeing their team lose their way, but those nerves were settled when Eamon Fyfe sent over a free from 35 meters and when Calum Higgins and Ryan Lennon followed with well taken scores from play they were safely through to a quarter final meeting with old rivals All Saints, back at Fr Maginn Park in two weeks’ time.
OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, Group Four
St Paul’s 2-12 Aldergrove 1-12
St Paul’s secured their place in the quarter finals of the Intermediate Championship when they produced their best display of the campaign to beat Aldergrove in the final group game at Shaw’s Road on Saturday. Having lost to west Belfast neighbours St Teresa’s in their opening game things looked ominous for St Paul’s but when the pressure was on they upped their game to record a win that got them through on scoring difference.
For long periods of Saturday’s game things looked bleak for St Paul’s but when the chips were down they found the bit of form they need to get over the line
Despite having the lion’s share of possession in the opening quarter poor finishing let the home side down and all they had to show for their efforts was points from Liam McLarnon and Paddy Doyle. They were made to pay for their wastefulness as Aldergrove hit back strongly, and with Anthony Kidney in fine form they pressed ahead, and when Ronan Hanna broke through to finish to the net, things did not look good for the home side.
When full forward Liam McLarnon pulled a point back from a free there was a spark of hope for the home side, but even though Morris cancelled that out for the Crumlin men, when Conal Duffy found the net soon afterwards it was game on again and by half time the deficit was back to just two points.
A fantastic strike from Colm McLarnon just after the restart was the score that really began to turn the game in St Paul’s favour. Points from Conal Duffy and Stephen O’Brien were followed by one from Cormac O’Hanlon, and by midway through the second half they were on top.
Things turned back in the visitors favour when Ryan Owens fired one over from play and Seamus McGarry tagged on two from frees but Stephen O’Brien hit back for St Paul’s with a point and it took a great save by goalkeeper Jack McAulfield to turn a goalbound shot from Ronan Hanna around the post for a 45. Kidney sent the 45 over the bar to cut the deficit back to two as the game entered injury time, but substitute Ruairi Hamill pointed for the Shaw’s Road men to secure a quarter final spot against their neighbours, down in the Bear Pit in two weeks’ time.
Aldergrove are still in the contest but they face a tough quarter final at home to Dunloy
.ST PAUL’S: J McAufield; N Ward, C McGroarty, M Duffy; C Killyleagh, D Burns, A Kavanagh; S O’Brien (0-2, 1f), J Farrell; C O’Hanlon (0-2), C McLarnon (1-0), P O’Hanlon; C Duffy (1-1), L McLarnon (0-4, 2f, 1M), P Doyle (0-1, 1f).
Subs: R Hamill (0-1) for P O’Hanlon (45), C Finnegan for S O’Brien (58)
ALDERGROVE: S O’Neill; E Gough, C McVeigh, O Creaney; G Mallon, A Flood, D Gough; R Owens (0-1), F Hanna; S McGarry (0-2f), R Hanna (1-2, 0-1f), G Dunham; C Morris (0-2), A Kidney (0-5, 2f, 1 45), O Graham.
Subs: J Trowlen for F Hanna (HT), A Mulholland for O Creaney (HT), D Aiken for D Gough (37), C Fogarty for G Dunham (44), R McCarthy for C Morris (57)
When Gort na Mona turned around at half time trailing by only two points to hot favourites, St. Ergnat’s Moneryglass at Dunsilly on Friday evening an upset looked possible. However the Marian Hill girls, who have been the dominant force in ladies football in recent years pulled away to win convincingly in the second half.
The impressive Blaithin Nic Cathail pointed the Turf Lodge girls into the lead within 30 seconds but Ciara O’Boyle replied almost immediately with a goal for St. Ergnat’s to give them the lead.
Gort na Mona responded from a pointed free by Gabrielle Monaghan in the 9th minute before Licia Boyd restored the South West side’s three point advantage with 12 minutes gone.
Gort na Mona were giving as good as they got at this stage and came back with a point from Mia Mills but once again St. Ergnat’s were able to find a response and Maria O’Neill restored their advantage from a pointed free in the 14th minute.
Hannah Murray increased that advantage to three points at the end of the opening quarter but the West Belfast girls were starting to grow into the contest and they hit two on the bounce through Broghan Crossan and Ciara Maguire to leave the minimum between the sides with 18 minutes on the clock.
Just when it looked like Gort na Mona were taking a grip on proceedings Moneyglass came storming back and a good move involving several players saw Maria O’Neill fire home their second goal of the game to move them four in front with 8 minutes remaining to the break.
To their credit the girls from the Mona Bypass picked themselves up of the carpet again and finished the half very much on the front foot and points from a Ciara Maguire free and another from play by the excellent Blaithin Nic Cathail saw them close the gap to two at the short whistle.
The scene looked set for a nail biting second half but in the event whatever words of wisdom were passed onto the St. Ergnat’s girls during the interval seemed to have a profound affect and they returned to the field a side unrecognisable to the one who had struggled in the first.
Gort na Mona would only add two score during the second thirty minutes as St. Ergnat’s turned on the after burners with a clinical display their opponents quite simply could not live with.
Maria O’Neill opened the scoring with a point in the 3d minute and Cliona Griffin followed with a goal as the South West girls came racing out of the start blocks. Griffin added a second goal in the 42nd minute and Leah Stewart followed with a third two minutes later.
Points from Nicole Cassidy, Alicia Boyd and Leah Cassidy puit the contest out of reach of the opposition and late goals from Maria O’Neill and Katie McCloskey ensured that there would be no way back for a Gort na Mona side who were appearing in their first Minor A final.
The loser could only manage two second half points from the boot of Ciara Maguire but will have learned from the experience and the solid work that has been going on at the club has ensured that they have emerged as a serious force in Ladies football.
