U15B Football Championship (Final)

Erin’s Own Cargin 1-11 Gort na Mona 3-04

Cargin staged a remarkable second half comeback when they came from thirteen points in arrears at the break to overcome the challenge of a Gort na Mona side who had dominated completely in the opening half to lead 3-04 to 0-00 at the break.

The West Belfast side, who had beaten All Saint’s in their semi-final, looked different class to the Toome lads in the first thirty minutes and with Nathan McKenna and Keelan McCann ruling the roost in the central zone they looked on their way to the title.

Gort na Mona got off to the best possible start when they found the net in the 3^rd minute after a swift approach on the left hand side saw Thomas Blayney fire to the net.

The Enright Park side continued to dominate the opening exchanges and as the Cargin lads struggled they ran amok and a second goal from corner forward, Lorcan Gardiner was followed by a long range point from Keelan McCann to move his side 2-01 to 0-00 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.

Gort na Mona were playing with great confidence and added a point through the impressive Ciaran Mc Giolla Cheara.

Cargin needed a score to settle the jangling nerves but Lady Luck really turned her back when a strong advance and a crisp shot by Fiontan Hardy saw his rasping effort come back of the crossbar.

Gort na Mona replied from the resultant clearance and Nathan Mc Kenna collect in the middle of the field and in a slick approach combined with Lorcan Gardner before finishing to the net for his side’s third goal.

As the South West side struggled to contain their opponents, the Enright Park side finished on a positive note and back to back points from Lorcan Gardiner and Nathan McKenna gave them a well-deserved 3-04 to 0-00 advantage at the half way stage.

Cargin looked a beaten docket as they trudged off to take respite at the break

 but Gerard O’ Boyle’s charges emerged as a team transformed as they set about reducing the Gort na Mona lead.

Patrick O’ Neill had started at mid-field but was now at full forward and his early point followed by another from Fiontan Hardy was to light the fuse as the Toome lads grabbed a firm hold on the bit.

The dominance enjoyed by Gort na Mona in the opening half was gone as Erin’s Own set about the task of reducing the deficit they faced.

Seannie Hazard nipped up the left side to add a 4^th minute point and Fiontan Hardy despatched a 30 metre free between the posts, after Darragh O’ Boyle was upended and when the former received from Jack O’ Neill to add another the tide had certainly turned.

Gort na Mona had lost the dominance they held at mid-field in the first half while the Cargin rear guard, in which Darragh Mc Auley and Eoin Scullion were particularly impressive, stood firm in defiance.

The Cargin forward department were having more joy in attack and when Carl Mc Cann, Fiontan Hardy, Jack 0’ Neill and Patrick O’ Neill (2) added unanswered points they were within touching distance with the Gorts still clinging to a 3-04 to 0-09 lead.

The city lads were fighting to open their second half account but continued to be thwarted and an Eoin Scullion interception saw him combine with Darragh O’ Boyle who placed Patrick O’ Neill for another point.

It was all Cargin at this stage as Sean Og Bovill added another and the substantial lead enjoyed by Gort Na Mona at the break was reduced to just a couple of points.

Cargin were now in total control but time was not on their side but with just a couple minutes remaining the Toome side struck a decisive blow and a Fiontan Hardy goal saw them take the lead for the first time in the game.

The hard working Hardy, who was named player of the match, had been denied by the cross bar earlier in the game, had sown the seeds of victory at the 11^th hour.

To their credit Gort na Mona kept going in a frantic last few minutes as the rain poured down but the Cargin defence stood strong and following five minutes of injury time the trophy was on its way Toome.

Cargin: Conleth Hamill, Sean Mc Peake, Eoin Scullion, Darragh Mc Auley, Ewan Mc Laverty, Niall O’ Donnell, Niall Quinn, Jack O’ Neill (0-01), Patrick O’ Neill (0-03), Seannie Hazard (0-01), Carl Mc Cann (0-01), Darragh O’ Boyle, Cillian Scullion, Fiontan Hardy (1-04), Ryan McPeake

Subs

Sean Og Bovill (0-01) for R Mc Peake

Gort na Mona: Callum Bradley, Tiarnan Smyth, Ryan Donnelly, Liam Brown, Caomhinn Connelly, Niall Brown, Thomas Blayney (1-00), Ciaran Mc Giolla Cheara (0-01), Nathan Mc Kenna (1-02), Keelan Mc Cann (0-01), Odhran Conlon, Anthony O’ Hanlon, Lorcan Gardner (1-00), Paul Lawler, Daire Finn

Referee: John Hasson (All Saint’s)

Under 15A Football Championship final @ Dunsilly

St Brigid’s 4-13 St Enda’s 0-7

St Brigid’s won the Under 15 Football Championship title with a comprehensive win over St Enda’s at Dunsilly on Thursday evening. In dark and wet conditions the Musgrave Park boys had just too much class for their hard working opponents and in centre forward JJ Higgins they had the outstanding player on the field. Higgins ended with 3-7 to his name, 1-6 of which came in the first half and hard though they tried St Enda’s just could not contain him.

It was St Enda’s who opened the scoring when they broke in from the right wing and fisted the ball over the bar but St Brigid’s were level inside a minute when JJ Higgins swung over a free. Slowly but surely St Brigid’s began to get on top and two more from Higgins frees put them 0-3 to 0-1 clear by the 12^th minute. St Enda’s thought they had made the breakthrough when 11 fired to the net, but the referee had already blow for an earlier foul and Musgrave Park side took advantage as Higgins hit two more before smashing in the first goal of the game on 18 minutes.

St Enda’s had their best spell of the game when they hit three points in a five minutes, one from Cathair McKenna and two from Paidric O‘Hare, but St Brigid’s finished the half strongly and points from Higgins and corner forward Joe Logan had them a 1-8 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

A point from Conor O’Connell just after the break, and a goal from his fellow half back Joe Mulgrew soon after the restart left St Enda’s with a mountain to climb, but Padhraig O’Hare gave them some hope with a well taken point. However a superb goal from Higgins in the 39^th minute, all but wrapped it up, and though he missed a great chance of another major a minute later, he made amends in the 47^th minute with another great strike. O’Hare came back with points in the 52^nd and 56^th minutes for St Enda’s but Higgins wrapped it all up with the last point of the game in the Dunsilly darkness to complete a great season for this St Brigid’s side.

Reserve Football Cup Final

Kickham’s Creggan 2-13 Erin’s Own Cargin 0-15

Kickham’s Creggan and Erin’s Own, Cargin served up an excellent Reserve Football final in Cloney on Thursday night with the Toome side edging the opening half exchanges before Creggan came back strongly in the second to claim the title.

The game started in excellent conditions on a dry evening that was conducive to good football but the rain that fell in the second half made those conditions more difficult and perhaps suited the bigger, stronger, Kickham’s side in the end.

It was Cargin who did all the early running with John McNabb in splendid scoring form as he kicked them ahead with a point from a 3d minute free with Oran McCann replying with a point from play for their parish rivals.

McNabb added a second following a ‘Mark’ for the Toome side and excellent points from Conan Johnston and Padraic McLaughlin following another ‘Mark’ had Cargin 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the 11^th minute.

Back came the Kickham’s and Matthew Rodgers fired over their second point in the 14^th minute and further points from Joe McAteer and Mark Dougan had the sides all square by the 18^th minute and Creggan looked like they were getting on top.

The Toome side had other ideas however as Tom Shivers punished a foul on raiding full-back, Gerard McCorley and the youngster added a fine point from play to edge Cargin two ahead with 8 minutes remaining to the break.

The game was halted for a time following an injury to Mark Dougan with Tiarnan McLarnon replacing him in the Creggan attack and when play resumed Aidan McKeown pointed following a ‘Mark’ to close the gap to the minimum once more.

The pace and movement of the Cargin attack continued to cause problems however as Padraic Mclaughlin and John McNabb moved Erin’s Own three in front by the 27^th minute but Creggan hit back with the game’s opening goal and Liam McCann finished to the net following excellent work by Matthew Rodgers.

Cargin replied with two pointed frees from the sweet striking John McNabb as the game moved into first half injury time and that was how it stood at the break with the Toome side holding a two point lead and all still to play for in the second half.

Eunan Quinn extended the Cargin lead to three on the restart with Matthew Rodgers making quick reply for the Kickham’s from a free before Tom Shivers restored Cargin’s three point advantage from a similar award with only four minutes of the new half gone.

Matthew Rodgers was beginning to have a greater influence on the game for the Staffordstown Road side and he got on the end of an excellent pass from substitute Tiarnan McLarnon to fire home his side’s second goal and tie the contest once more.

It was end to end stuff with both sides obviously keen to get their hands on the first piece of silverware of the season as Tom Shivers for Cargin and Jake McAteer for Creggan exchanged further points but Creggan were starting to win a lot of ball around midfield as the rain started to fall.

Substitute Lee Johnston then edged the Kickham’s into a lead they would not lose again as he split the posts in the 12^th minute  and Matthew Rodgers saw his shot go wide of an upright before making amends with points in the 20^th and 21^st minutes.

Cargin tried to respond but the accuracy that had depicted them during the opening half suddenly had deserted them as they fired a number of wides before Joe McAteer showed just how it should be done as he fired over an excellent score to move Creggan four ahead with 8 minutes remaining.

Aidan McKeown and Oran McCann were now dominating at mid-field for Creggan as goalkeeper, Leon Bonnes came forward to send a 50 meter free between the uprights and Lee Johnston added his second from play to move his side six in front as we moved into the final minutes.

The Kickham’s received a blow when Oran McCann walked after receiving a second yellow and Cargin threw everything at their opponents in the closing minutes but the goal they needed simply wouldn’t come and they had to settle for a couple of late pointed frees from John McNabb and Tom Shivers but it was too little-too late.

After the game county representative Danny McLarnon presented the Reserve Cup to Creggan captain Dermot McCann who with Leon Bonnes, Thomas McCann and Sam Maguire were best in a strong Creggan defence.

Oran McCann and Aidan McKeown gave Creggan a decided edge at mid-field while Matthew Rodgers was the outstanding player in attack and had excellent support from Joe McAteer and Diarmuid Mulholland.

Cargin started this one on top and heading into the second half looked to have matters in control but faded in the second half. Mark Keegan, Conan Johnston, Michael Clarke, John McNabb and Tom Shivers were their best performers on the night.

Creggan: 1 Leon Bonnes, 2 Jake McAteer, 3 Dermot McCann, 4 Sean McAuley, 18 Dylan Hinfey,  6 Thomas Mccann, 7 Sam Maguire, 8 Aidan McKeown, 9 Oran McCann, 10 Diarmuid Mulholland, 11 David McGuckin, 12 Joe McAteer, 13 Matthew Rodgers, 14 Mark Dougan,

Cargin: 1 Shea Laverty, 2 Mark Keegan, 3 Gerard McCorley, 4 Eoin Coyle, 5 Benen Kelly, 6 Conan Johnston, 7 Michael Clarke, 8 Eunan Quinn, 9 Odhran Molloy, 10 PJ Quinn, 11 Enda McGroggan, 12 David Johnston, 13 Padraic McLaughlin, 14 John McNabb, 15 Tom Shivers

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

Senior Reserve Football Shield Final

Glenavy 0-14 Dunloy 1-10

Thursday 8 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Slemish Park, Ballymena

It was the ‘Late Late Show’ for Glenavy on Thurday evening as they sealed the Reserve Shield titlewith the last kick of the game with darkness falling at Slemish Park in Ballymena.  Coming from three points down with just over 10 minutes remaining, Glenavy turned to Michael McCourt for inspiration and ‘Cupper’ delivered for the St Joseph’s men.  While they were camped in the Dunloy half for much of the last quarter, they kept the pressure on the Cuchullains and there was an air of inevitability about their winning score.  McCourt with the accolade, converting a free to round off his cameo off the bench, his third point cameo with what was the last kick of the final.

The Cuchullains will look back on those closing stages and rue their inability to see the time out.  They had chances to run down the clock, winning possession deep but Glenavy were relentless in those closing stages.

Anthony Smith finished top scorer for Dunloy, he ended with 1-4 for his hours work.  The major a piece of attacking brilliance in the 47^th minute.  Rising highest to claiming a long ball from Daithi McGuigan, he showed composure to beat Glenavy ‘keeper Lorcan Murphy.  It put the Cuchullains in the driving seat but it was the last score they could muster as Glenavy found something extra down the stretch.  Led superbly by Man of The Match, Pearse O’Neill, Glenavy and McCourt had the final say.

The Cuchullains started this final superbly and in the opening exchanges, it was all one way traffic.  Smith and Ryan McFarlane split the posts in the opening two minute before Smith and midfielder Anthony Doran doubled that lead to four points after just seven minutes.

Dunloy’s challenge was hurt with Captain Peter McQuillan having to go off injured and they lost his aerial presence in the middle third.  Glenavy took full advantage with Ben McCambridge and Stephen Doone dominant in the middle third and the Chapel Hill side fired over six points unanswered.  Darragh Armstrong causing the Dunloy defence plenty of problems while Charles and Anthony Gallagher combined well to create chances.  Armstrong (two), Charles Gallagher (two), McCambridge and Doone with the scores and all from open play as Glenavy took control.

The Cuchullains briefly stopped the rot with Tom McFerran leaving the minimum between the sides but a Luke Dereveux ’45 got Glenavy firing again before Charles Gallagher’s third white flag of the half opened a three point lead for the St Jospeh’s men.  It could have been more with Gallagher’s punched effort seemingly hanging in the air for an eternity but they had to settle for a single score.

Dunloy recovered to score the last two points of the half, Smith and Barry McCloskey splitting the uprights from frees but at half time it was Glenavy who held a one point lead with the score line 0-8 to 0-7 in their favour.

With night falling and rain drizzling, the second half began with Luke Devereux scoring Glenavy’s first point from a free.  He fired another in the 41^st minute in what was a reply to a pair of frees from McCloskey and Smith at the other end of the pitch but it was Dunloy who looked to play with more intent and vigour with the introduction of Kevin and Ciaran McQuillan off the bench.  

Parity was restored to the sides once again with Anthony Doran scoring the point of the match.  Wide on the right and with the outside of his boot, Doran judged the elements to perfection and brought about the biggest roar of the night from the sizeable Dunloy contingent in Slemish Park.

From the resulting kick out, Dunloy struck the only goal of the final.  Glenavy ‘keeper Murphy went long and Daithi McGuigan caught the ball in a crowd of giants.  A remarkable fetch that was only matched by his delivery into Smith on the inside forward line.  Direct, instant and Smith was waiting.  Leaping highest behind his marker, Smith claimed the ball and showed super composure to find the back of the net and give the Cuchullains the advantage going in to the final 13 minutes.

Incredibly however, it would be the last score Dunloy would register.  Their accuracy let them down in the closing stages with lamentable decisions while holding possession.  With each surrender of possession, Glenavy gained in confidence and while they were camped in the Dunloy half for much of the time that remained, the Cuchullains brought a lot of the pressure on themselves with their inability to play out from the back.

A patient build up saw Armstrong score his third point of the match and give Glenavy hope with eight minutes remaining.  McCourt’s first free of the night followed but the game was still Dunloy’s to lose.  On a number of occasions they looked to have rode out the Glenavy storm but Glenavy were unrelenting.  Punishing any indiscretion in the Dunloy defence and when McCourt fired over in the final minute of the hour, there was only going to be one winner, such was the dominance of the Chapel Hill side.

With the clock ticking into the second minute of injury time and darkness all around the pitch, Dunloy conceded a free barely 25 yards from goal.  ‘Cupper’ McCourt took responsibility and made no mistake from the free as referee Ryan O’Reilly called time as the ball sailed over the bar to earn Glenavy the reserve title.

TEAMS

Glenavy: Lorcan Murphy; Niall McLaughlin, Conor Hamill, Timmy Honeyford; Michael Fox, Pearse O’Neill, Matthew Lawlor; Stephen Doone, Ben McCambridge; Shay O’Neill, Anthony Gallagher, Darragh Armstrong; Luke Devereux, Charles Gallagher, David Nelson

Scorers: C Gallagher 0-3; D Armstrong 0-3; L Devereux 0-3 (2fs 1’45); Michael McCourt 0-3 (2fs); S Doone 0-1; B McCambridge 0-1

Dunloy: Conor McGilligan; Karl O’Kane, Aidy Scullion, Cathair McCloskey; Daithi McGuigan, Sean Scullion, Oisin McErlane; Peter McQuillan, Anthony Doran; Ryan McFarlane, Kevin McAllister, Tom McFerran; Barry McCloskey, Anthony Smith, Daire Crawley

Scorers: A Smith 1-4 (3fs); A Doran 0-2; B McCloskey 0-2 (2fs); R McFarlane 0-1; T McFerran 0-1

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Con Magees)