ACFL Division 2
Kickham’s Ardoyne 0-9 Gort na Mona 0-10
A late pointed free from Darron ‘Diesel’ Boyd proved the winning score as Gort na Mona came from behind to snatch the points from an Ardoyne side who gave as good as they got over the hour but just can’t seem to turn good performances into results at present.
For the third game in succession Marty Kane’s Ardoyne have looked like getting something for their efforts but went down by 2 points at Glenavy, a late goal in Ballymena and on Sunday lost with virtually the last kick of the ball at the Crickey.
These Belfast opponents went at it hammer and tong from the throw in in a full blooded encounter that was not for the faint hearted and produced a good hour’s end to end football and a Black Card for both sides.
Aidan McNeill got the home side off the mark when he pointed after 30 seconds with Darron Boyd replying almost immediately for Gort na Mona. A great Kevin Lynch point edged the Kickham’s ahead before Padraig Coumane got forward from defence to tie matters for a second time with only 7 minutes on the clock.
Declan McCormick was getting through a power of work for the home side at mid-field and he fed Aidan McNeill for Ardoyne’s third point of the game after 12 minutes but once again the men from the Mona bye-pass reacted and their own number 9, Darron Boyd brought it all square at the end of the opening quarter.
The second quarter produced more of the same with both sides carrying the ball when in possession and the opposition setting up a defensive wall with Cormac Mullan and Aidan McNeill adding to Ardoyne’s first half total and Darron Boyd 0-2 and Padraig McHugh from a ‘Mark’ on target at the other end to leave the visitors one ahead at the break.
It was more of the same on the restart as the hits went in hard and fast and the visitors extended their lead from a well worked Niall Melaney point in the opening minute before Aidan McNeill and Cormac Mullan came back with points for Ardoyne to level it again by the 8th minute.
It was clear this one was going to go all the way to the wire but Ardoyne’s cause received a setback when Conan McLaughlin was shown Black and they were further punished as Darron Boyd pointed Gort na Mona back ahead as both sides rang the changes.
Gort na Mona then lost a player to a Black card as the level of intensity increased and Cormac Mullan looked to have earned the Kickham’s a point which on the balance of play they probably deserved when he converted a free with three minutes remaining.
The Enright Park men had other ideas however and they launched one last attack and Patrick McCaffrey was fouled as he bore down on goal with Darron ‘Diesel’ Boyd keeping his cool to fire over from the resulting free to make it two wins from two starts for the side who were relegated from division 1 last season.
On this form the Gorts could make a quick return to the top grade and despite a third defeat in succession, Ardoyne have shown enough to date to suggest that they can climb up the table and be a serious contender in the Intermediate championship.
Ardoyne: 1 Tiernan Hughes, 2 Caelan McCallum, 3 Sean Rooney, 4 Pearce Manley, 5 Conan McLaughlin, 6 Joseph McNeill, 7 Kevin Lynch, 8 Oisin McVicker, 9 Declan McCormick, 10 Eoin Carrigan, 11 Cormac Mullan, 12 Odhran McKee, 13 Michael McGreevey, 14 Ciaran McNeill, 15 Aidan McNeill Subs: Kevin Mclaughlin for Eoin Carrigan, Cathal Keown for Odhran McKee.
Gort Na Mona: 1 Thomas McCaffrey, 2 James Connolly, 3 Gavin McKenna, 4 Padraig Coumane, 5 Sean Campbell, 6 Michael Savage, 7 Padraic Mulvenna, 8 Tiarnan Morton, 9 Darron Boyd, 10 Patrick McCaffrey, 11 Christopher Carson, 12 Dessie McClean, 13 Tarlach Enright, 14 Padraig McHugh, 15 Niall Melaney. Subs: Manus Mullan for Patrick McCaffrey, Caoimhin Magee for James Connolly, Manus McMullan for Padraic Mulvenna, Ciaran Donnelly for Sean Campbell
Referee: Colin Mallon (Aghagallon)
