ACFL Division 1
St Mary’s Ahoghill 2-10 Erin’s Own Cargin 3-12
Cargin were forced to dig deep to gain the points and spare their blushes at a wet and blustery Clooney on Wednesday evening.
Ronan Devlin’s side looked in charge at the end of the opening period when goals from Eunan Quinn and Pat Shivers had allowed them a 2-07 to 0-07 advantage but the determined home side were not about to settle for that.
A Donal Graham goal a few minutes into the second half opened the door to recovery and when Colla McDonald made a smart interception to add a second they were right back in contention.
In the event Cargin, led by the hard grafting Sean O’ Neill, Hugh O’ Donnell and the towering Pat Shivers regained the initiative but the home side with Tom Mc Glone, the O’Neill brothers Fionnbar and Danny prominent, were still in touch with the end in sight.
The home side’s net minder Francis Neeson, who made several outstanding saves on the night, stood tall to deny Pat Shivers in the latter stages but in the event the Toome men had the last say when Conhuir Johnston blasted to the net.
A dreary evening awaited as Cargin visited Clooney for Round 5 of the football league while the draw for the football championships were being held a few miles up the road at Dunsilly.
The heavy rain which had lingered for most of the day had thankfully lessened as match official Darren Mc Keown initiated play and it was the Toome men who were to dominate in the opening minutes.
Pat Shivers opened the scoring with an early point and his sibling Tom followed with another before the big man turned provider to send Eunan Quinn in to find the net.
Cargin edged further ahead when Pat Shivers added a 10th minute point and the visitors looked in charge.
The home side opened their account through a fine James O’ Connell 13th minute point and after Donal Graham and Tom Mc Glone followed suit the Clooney side looked in business.
Cargin responded however and James Laverty fielded the resultant kick out and he found Pat Shivers who duly delivered to the back of the net.
The sides swapped scores in the latter stages, with Ciaran Bradley and Eunan Quinn’s on target for the visitors and Gerard Graham and Donal Graham replying for the home side to leave it 2-7 to 0-7 at half time.
The breeze had increased in volume as the contestants took their places for the second half and it was St. Mary’s who got off to a positive start.
A foul on the incoming Colla Mc Donald was firmly punished when Donal Graham’s free from the right hand side sailed all the way to the back of the net.
Encouraged by their bit of fortune, St Mary’s pushed forward again and when Danny O’ Neill’s delivery found Colla McDonald in space he fired home their second goal and Ahoghill were right back in contention.
Having seen a useful advantage wiped out, questions were being asked of the Toome men and when Pat Shivers, Justin Crozier, and Tom Shivers raised a trio of whites they had provided a positive response.
The home side were far from finished however and back to back points from the hard grafting Danny O’ Neill and PJ O, Connell reduced the deficit to the minimum once again.
It was Cargin who finished strongly however and Pat Shivers pointed a free and James Laverty followed with a point from play before the impressive Shivers sent Conhuir Johnston in for a fine goal to seal victory.
Ahoghill: Francis Neeson, Seamus Mc Keever, James Magee, Danny O’ Neill (0-01), Ronan Graham, Fionnbar O’ Neill, Diarmuid Graham, Eamon Brady, Tom Mc Glone (0-01), Martin Graham, Colla Mc Donald (1-00), Gerard Graham (0-01), PJ O’ Connell (0-01), Donal Graham (1-03), James O’ Connell (0-02)
Cargin: Shea Laverty, Conan Johnston, Cahir O’ Boyle, Hugh O’ Donnell, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Sean og O’ Neill, (0-02), James Laverty (0-01), Gerard Mc Cann, Tom Shivers (0-02), Eunan Quinn (1-01), Benen Kelly, Pat Shivers (1-04), Conhuir Johnston (1-00)
Referee: D Mc Keown (St Gall’s)