Antrim Football League – Division 1

Tir na nÓg 0-10 St Mary’s Ahoghill 1-11

For most of the second half Ahoghill appeared to be cruising to a win over Tir na nÓg in Wednesday evening’s Division 1 Football League game at Whitehill. The St Mary’s outfit were six clear midway through the half, thanks to a well taken goal by Fionnbar O’Neill, and were well on top. However a black card for corner forward Colla McDonnell with ten minutes still to play turned the game on its head. Randalstown closed the gap with a series of well taken points and had the gap down to two going into injury time. Ahoghill came back with a point from substitute from PJ O’Connell to put three between the sides, but it took a great save from Ahoghill goalkeeper Noel Crossey in the final seconds to deny Tir na nÓg a draw.

The Whitlehill men sent a high ball in on the Ahoghill ‘square’ and corner forward Darragh Fagan rose high to fist the ball goalwards. The ball bounded in front of the Ahoghill goalkeeper and was heading for the net when Crossey got a hand to the ball to deflect it over the bar to give his team a two point win.

The first half was not one that will be remembered for its free flowing football as the visitors, facing a stiff breeze, frustrated the home side by playing possession football. The first quarter produced three points each with Ahoghill’s Dan O’Neill and Ronan Graham (2) cancelling out points from Barry Fagan (2) and Paul McCloskey for the home side. However as the half progressed the scoring efforts went from bad to worse and at the break they side were level on 0-4 apiece.

During the third quarter Ahoghill played some great attacking football and O’Neill’s goal and a series of top class points had them in control. McDonnell’s black card changed things thought and Tir na nÓg set about chipping away at the visitors lead. However they could not get the goal they needed to close the gap and Crossey’s last gasp save sent the Ahoghill men back to Cloney with both points.