ACFL Division 1
Erin’s Own Cargin 1-13 O’ Donavan Rossa 1-07
Cargin recorded their third win on the bounce to keep in touch with Aghagallon and Portglenone when they gained the verdict over Rossa in an entertaining encounter in Toome on Wednesday evening.
This pairing will meet again later in the season in the championship and although this one was completed in a calmer atmosphere it was keenly contested and provided plenty to entertain the attendance.
Little separated the sides in the opening phase and it was Tom Shivers, who was to feature prominently throughout, who raised the first flag when sent in on the target by a Mark Kelly fetch and delivery.
The Toome men had the better of things in the opening phase and they had nipped four points ahead by the end of the opening quarter.
Points from the hard grafting David Johnston, Tom Shivers (2) and a special delivery from net minder John Mc Nabb in reply to back to back points from Rossa’s Stephen Beatty, and Eoghan McMenamin made it 0-05 to 0-02 for the home side at the 15th minute mark.
Rossa came more and more into the game and points by wing back Ruairi Grant and Eoghan McMenamin reduced the home sides lead to a couple, 0-06 to 0-04 as half time approached.
Cargin finished the half strongly however and Tom Shivers sent a 40 yard free firmly between the posts to punish a foul on David Johnston in the 24th minute and the same player fired home the game’s opening goal after being placed by his sibling, Pat to make it 1-07 to 0-04 as half time approached.
A 29th minute David Johnston point increase the home side’s advantage but the visitors were to have the last say on the board and a late long range delivery by Liam Carr left six between the sides at the break.
Rossa made the early running as the second half got under way with Michael Mc Enhill and Pearce Shortt driving them forward and Stephen Beatty looked to be in for a goal but he was denied by a superb block from Gerard McCorley in the 35th minute.
Beatty pointed a free to reduce the Cargin lead in the 37th minute before Ciaran Orchin’s last minute tackle denied David Johnston a goal at the other end.
Cargin increased their advantage again in the 43rd minute as David Johnston split the posts with late replacement Michael McCann delivering another a few minutes later as he rose highest in the central zone to collect.
As the game entered the final quarter the visitors grabbed a 46th minute goal as Stephen Beatty slotted home to give Rossa a glimmer of hope but that hope was soon extinguished.
Pat Shivers came close with an audacious delivery after the Rossa net minder, Niall Crossan went walk about following a pass from his sibling Tom with the speculative attempt just finishing wide of the posts,
The big man did fire between the posts a minute later and although the city men had the last say on the board with a late point from replacement Paul Close it was Cargin who claimed the points and a third consecutive win.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-01), Sean og Quinn, Gerard Mc Corley, Conan Johnston, Justin Crozier, James Laverty, Ronan Gribbin, Odhran Molloy, Gerard Mc Cann, Mark Kelly (0-01), David Johnston (0-03, Pat Shivers (0-01), Ciaran Bradley (0-01), Tom Shivers (1-05), Enda Mc Grogan
Subs: Michael Mc Cann (0-01), Kevin Mc Shane, Brendan Laverty, Kyle Johnston, Cian Scullion
Rossa: Niall Crossan, Ciaran Orchin, Paddy Moyes, Jack Morris, Richard Gowdy, Christopher Mc Guinness, Ruairi Grant, Pearce Shortt, Michael Mc Enhill, Conor Boyle, Darren Grego, Darragh Rocks, Stephen Beatty (1-02), Eoghan Mc Menamin (0-03), Liam Carr (0-01)
Subs: Paul Close (0-01), Aidan Orchin, Aaron Devlin, Jack Mc Gurk, Matthew Mallon, Ben Mc Auley
Referee: P Nolan (Lamh Dhearg)