All County U17 Football League
Erin’s Own Cargin 0-12 St Mary’s Aghagallon 2-11
Early goals by Eran Loughran and Sean Mc Gavigan proved the key to ultimate success in a fully contested under-17 league encounter in a sun baked Toome on Saturday afternoon past as St Mary’s Aghagallon defeated Erin’s Own, Cargin.
Nothing separated the sides in the opening stages and Callum Gribbin, who was to finish with a personal haul of 0-07, raised back to back whites to edge the home side ahead after Sean Gowdy had opened for the visitors.
Aghagallon were reduced in number for a time as their central defender Christopher Hannon was shown black and there was nothing between the sides nearing the end of the opening quarter at 0-03 apiece.
Darragh O’ Boyle added a good point to Cargin’s total but despite the numerical disadvantage, St. Mary’s replied and Eran Loughran found the net and impressive mid fielder Sean Mc Gavigan added another shortly after.
Gavigan’s goal moved Aghagallon 2-04 to 0-03 ahead with Cillian Scullion replying with a point at the other end but the visitors extended their lead in the last minutes of the first half, adding two points in answer to a Callum Gribbin point to lead 2-06 to 0-05 half time lead.
Cargin hit the grass running at the start of the second half with an early point from the strong running Fiontan Hardy but the visitors were quick to make reply as Sean Gowdy (2), and Eoin Maginnis raised whites to ensure a 2-08 to 0-06 lead after 50th minutes.
The home side responded with points from Callum Gribbin (2), and a long range special from Jack Harney to keep them in touch at the end of the third quarter.
The introduction of Darragh Mc Auley added impetus to the home sides challenge and points from Fiontan Hardy followed by two pointed frees from Callum Gribbin saw the gap reduced to four at 2-09 to 0-11.
Once again the visitors found a response and the excellent Sean Gowdy tacked on a further couple of points to move his side back six ahead.
Cargin kept fighting to the end and a late Callum Gribbin point reduced the gap to five but that was as close as they got with Aghagallon crossing the finish line points secured at 2-11 to 0-12.
Cargin: Daniel Mc Cann, Tom Mc Cann, Niall Quinn, Patryck Matchyck, Sean Mc Peake, Eoin Scullion, Ewan Mc Laverty, Jack Harney (0-01), Carl Mc Cann (0-01), Fiontan Hardy (0-02), Callum Gribbin (0-07), Jack O’ Neill, Darragh O’ Boyle (0-01), Conleth Hamill, Cillian Scullion (0-01)
Subs
Darragh Mc Auley
Ryan Mc Peake
Sean Og Bovill
Aghagallon: Seamus Hatchell, Darragh Keightley, Darragh Smyth, Daniel Mc Ilmoyle, Ronan O’ Connor, Christopher Hannon, Cormac Mulholland, Michael Mc Grogan, Sean Mc Gavigan (1-00), Eoin Brankin, Aidan Brady (0-01), Owen Mallon, Eoin Maginnis (0-03), Sean Gowdy (1-04), Eran Loughran (1-04)
Referee: Richard Leahy