ACFL Division 1
Casements 3 – 13 Randalstown 1 – 07
This final round 12 game of the Antrim all County football league Division One tie attracted a large crowd to Kelly Park on a perfect evening for football.
Both sides had plenty of motivation going into this one. Casements are ticking along nicely at the top of the division, with a first ever league title in their sights should they continue their rich vein of form of late. Visitors Tir na nOg, Randalstown are rooted at the opposite end of the division, firmly in the hunt for league points that might shield them from the dreaded drop back into division two, having worked so hard in recent years to ply their trade in the top division.
It was no surprise therefore to see the visitors begin with a flurry of activity and more possession of the ball in the opening quarter, creating numerous excellent scoring opportunities which may have allowed them to settle into the contest. No less than four scores were spurned narrowly and one goal bound effort from Ciaran Dobbinwas splendidly turned around the base of the post by Casements custodian Ryan O Neill who is having an excellent season.
With each wasted opportunity the energy from the men in blue seemed to reduce visibly, especially when after just three attacks Casements had three superb long range points on the board – courtesy of the trusty right boot of the excellent, returning to action Casement ace Aidan McAleese…no doubt providing mixed emotions from Dad Big John who was himself a trusty stalwart for Tir na nOg for many years.
If Casements were slow to settle in the first quarter, they made up the deficit in the second, and upon referee Ray Matthews half time whistle the hosts were comfortably six points clear and clearly in the ascendency.
Highlights of the second quarter were excellent long range points from Oisin Doherty (2) Ronan Kelly and a well worked goal when Delargy brothers Ronan and Niall combined to set up Ciaran McKenna for a palm in major.
The second half turned out to be more of the same, with a feature being a superb individual goal from Randalstown centre half forward Eamon Og McAlister who brought the visiting support back to life with a low rocket past the helpless Ryan O Neill to offer a brief spark of encouragement to the visitors.
This optimism was short lived as Casements turned the tap back on for a twelve minute mid spell that put this contest beyond reasonable doubt. With long range point taking a welcome feature, some memorable minors were dispatched from both Niall’s (McKeever and Delargy who had excellent games throughout) Michael Hagan, Ronan Kelly, newbie Odhran McGarry, and when flying in form county debutant Oisin Doherty finished to the net past Sean Paul McAtamney the contest petered out into a training book exercise in keep ball / game management.
Points from Randalstown duo, Aaron McNeilly and Dara Fagan after good build up play stopped the scoreboard from running away from the visitors, but in truth this contest was all over bar the shouting a long way out.
On other nights Randalstown may have taken something out of this game, but good moves and possession stats need to be converted to scores, and on this occasion that was the piece that was missing from this display.
Impressive on the night for Tir na nOg were Eamon Og McAlister, Barry McCormick, Kevin Sheerin and Ciaran Dobbin.
John McKeever and his backroom team will be happy enough with what they saw during the hour, a team ticking over nicely as they go into the top six stage full of confidence.
Donal Mc Nicholl, Jonny Convery, Ronan Delargy in defence held firm, in the middle third the two Niall’s were dominant, and upfront county debutant Oisin Doherty and Aidan McAleese until he was called ashore for existing injury protection looked on top of their game.
Declan Dobbin (another surname with TNN history) youngster Sean Byrne, James McLarnon and impressive Odhran McGarry got ten minute cameos as did popular Casements stalwart Patrick Carey who attempts to time his comeback run in time for championship action.
Randalstown must regroup and see if they can win a couple of games in the next stage of league competition as they continue their fight to remain in the top flight.
Casements; Ryan O Neill, Ronan Delargy, Donal McNicholl, Johnny Convery, Conor McGee, Niall Delargy (1) Caolan Tierney, Niall Mc Keever (1) Stephen Kelly, Ruairi Hagan (goal) Michael Hagan (2) Ciaran McKenna ( goal) Ronan Kelly (1) Aidan Mc Aleese (3) Oisin Doherty (1;4).
Tir na nOg: 1. Sean-Paul McAtamney 2. Aodhan Tolan 3. Ciaran Mcgrellis 4. Musher Crilly 5. Caoimhin Duffin 6. Kieran O’Neill 7. Paul McCloskey 8. Barry McCormick (0-01) 9. Oliver McAtamney 10. Aaron McNeely (0-02) 11. Eamon Og McAlister (1-00) 12. Brandon McLarnon 13. Ciaran Dobbin 14. Dara Fagan (0-02) 15. Kevin Sheerin (0-02)
