McQuillan stars as Con Magees overcome slow start to beat Gort na Mona

O’Neill Sportswear Football League Division 2

Glenravel 3-15 Gort na Mona 2-04

Glenravel secured two more league points against Gort na Mona in Fr Maginn Park on Wednesday evening. Ahead by four points at the interval Con Magees put in a strong second half performance, despite a shaky start to the half, and ran out comfortable winners in the end with corner forward Ryan McQuillan leading the charge

This game was a very much cat and mouse affair with neither team able to raise a flag in the opening thirteen minutes. Indeed they squandered eight scoring chances between them and not a breath of wind to effect the kicking on this beautiful Midsummer evening at Fr Maginn Park. But a slick move upfield from the Belfast men saw them fire off two shots on goal that were superbly saved by Johnny Fyfe but a fisted ball across the goal line was eventually palmed to the net by Tarlach Enright at full forward and Gort na Mona went three ahead. Ryan McQuillan opened for the home team but Enright canceled that one out to leave Gorts three ahead again with fifteen minutes gone and that was how it remained for the next five minutes but in the final ten minutes Glenravel upped the tempo to score 1-05 without reply. Ryan McQuillan supplied the points whilst Rian Lennon chipped in with a great goal. Tarlach Enright got Gort na Mona back into the game with the final point of the half so the sides retired to the changing rooms with the home side ahead 1-06 to 1-02.

***Gorts full forward Tarlach Enright raises his hand in celebration after s*****coring his team’s first goal**

Gort na Mona came out like men inspired in the second half and in two quick counter attacks they were back on level terms after a Darron Boyd point was followed by a Patrick McCaffrey goal in the opening two minutes of the half. This might have shaken some sides but the Con Magees kept their composure. They regained control of the game and went on to absolutely dominate the rest of the half and Gorts would not score again until three minutes from the end when their talisman Tarlach Enright pointed form a free.

In the meantime Glenravel had gone on to notch up 2-08 without conceding. Ryan McQuillan scoring 2-02 of that and the other score coming from Eoin Hynds (0-02), Rian Lennon (0-02), Declan Traynor and Charlie Henry. Eoin Hynds rounded off proceedings with a pointed free but the game was over as a contest long before that.

***Ryan McQuillan celebrates (ever so slightly) after scoring the second of his two goals***

The final round of league games is Wed Jun 28th when Gort na Mona will host Glenavy whilst Glenravel will travel to the city to face Davitts. Both game throw in at 7:45pm.