O’Neills Sportswear ACFL Division One
Cargin 2-12-1-11 Lámh Dhearg
Kevin Herron reports from Toome
Cargin ensured the battle for the Eddie Fitzsimons Trophy will go down to the final day after they saw of the challenge of Lámh Dhearg with a 2-12-1-11 win at home on Wednesday evening.
Things got off to a perfect start for the hosts when Marc Jordan clipped David Johnston and referee Cathal McDermott awarded a penalty which was tucked underneath John Finucane- despite the shot-stopper guessing correctly.
The sides traded the next six scores evenly, Carl Maxwell dropped over a reply at the other end then there were panic stations when Shivers sent in a teasing high ball that Eunan Quinn contested and opted for a fist over the bar.
Justin Crozier added another fisted effort for Cargin with Conor Murray slinging a shot over after a patient move.
Midway through the opening half Shivers popped over from Quinn’s lay-off, but Declan Smith responded with an angled drop over to make it 1-03-0-03.
Cargin ended the half with five unanswered points that saw them in control at the midway point.
Pat Shivers added his second point with a terrific effort that sailed between the posts. He could have doubled his goal tally after David Johnston raced onto a loose kick out and slipped Shivers through, under pressure from Finucane – he sent a dipping angled effort off the bar.
Three of the next four scores would arrive from the placed ball, two coming courtesy of Jamie Gribbin with talisman Shivers claiming the other prior to kicking his third point from play to ensure he had provided 1-04 of his sides 1-08 at the halfway stage.
Lámh Dhearg reduced the deficit through a fine Shaun McManus point a few minutes after the restart, though Sean O’Neill replied at the other end and Shivers kicked his second free of the evening to move the hosts 1-10-0-04 to the good.
The signs were bleak for the visitors with twenty minutes remaining- though a dominant five-minute spell gave them renewed hope.
Conor Murray converted a free and then popped over from play from Paddy Mervyn’s slipped pass.
Murray made it three points unanswered and when Owen McKeown added another there was a sense of optimism about their play.
With a quarter of an hour remaining things got better for the Hannahstown side. Owen McKeown played a one-two with Michael Hynds before picking out Adam Murray, the youngster rolled the ball across the goal and Conor Murray was there to side foot home and cut the deficit to two-points (1-10-1-08).
Cargin put an end to the Lámhs momentum with a point from substitute Tomas McCann and found the games decisive score with ten minutes remaining.
Claiming a turnover in midfield the green-machine surged forward with Pat Shivers leading the gallop, he switched possession to Jamie Gribbin- whose shot was deflected onto the bar, only for Eunan Quinn to stab home on the turn and give his side a 2-11-1-08 lead.
They would have to see out the last six-minutes a man light though as referee Cathal McDermott gave David Johnston a second booking for a tug-back on Owen McKeown.
Paddy Larkin and Gribbin traded points in the aftermath and despite finishing on the front-foot, points from substitute Eoin Matassa and a final Conor Murray point of the evening was mere consolation as Cargin ran out four-point winners to the keep their league ambitions alive going into the final round of fixtures on Sunday afternoon.
Cargin: S Lavery, G McCorley, K O’Boyle, C Johnston, J Crozier (0-01), P McCann, R Gribbin, K McShane, J Carron, S O’Neill (0-01), P Shivers (1-05, 1-00p, 0-02f), D Johnston, J Gribbin (0-03, 0-02f), E Quinn (1-01), T Shivers. Subs: T McCann (0-01) for R Gribbin (HT), C Donnelly for J Gribbin (56).
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, F Mervyn, B Rice, P Larkin (0-01), O McKeown (0-01), M Jordan, M Hynds, M McElgunn, S McManus (0-01), D Smyth (0-01), A Murray, C Maxwell (0-01), T McCrudden, C Murray (1-05, 0-01f), P Mervyn. Subs: M McGarry for B Rice (37), E Matassa (0-01) for D Smyth (43), R Murray for C Maxwell (43).
Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nÓg)
