Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 2
Naomh Eánna 1-8 Portglenone 3-8
Paul McIntyre reports from Hightown
Pre-game favourites Portglenone were forced to dig deep for an opening day win in Group 2 of this year’s Northern Switchgear senior football championship against Naomh Eánna.
First half goals from Ruairi Hagan and Paddy Kelly looked to have set this year’s league winners on the road to a comfortable win but the homeside rallied in the third quarter and Fionn Nagle’s well taken major brought Naomh Eánna roaring back into the contest.
But when the game was there to be won, it was the Casements who stood up and Odhran McGarry’s late penalty helped to steer John McKeever’s side over the line for a deserving win.
Portglenone will be happy to be heading back up the road after avoiding a tricky opener and will be boosted the next day by the return of Niall McKeever. However, if they are to claim a first ever senior title, it looks like they will have to do it without the services of Dermott McAleese.
Their talismanic half-back went through shoulder surgery during the week and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The opening half was a very cagey affair and there was little to talk about in the opening exchanges as both sides shared the opening two-points.
Francis Cassidy kicked Portglenone into a 7th minute lead before Fionn Nagle levelled from a mark just three minutes later.
The game’s first goal arrived in the 12th minute when following a patient build-up, Ruairi Hagan managed to get in behind the home defence to fire high past Michael O’Boyle to give his side a three-point lead.
Only six-minutes had elapsed when O’Boyle was picking the ball out of his net again.
Paddy Kelly managed to get in front of Killian Jenings and his first-time effort of a point dipped at the final second to nestle in the corner of the net.
It was a strike that caught everyone by surprise and it helped his side to a five-point lead.
Naomh Eánna battled gamely and a second Donal Walsh score and an effort from midfielder Michael Morgan saw the home side trail by just three-points at the break.
Half time Naomh Eánna 0-4 Portglenone 2-1
Odhran Eastwood cut the gap to three six minutes into the second half but a beaut from the left wing from Oisin Doherty kept the Casements noses in front.
Naomh Eánna started to enjoy large spells of possession and were well on top at midfield. But in a ten-minute spell of dominance, they only returned two-points through an Eastwood free and an effort from replacement Stephen O’Connor.
Doherty’s effort on the break was just what Portglenone needed in the 47th minute but the game was turned on its head just a minute later.
O’Boyle’s kick-out was won in midfield by Michael Morgan who released O’Connor down the left. He picked out Nagle who delicately lobbed the ball over the advancing Ryan O’Neill for a sweetly taken goal.
It gave Naomh Eánna the lead for the first time, but this advantage lasted only for a minute as Aidan McAleese quickly restored parity.
It was also the signal for Casements to step up a gear. Doherty then kicked his third score of the evening as momentum swung back in favour of the visitors and with just four minutes remaining came the games defining score.
McAleese’s run towards the Naomh Eánna goal came to an abrupt halt in the square, and from the resulting penalty, Odhran McGarry sent the ball crashing to the corner of the net.
Portglenone then went on to close the game out expertly with McAleese adding two frees to his tally while Michael Hagan wrapped up the win with a free deep into injury time.
Teams & Scorers:
Naomh Eánna: Michael O’Boyle, Conor Maxwell, Killian Jennings, Eoghan O’Hare, Conan Lyttle, James McAuley, Diarmuid McNulty, Michael Morgan (0-1), Sean Murray, Ronan Kalla, Donal Walsh (0-2), Tómas Gilmour, Ronan O’Neill, Fionn Nagle (1-1M), Odhran Eastwood (0-3f).
Replacements: Owen Kennedy for McAuley (22), Stephen O’Connor (0-1) for Kalla (43), Cillin Gilmour for Kennedy (59).
Portglenone: Ryan O’Neill, Ronan Delargy, Daniel McNicholl, Jonny Convery, Caolan Tierney, Francis Cassidy (0-1), Conor McGhee, Stephen Kelly, Ciaran McKenna, Ruairi Hagan (1-0), Michael Hagan (0-1f), Ronan Kelly, Oisin Doherty (0-3), Paddy Kelly (1-0), Odhran McGarry (1-0 pen).
Replacements: Aidan McAleese (0-3 2F) for P Kelly (38), Ciaran McAleese for R Kelly (41), Conal Delargy for McNicholl (53), Shane Delargy for McKenna (53), Kevin O’Kane for Convery (59).
Referee: Mr Colm McDonald (St Galls)
