Reserve Football Shield
St. James Aldergrove 1-13 St. Mary’s Ahoghill 2-9
St. James Aldergrove withstood a late rally from St. Mary’s Ahoghill in Crumlin on Wednesday night to advance to the semi-final of the Football Shield.
The Crumlin side looked to be coasting when they led 1-13 to 0-8 with time almost up but Ahoghill struck with late goals from Shay Madden and Aiden Graham to leave the home side hanging on for dear life.
Fearghal Burke converted a free with the game deep in injury time to settle a few frayed Aldergrove nerves and it proved to be the game’s final score and it is St. James who must now await the semi-final draw.
St. James were the better team for most of the hour and their pace and direct running troubled an Ahoghill side who slowed the game down to their own pace whenever possible.
The home side deservedly led 0-8 to 0-3 at the halfway stage with Connleth O’Toole, Glen Dunhum, Corey Fogarty and Cormac McGarry pointing them into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead at the end of the opening quarter, the Ahoghill point coming from Patrick Logan.
Cormac McGarry and Fearghal Burke increased the St. James’ lead with Patrick Logan replying with his second of the game before the excellent McGarry edged his side five in front in the 23d minute.
Ahoghill were hanging in there with keeper Cahir O’Kane, who brought off a great early save, drifting out from goals to support his defence and make himself available for a pass whenever needed and a good move saw Joe Downey fist over to bring the visitors total to three.
This would prove to be the big full-forward’s final piece of the action however as he pulled up in agony minutes later to be replaced by Shay Madden and it was the impressive Cormac McGarry who would conclude the first half scoring with a good point for the home side to leave them five ahead at the break.
Playing down the Crumlin slope in the second half, the visitors began brightly and Aiden Graham and Shay Madden fired over in the opening minutes to close the gap to three and we looked to have a game on our hands.
Glen Dunham replied for Aldergrove and Corey Fogarty moved them five ahead once more but the Clooney side were fairing much better and Christopher Taggart in the Aldergrove goals brought off a great save to deny Patrick Logan.
Things were beginning to move up a gear as Cormac McGarry stroked over a lovely point at the pavilion end with Aiden Graham and Shay Madden replying at the other end to leave four between the sides by the 12th minute.
Connleth O’Toole fisted over to edge his side five ahead once more but Aiden Graham was having an increasing influence for the visitors and he struck another excellent point in the 16th minute to bring it back to four again.
The visitors were looking more dangerous and going much more direct than in the first half but they always looked suspect when the home side broke and Aaran O’Connor provided an excellent finish as he got on the end of a move from deep in defence to fire to the net.
There was still 10 minutes to play at this stage but it looked a long way back for St. Mary’s but they quite simply refused to throw in the towel and Shay Madden’s shot from close range nestled in the corner of Chris Taggart’s net before Aiden Graham got up to fist to the net as the game went into injury time.
There was only one between the sides as the home support called for the full time whistle and it was Fearghal Burke who would kick a late point for the Crumlin side to make victory secure.
St. James: 1 Christopher Taggart, 2 David Aiken, 3 Michael McCarthy, 4 Shea O’Connor, 5 Ferdia Carson, 6 Logan Fleming, 7 Ronan Wilkinson, 18 Corey Fogarty, 9 Aaran O’Connor, 10 Connleth O’Toole, 11 Cormac McGarry, 12 Conor Magee, 13 Sean Fay, 14 Fearghal Burke, 15 Glen Dunham.
Subs:
22. Kian Jones for Conor Magee
19. Connor Morris for Sean Fay
23. Ronan Aiken for Connleth O’ Toole
20. Ryan Lenahen for Shea O’ Connor
Ahoghill: 1 Cahir O’Kane, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 Conor McGarry, 4 Ryan McPeake, 5 Harry O’Donnell, 6 Seamus McKeever, 7 Jerard Keenan, 8 Patrick Dougan, 9 Stephen O’Connell, 10 Calum Reynolds, 17 Martin Graham, 12 Colla McDonnell, 13 Aiden Graham, 14 Joe Downey, 15 Ryan Keenan.
Subs: Ben Friel for Ryan Keenan, Finn McDonagh for Conor McGarry
Referee: Chris Brown (St. Paul’s)
