Laochra Loch Lao got their Junior Championship hopes back on track when they scored a comprehensive win over St Agnes in Saturday game at MacCrory Park to set up a winner takes all meeting with Eire Og in their final round robin game in two weeks’ time.
Lochra owned the ball during the opening quarter and went 0-4 to no score ahead by the 13th minute, the points coming from Conor McGucken, Caoimhin O Daimhin (following a Mark), Diarmuid McPhilips (from a 45) and O Daimhin again. The Aggies sprung to life just on the quarter hour mark when midfielder Conall Turley broke through the middle of the Lochra defence to fire home a brilliant individual goal, but the Coalaiste Feirste side hit back right away hitting a goal and three points in a devastating five minute spell. Corner forward Oisin Mac Crabhagain started the run with two quick points, Rian McShane added one from play before delivering the killer blow with a well taken goal.
The Aggies were in deep trouble but they ended the half well and points from Ronan McCarroll and Declan McLarnon left them trailing by seven at the break. (1-9 to 1-02)
The gap was down to five as the Aggies hit two early points in the second half through Turley and Cormac McBride and for a spell there was renewed hope. However when Conor McGucken got Lochra’s first point of the second half on 37 minutes they pulled away again. McGucken added two more and McShane one to all but seal the win midway through the half, and though the Aggies goalkeeper Colum Carroll got in on the scoring act with a well taken point, it was to be his sides last score as Laochra Loch Lao pushed on to win by ten in the end.
OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship Group 4
Saturday 12th August
Report by Niall Kelly
Patrick Sarsfields 1-11 Gort Na Móna 0-06
A composed and assured performance from Sarsfields against Belfast counterparts Gort Na Móna, ensured progression into the quarter final stage with home advantage their added incentive. In truth, Sarsfields had a measure of control of proceedings from referee Paul Burn’s first whistle despite a dogged effort from Gort Na Móna. Gary Lennon gave his side the lead after just two minutes, and it would be a lead they would refuse to relinquish for the rest of the game. Substitute Brian Healy’s calm finish to the net with ten minutes remaining extinguished all hopes of any sort of Gort revival as their hosts cantered home to victory with eight points to spare.
The commanding presence of Gary Lennon caused early problems for the visitors and the number 14 opened the scoring with a fine mark on the second minute before an audacious effort off the outside of Philip McPeake’s right boot split the posts from range to double their lead moments later. Seeking to respond, the visitors tried in vain to create opportunities of their own but struggled to get any sort of fluid football together and Sarsfield’s high press on their kickouts was causing all sorts of problem.
With the Gort defence hemmed in, Sarsfields’ calculated and patient approach play reaped rewards as the familiar prowess of Kevin McKernan came to the fore with the number 15 grabbing the next two scores to see his side go four in front by the twentieth minute.
Gort Na Móna were desperate for some sort of reprieve and despite some promising build up play couldn’t seem to get the final pass right. Their reliance on the high ball into target men in the full forward line wasn’t having its desired effect as the Paddies’ defence stood resolute under the ariel bombardment.
On the 25th minute, the visitors’ efforts were finally rewarded when Tarlach Enright despatched a free from close range. Big hits were beginning to fly in and with a few off the ball altercations, things were starting to heat up. This perhaps sparked the hosts back into action again, as the ever-impressive McPeake doubled his tally, fisting over after some intricate link play with Liam Mitchell to leave the score at the short whistle 0-05 to 0-01.
With scores hard to come by in the first half, the second period was a much more open affair. Kevy Floyd opened the scoring with a superb, curling effort from range before Gort responded immediately through the boot of midfielder Aidan McDonagh who was at the heart of everything positive in his side’s performance.
However, three points in the space of five minutes from Sarsfields helped them bolster their lead further. Again, it was the dynamic duo of McKernan (2) and Lennon combining to great effect. Yet again though, Gort Na Móna refused to lie down and managed to cut the gap back to five. Ciaran Donnelly bulldozed his way through the Paddies’ rearguard before unleashing a monstrous effort from range. This was followed up by the trusty right boot of Enright from the placed ball and momentum was now slowly shifting towards the visitors in their search of a comeback.
Reinforcements from the host’s bench would prove to be pivotal though as the fresh legs reinvigorated the men in green and black in their drive for victory. Caolan McKernan put the finishing touches on a marauding, driving run from full back Joe McNally before Brian Healy hammered the final nail in the coffin on the fiftieth minute. Healy, who had barely been on the pitch two minutes, raced through on goal and having been denied by a wonderful save from Thomas McCaffrey, he made no mistake despatching the rebound as he drilled home off the ground into the bottom left of the despairing keeper’s net.
Sarsfields’ relentless press was executed to great effect again as Gary Lennon curled over from close range after having regained possession deep in the Gort half as the result looked a foregone conclusion now.
To their credit, despite the sizable margin stacked against them and the imminent arrival of Paul Burn’s full-time whistle, the visitors continued to plug away and were rewarded with two excellent points from dangerman Enright as he increased his tally to 0-03 for the day.
Sarsfields will be delighted with yet another comprehensive win and assurance of topping the group. With a full complement of players at their disposal, they are certainly a side with realistic Championship hopes. Gort Na Móna no doubt will be disappointed with the result, but they must take solace in the fact that all is not lost. Their clash with Glenavy will be a winner-take-all scenario with both vying to grab the last quarter final spot.
Teams:
Sarsfields
M Brady; C McDonnell, J McNally, M McPolin; P McPeake (0-02,) D McKernan, L Mitchell; C McKernan (0-01,) C Murray; K Floyd (0-01,) N McKenna, C Glenholmes; N McAlea, G Lennon (0-03,) K McKernan (0-04)
Substitute scorers:
B Healy (1-00)
Gort Na Móna:
T McCaffrey; T Enright (0-03,) P McCaffrey, P Mulvenna; D McClean, P McHugh, D Boyd; A McDonagh (0-02) P Courmane; M Savage, C Carson, C Donnelly (0-01) B Burns, T Morton, S Campbell
Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship Group 1
Rossa 2-08-0-09 St Johns
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Rossa kept their hopes of progressing from Group 1 of the Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship alive with a 2-08-0-09 win over St Johns at Hannahstown on Saturday evening.
Goals either side of the break from Diarmaid Rogan and Thomas Morgan ensured the Shaws Road outfit joined St Johns on 2 points in the group ahead of the final group outings in a fortnights time.
The duo had met in the opening round of the Senior Hurling Championship seven days ago when Rossa took the bragging rights and heading into the Hannahstrown clash the permutations were simple.
Defeat for Rossa would end any hopes of them claiming a spot in the knockout rounds and ensure that St Johns would progress with a game to spare.
Both sides spurned early goal chances, Diarmaid Rogan denied by the foot of Padraig Nugent, while at the other end Mick Byrne made himself big to claw away Sean Wilson’s near-post attempt at the expense of a 45’ that led to Padraig Nugent opening the scoring.
Rossa restored parity as Rogan combined with Thomas Morgan- who had the opportunity for a goal but blasted over the top.
The sides traded further scores through Paddy McBride (free) and Dominic McEnhill before Conor McEvoy confidently dropped over a point that moved the Johnnies 0-03-0-02 ahead.
The game’s opening goal arrived after 17 minutes at Hannahstown. Midfielders Stephen Beatty and Gerard Walsh linked up and the later dropped a high ball that dropped and was gathered by Diarmaid Rogan who slotted past Nugent and into the net to move his side 1-02-0-03 ahead.
Conor Hand would respond with five minutes to the break, claiming a mark and then sending the ball between the posts. A foul on Hand then gave Conchur Adams the chance to level- which he took.
Goal scorer Rogan would ensure his side held a slender lead at the break, swinging over against the breeze to ensure the bare minimum separated the sides at the midway point.
St Johns levelled three minutes after the restart, Conchur Adams handed the ball off to Conor Hand to slip his shot over.
A patient Rossa move then ended with Niall Crossan popping the ball over, only for Paddy McBride to convert his second free of the evening to level things up at 1-04-0-07.
The Shaws Road outfit squandered several opportunities to regain the lead with the game approaching the final ten minutes.
Eventually they hit the front through a fisted Thomas Morgan point and would double their advantage when Dominic McEnhill laid the ball off to Cormac McGettigan- who steered his shot over.
With five minutes remaining the Johnnies halved the deficit through an advanced mark from substitute Conor Bohill and things were back on a knife-edge.
The decisive moment arrived on the 58th minute when Rossa won a free that Dominic McEnhill seized responsibility for.
The Antrim county star saw his effort drop into the crowded square where Thomas Morgan gathered and poked to the net to move his side 2-06-0-08 ahead.
Back-to-back frees from Stephen Beatty in the aftermath gave Rossa a two-goal cushion and St Johns needed to react fast.
The comeback was beyond the Whiterock men though and a consolation point from Simon McDonagh was all they could muster in the closing stages as Rossa ran out winners to join their Belfast rivals on 2 points after two games.
Cargin’s victory over Tir na nÓg ensured that the Champions have all but secured a first-place finish in the Group and Rossa and St Johns will more than likely battle it out for the runners-up spot in two weeks time.
Rossa: M Byrne, N Crossan (0-01), C McGuinness, C Orchin, A Devlin, J Morris, R Gowdy, G Walsh, S Beatty (0-02f), D Rogan (1-01), C McGettigan (0-01), D McEnhill (0-01), T Morgan (1-02), E McMenamin, M Mallon. Subs: D Grego for C McGettigan (Blood Sub 34-39min), D Grego for D Rogan (55).
St Johns: P Nugent (0-01 45’), Ciaran Johnston, J Bohill, C Garland, S Wilson, A Oliver, D McGuinness, S McDonagh (0-01), C McEvoy (0-01), P McBride (0-02f), C Gough, C Adams (0-01f), Conor Johnston, C Hand (0-02). Subs: P Donnelly for D McGuinness (27), C McGlade for S Wilson (42), C Quinn for C Adams (44), C Bohill (0-01m) for Conor Johnston (48), A McGowan for A Oliver (50).
Defending county senior football champions Erin’s Own Cargin advanced to the quarer finals of this year’s championship when they recorded a 10 point win over South West neighbours, Tir na nOg in Portglenone on Saturday evening.
The Toome men went into this game as firm favourites and they went on to justify the favourites tag thanks to the guile of Tomas McCann, James Laverty, Justin Crozier and the fire power of Conhuir Johnston to secure passage to the quarter finals.
A darkening sky overhead threatening the rain which duly arrived threatened a poor damp evening for those who had gathered for the latest round of the senior football championship as Erin’s Own Cargin lined out to meet Tir na nOg.
Cargin goalkeeper Shea Laverty turns a goal bound shot from Tir na nÓg’s Eamon Og McAllister (11) over the bar early in the game
Caomhinn Duffin opened the scoring with an early point for the Whitehill side with Paul McCann replying in kind at the other end a few minutes later to square the contest.
That theme continued during the opening period which saw the sides at 0-03 apiece after ten minutes in a strong breeze carrying rain which came down as pellets.
Tomas McCann started positively and he and Pat Shivers raised whites in the Cargin cause as Eamon Og Mc Allister and Darragh Feagan replied in kind for the Randalstown side.
Conditions improved at the end of the opening quarter and Jamie Gribbin and Tomas McCann combined to open the way for Eunan Quinn to find the net.
Cargin had nipped ahead and Kevin O’ Boyle came forward to add a point but the Randalstown men were quick to reply as a strong run from Eamon Og McAllister saw the centre forward plant the ball in the corner of the Cargin net despite the best efforts of net minder Shea Laverty.
The Toome side responded as James Laverty, Conhuir Johnston (2), and Tomas Mc Cann raised white flags at the other end.
Cargin’s Pat Shivers in action against Tir na nÓg’s Caoimhin Duffin during Saturday SFC game in Portglenone
Conhuir Johnston and Oliver Mc Atamney swapped points in the latter stages of the half to see the sides take the respite offered by the short whistle with Cargin leading 1-09 to 1-04.
The second half started with the strong wind again carrying rain and Pat Shivers increased the Cargin advantage with an early point before Darragh Fagan and Eamon Og McAllister replied with points for the Whitehill side to keep their hopes alive.
Conhuir Johnston responded with a point at the other end with the impressive Ciaran O’ Neill making quick reply but Cargin were beginning to take command and hit back with points from Tomas McCann and Eunan Quinn.
The reigning champions had moved 1-16 to 1-08 ahead as the clock ticked onward with Ronan Devlin sending several replacements into the fray and Kieran Close added a point to punish a foul on fellow replacement Paudie McLaughlin.
The impressive Conhuir Johnston added back to back points in the latter stages with the Randalstown men returning fire with a point at the other end but the last score came from the hugely talented Tomas McCann.
Tir na nOg gave it everything but in the end it was not enough despite the best efforts of Eamon Og Mc Allister, Ciaran O’ Neill, and Darragh Fagan and will now turn their attentions to the Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Cargin full forward Eunan Quinn in action during Saturday’s win over Tir na nÓg at Portglenone.
Cargin: Shea Laverty, James Laverty (0-01)Kevin Mc Shane, Kevin O’ Boyle (0-01), Justin Crozier, Paul Mc Cann (0-01), Sean og O’ Neill, Mark Kelly, Gerard Mc Cann, Jamie Gribbin, Tomas Mc Cann (0-05), David Johnston, Pat Shivers (0-04), Conhuir Johnston (0-06)
Subs:
Ciaran Close (0-01)
Paudie Mc Loughlin
Ronan Gribbin
Ciaran Bradley
Tir na nOg: Sean P Mc Atamney, Brandon Mc Larnon, Ciaran O’ Neill (0-01), Barry Mc Cormick (0-01), Caomhinn Duffin, Oliver Mc Atamney (0-01), Sean Duffin, Aaron Mc Neilly, Eamon og Mc Allister(1-03),Kevin Sheerin, Darragh Feagan (0-04), Christy Sheerin, Kevin Sheerin, Daniel Martin, Conor Hastings,
Subs:
Barry Magee
Referee: D McKeown (St. Gall’s)
Rivals for sixty minutes – Cousins for life! Tir na nOg’s Barry Magee and his baby son Oisin with Oisin’s cousins Caolan, Darragh and Eoin Magee, who are Cargin fans, seen here after Saturday evening’s Cargin v Tir na nÓg Senior Football Championship game in Portglenone.
Brendan McTaggart reports from De La Salle Park, Belfast
Forever known throughout the county as a championship team, Dunloy showed their pedigree once more. Written off in all corners apart from the village, the Cuchullains shocked St Galls in their own backyard to make it a winning return to the senior championship.
Playing at this level for the first time in 14 years, Dunloy overcame a two point half time deficit and had St Galls on the backfoot for long periods in the second half. Using the pace and power of Keelan Molloy, Deaglan Smith and Nigel Elliott from deep to create chances throughout but it was the performance of Seaan Elliott that shone. He would finish with 0-4 for the hour, one of those from a different postcode and bewildering footwork making little of the tough underfoot conditions, Elliott led the Dunloy charge.
St Galls will look at the last ten minutes of the hour at when this one got away from them. The brilliant Niall Burns had just scored their second goal of the game to give them a two point lead in the 49th minute but they wouldn’t raise another white flag until injury time and the Cuchullains had taken a stranglehold of the game at that period.
They drew level only for Keelan Molloy to convert the winning score deep into injury time with a free from wide on the right.
This was a game that had pretty much everything a neutral would want in a game of football and the warning signs were there right from the first whistle that Dunloy weren’t there just to make up the numbers. Smith carrying the ball from the throw in through the St Galls defence. He found Nigel Elliott in a yard of space but his ferocious effort rattled the crossbar.
The first score of the game came in the fourth minute, Conal Cunning splitting the posts but St Galls began to take control in midfield with their ability to win breaking ball giving them the upper hand. Any Dunloy attacks were fleeting with St Galls dominating possession and with Niall Burns, Dubhaltach Wilson and Brendan Bradley pulling the strings, they went about building a substantial lead.
Three points from Burns, two from placed ball and scores from Conn Doherty and Bradley giving them a deserved four point lead by the 23rd minute. Bradley’s score in particular the highlight of the opening scores for the Milltown Row men.
Dunloy finally added to their score in the 25th minute, Seaan Elliott converting a free from 35 yards out with a swing of his right leg and the Cuchullains began to find some joy in the middle third. Further scores followed from Keelan Molloy (free) and Cunning’s second of the half followed after a period of patient play from the visitors left just one between the sides.
St Galls had the final say of the half when Burns converted another free but it could have been better for the home side. Eoghan McCabe looked to have carved his way through the Dunloy defence only for Ryan McGarry taking him down before he could pull the trigger for goal.
With the wind at their back and having done the most of the attacking play in the half, St Galls were well worthy of their two point lead. That two point lead soon became three soon after the restart with Bradley firing over from an acute angle.
It sparked a remarkable period of play however that saw three goals scored in the space of two minutes. The first came from a Karl Fitzpatrick penalty when Eoin O’Neill was felled by Eoghan McCurdy to bring the sides level. Fitzpatrick sent Louis McCormick the wrong way with a cool penalty. Winning the resulting kick out, Coby Cunning found Fitzpatrick and he looked to have the half yard needed but passed to Nigel Elliott and he fired home from close range to give Louis McCormick no chance in the St Galls goals.
The goal rush finished when St Galls broke at the other end of the pitch. McCabe at the heart of the move and passed to Ryan Irvine, the St Galls midfielder had a deft touch to deflect the ball past Sean Doherty in the Dunloy goals.
The game was played at a frenetic pace but it was the home side who began to find some patience among the mayhem. Bradley giving his side the lead once more in the 41st minute after a concerted period of St Galls pressure.
The Dunloy response came from a Keelan Molloy free and a gargantuan point from Seaan Elliott. Judging the elements to perfection and with a swing of his right foot, Elliott had the Dunloy support purring.
The home sides second goal came in the 49th minute and had the Dunloy management team fuming. They had just made a substitute with Niall Fallon coming on for Conn Doherty but the Dunloy defence never realised and followed Doherty to the side line and created space in the heart of their defence. St Gall’s took advantage and when the ball fell to Burns on the right hand side, he drilled to the bottom corner of the Dunloy net to give his side a two point lead.
The Dunloy response was the winning of the game however. A brace of scores from Seaan Elliott (one free) and Coby Cunning (one free) gave them a two point lead with the time running out. Dunloy continued to push for scores and when Eoin O’Neill raced through on goal in the last minute of the hour, he had the game at his mercy. McCormick did enough to put ‘Sammy’ off his stride however and the Dunloy man fired wide.
St Galls went through the gears and again began to put the Dunloy defence under pressure. A free from Burns left the minimum between the sides and from the next attack they found Wilson in space with the St Galls man electing to hand pass the ball over the bar.
With the game going into the third minute of injury time Dunloy beat the St Galls full press and Keelan Molloy was making his way to the scoring area. He was felled by Tiarnan Keenan with the St Galls man given a black card for his efforts. Molloy dusted himself down to convert the free and give his side a famous victory.
The result means the Milltown Row side are out of the 2023 championship while Dunloy will host Creggan in two weeks’ time to see who tops the group.
TEAMS
St Galls: Louis McCormick; Cormac Flannery, Tiarnan Keenan, Eoghan McCurdy; Conor Ryan, Conall McGirr, Conaill Murray; Ryan Irvine, Tommy Bunting; Niall Burns, Brendan Bradley, Dubhaltach Wilson; Callum Walsh, Conn Doherty, Eoghan McCabe
Scorers: N Burns 1-5 (4 fs); B Bradley 0-3; R Irvine 1-00; D Wilson 0-1; C Doherty 0-1
Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Oran Quinn, Eoin McFerran, Conor Kinsella; Chrissy McMahon, Ryan McGarry, Seaan Elliott; Ciaran McQuillan, Deaglan Smith; Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning, Tom McFerran; Karl Fitzpatrick, Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill
Scorers: S Elliott 0-4 (2 fs); C Cunning 0-4 (1f); K Molloy 0-3 (2fs); N Elliott 1-00; K Fitzpatrick 1-00 (pen)
