Allianz NFL Division 3

Limerick 2-7 Antrim 2-14

Antrim got their Allianz NFL Division 3 campaign of to a great start at Rathkeale, Limerick on Sunday with an excellent seven point win over a Limerick side who were playing their football in division 2 last year.

The Saffrons were the better team for most of the game and dominated from early in the contest to lead 1-7 to 0-4 at the halfway stage but were hit by a 1-4 blast from the home side, either side of half time and looked in trouble early in the second half.

Their response was decisive however with a great goal from Creggan’s Ruairi McCann steadying the ship and an excellent exhibition of point taking from Dominic McEnhill would see the Saffrons home comfortably in the end.

The Saffrons were forced into two changes in their starting line-up before throw-in with Colm McLarnon and Cormac McGettigan replacing injured pair, Cathal Hynds and Ruairi McCann of Aghagallon.

Antrim got off to a bright start in  Rathkeale with Eoin Hynds pointing them into an early lead and the Saffrons would go onto dominate the early exchanges with goalkeeper, Mick Byrne edging them into a two point lead.

Ian Corbett’s reply for Limerick was quickly cancelled out by the returning Dermot McAleese who captained the side today in the absence of Peter Healy who remains on the Antrim injured list.

Peter Nash briefly closed the gap to two but the visiting Saffrons were growing in confidence and Niall Burns marked his debut with an Antrim point and Dominic McEnhill followed from a free before the impressive Rossa man stroked home a penalty to put Andy McEntee’s side in a strong position.

McEnhill, who was involved in a lot of the Antrim play, added a point and Creggan’s Ruairi McCann got his name on the score-sheet to move the visitors 1-7 to 0-2 ahead.

However, Limerick’s Tommy Childs and Robbie Childs struck late points to close out the scoring in the first half and serve notice that they were still in contention.

That was bourne out as the second half got under way as Aaron Sullivan kicked Limerick’s third point on the bounce on the restart and when Ian Corbett fired home from the penalty spot in the 10^th minute it wasn’t looking good for the visitors.

Antrim’s appeals that the Rossa keeper had been fouled in the build-up fell on deaf ears and Antrim had now conceded 1-4 without reply and appeared to have lost control.

They showed tremendous character however as Ruairi McCann kicked a great point, their first for nearly 20 minutes, and Mick Byrne came forward to add another from a 40 meter free as the visitors reacted in the best possible manner.

Dominic McEnhill followed with another and Antrim seemed to have weathered the Limerick storm but were rocked back on their heels again as the hosts struck with their second goal of the game at the other end.

However, Antrim weren’t to be denied, and the key moment came on 57 minutes when Ruairi McCann scored Antrim’s second goal of the day, before the visitors closed out the win by scoring four of the game’s last five points.

Limerick received a setback when Brian O’Sullivan was Black carded and the Saffrons pressed home their advantage as Dominic McEnhill kicked three late points with Ronan Boyle getting his name on the scorecard as Andy McEntee’s side get their Division 3 campaign up and running.

A good win for the Saffrons and while McEntee will surely lament that spell just before and after halftime when his side conceded 1-4, he will be delighted with their response.

Antrim now have home games against Offaly on the 4^th February and Down on the 18^th and will hope to build on their opening day win and will hopefully have a few of the missing injured back in harness for those games.

Antrim: Mick Byrne, Ronan Boyle, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan, Marc Jordan, Joe Kennedy, Dermot McAleese, Paddy McAleer, Eoin Hynds, Colm McLarnon, Niall Burns, Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Paddy McBride, Cormac McGettigan, Dominic McEnhill.

Subs: Declan Lynch for Dermot McAleese, Conor Hand for Ronan Boyle, Benen Kelly for Paddy McAleer.

Limerick: Aaron O’Sullivan 2. Tony McCarthy 3. Seán O’Dea 4. Brian O’Sullivan 5. Colm McSweeney 6. Robbie Childs 7. Paul Maher 8. Tommie Childs 9. Cathal Downes 10. Iain Corbett (Capt) 11. Emmet Rigter 12. Cillian Fahy 13. Barry Coleman 14. James Naughton 15. Peter Nash

Danske Bank McLarnon Cup semi-final 

Rathmore 0-10-2-06 Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock 

Kevin Herron reports from An Sportlann 

Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock came from four-points behind at the break to book their place in next month’s Danske Bank McLarnon Cup final with a 2-06-0-10 win over last year’s beaten finalists Rathmore. 

The County Down outfit were slow out the traps and trailed 0-05-0-01 before Liam Blaney side-footed to the net, although they would still trail by four at the break. 

Knock restored parity with four-unanswered points after the break and a fantastic strike from Oran Donaldson would prove decisive, giving his side the lead for the first time and it was one they wouldn’t relinquish. 

Rathmore were first to forge ahead on a perfect afternoon for football, Se Ferris confidently shot over with the outside of the boot. 

Parity was restored almost immediately, however. A quickly taken free released Owen McHugh and he opted to fist over the bar. 

Despite two scores in the opening ten minutes, it didn’t reflect the intensity and tenacity on show. 

Oscar Conlon evaded heavy pressure and kicked his side back in front after Sonny Doyle claimed an advanced mark and offloaded to Isaac Robinson on the loop. 

A smart score from Thomas Lloyd would double their advantage and a minute shy of the quarter hour mark, Rory McErlean dropped over a free from distance. 

The South Belfast outfit extended their lead after Sonny Doyle picked out Rudi Smyth to pop over the bar and make it 0-05-0-01. 

Our Lady and St Pat’s were carless in possession in the opening 20 minutes but found a lifeline with ten minutes to the break. 

Thomas McCusker played a crucial role in the build-up and picked out Oran Donaldson in space, Donaldson quickly moved the ball into the path of Liam Blaney to sweep home and make it 0-05-1-01. 

Rathmore weren’t spooked though and restored their three-point lead with three unanswered points before the interval. 

Se Ferris dropped a shot over to double his personal tally, and goalkeeper Donncha McGurk- who was keen to add to his sides attack- was on target with a superb, angled score. 

A converted free from Rory McErlean doubled his account on the stroke of half time and it gave his side a 0-08-1-01 advantage at the midway point. 

Both sides were reduced to 14-men for a ten-minute period early in the second half. Michael Morgan was adjudged to have deliberately tripped an opponent and was black carded, though Knock’s numerical advantage diminished a minute later as Owen McHugh saw black for a high tackle. 

Our Lady and St Pat’s were first off the scoring mark through a converted Liam Blaney free and Oran Donaldson arrowed over from play shortly afterwards. 

The County Down outfit had their tails up and after Donncha McGurk was over-crowded and turned over; a foul brought their attack to a temporary end, with Blaney on hand to swing over the resulting free. 

Parity was restored for just the second time when Luke Doran dropped over an angled free and less than 60-seconds later, Knock took the lead for the first time. 

Owen O’Neill popped a shot into the path of Oran Donaldson, and he blasted high into the top corner of the net past McGurk to make it 2-05-0-08. 

It took until the 43^rd minute for Rathmore to respond, with Eoin Phillips hoisting a shot over the bar. 

Gearoid Adams charges were unable to make any further advances on their two-point deficit. 

Liam Blaney kicked his third point of the half and Luke Doran missed the chance to add the insurance score moments later. 

A further free from Rory McErlean set up a grandstand finish and left things on a knife-edge, but Rathmore were unable to find an injury time goal that would have taken them to the decider for the second year in succession as Our Lady and St Pat’s held out and take their place in next month’s final. 

They must wait until Monday to find out who they will face as Abbey from Donegal take on Red High, Downpatrick in the second semi-final in Garvaghy. 

Rathmore: D McGurk (0-01), C O’Connell, O Arthurs, F Blaney, O Conlon (0-01), S Doyle, I Robinson, T Lloyd (0-01), S Ferris (0-02), E Phillips (0-01), R McErlean (0-03f), C Mickleburgh, S McCarthy, M Morgan, R Smyth (0-01). Subs: J Heatherington for S McCarthy (28), R Taylor for S Ferris (41), C Robb for R Smyth (54), D King for C Mickleburgh (59), M Kerr for E Phillips (59). 

Our Lady and St Pat’s Knock: C O’Neill, O McGurk, C Boyle, C McClure, L Doran (0-01), R McCamphill, T McCusker, O O’Neill, H Thompson, O Donaldson (1-01), D Quinn, L Blaney (1-03, 0-03f), O McHugh (0-01), S Pucci, M Guerin. Subs: C McKee for O McHugh (43), S O’Connell for H Thompson (51), F Cunningham for O Donaldson (58). 

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)