Antrim Football League Division 1
Erin’s Own Cargin 6-11 Con Magees Glenravel 1-07
Reigning county champions Cargin kept on the winning trail when they proved just too good for their visitors, Con Magees Glenravel on their own sward at a pleasant if chilly evening in Toome on Wednesday evening.
It has been a while since the Con Magees arrived at Toome on a Division One league assignment but the Glensmen having gained promotion in an excellent 2023 came a calling on Wednesday evening looking forward to a long tenure back in the top grade.
The Glensmen have not been seen at their best thus far in their new niche and arrived at the Toome arena awaiting their first positive return in 2024. However if a good start to proceedings was sought they were to be disappointed as the home side were quick from the traps, and back to back points from Tomas Mc Cann showed the visitors the scale of their challenge.
Glenravel sought the comfort of a first score to settle into the game they were to be struck a blow in the midriff in the 5th minute when Jamie Gribbin combined in stylish approach with the Mc Cann brothers Michael, and Tomas to finish to the back of the net.
The visitors were on the board in the 13th minute when Eamon Ward split the posts but such did not hint at a change in the direction of the game. The home side lost the services of Mark Kelly to injury early in play but his replacement Brendan Laverty settled quickly into the game and after he sent Tomas Mc Cann in to add a point David Johnston and Michael Mc Cann combined to send Conan Johnston in to grab a 12th minute goal.
Cargin were calling the shots in the opening quarter and as the Glenravel men looked to bridge the gap the home side regained control as Conan Johnston and the eye catching Jamie Gribbin who was in fine fettle sent Tomas Mc Cann in for goal number 3 to make it 3-04 to 0-02 at the 25th minute.
The Con Magees looked to be in for a goal as the opening half entered the last phase but although the approach to the posts, made by a combination of Niall Hynds and Aiden O’ Donnell, set up the chance of a major, but Cargin net minder John Mc Nabb was quick to post the no entry sign making a fine save to deny the corner forward. Aiden O’ Donnell did add a point to the Glenravel total in the latter stages of the first period and when the livewire corner man Eamon Ward, having made fine progress towards the home side’s posts was brought down in the ‘square’ a penalty was awarded by match referee Ray Matthews. The visitors had a chance of finishing the half on a high, but the excellent Cargin keeper John Mc Nabb saved the shot and so the county champions went to the changing rooms at the break with a healthy 3-05 to 0-03 interval advantage.
Having started in the second half with a healthy advantage Cargin retained their vice like grip on the game and their ageless ace Tomas Cann combined with Gerard Mc Cann to open the way for Tom Shivers to add goal number 4.
The home side continued to rule the roost as the second period made progress and after Tomas Mc Cann added a couple more points to extend his personal haul replacement Ben Mc Larnon and Tom Shivers combined to open the door for full back Kevin Mc Shane to come forward from his central defensive position to underline his attack quality with a slick finish and a 43rd minute goal.
The end in sight and the home side dashing towards the end line retained the positive in search of scores as Jamie Gribbin who had an excellent hour combined with Tom Shivers to send replacement Ben Mc Larnon in for a goal.
The end was in sight as Michael Mc Cann and the visitors Aiden O’ Donnell exchanged points with Donal Mc Quillan who had a good game adding one at the other end for the visitors.
Tomas Cann who had another excellent hour in the green added a further couple of points in the latter stages with Conan Johnston adding another but it was to be the visitors who would strike last.
Cargin net minder John Mc Nabb, who had a super game made a splendid save from a Niall Swan delivery in the last minute but Niall Hynds did claim the clearance to return the leather to the back of the net to end, what was a footballing lesson on a bright note.
Cargin
John Mc Nabb, Sean og Quinn, Kevin Mc Shane (1- 00),Cahir Donnelly, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Jamie Gribbin (1-01), Gerard Mc Cann, James Laverty, David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann (2-06), Mark Kelly, Conan Johnston (1-01), Tom Shivers (1-02),Michael Mc Cann (0-02)
Subs, Brendan Laverty (0-01), Callum Gribbin, Ben Mc Larnon (1-00), Hugh O’ Donnell,
Glenravel
Shaun 0’ Boyle, Charlie Henry, Eoin Mc Cusker, Conor Higgins, Niall Swann, Cathal Hynds, Declan Mc Auley, David Higgins, Niall Hynds (1-00), Declan Traynor, Sean Mc Kay, Daniel Mc Quillan (0-03), Eamon Ward (0-02), Ryan Mc Quillan, Aiden O’ Donnell (0-02)
Referee – Ray Matthews O’ Donovan Rossa