South Antrim Senior Football, Martin Shield Final
O’Donnell’s 1-14-1-10 Ardoyne
Kevin Herron reports from MacRory Park
O’Donnell’s claimed a South Antrim double on Friday evening with a win over Ardoyne in the delayed 2023 Martin Shield decider.
The Whiterock outfit had claimed the Division Two South Antrim league in 2023 and having made a bright start to life in Division One this season- hopes were high that they could add the Martin Shield on home turf.
Ardoyne began brightly and tagged the opening two scores with Joe Gibson getting his side off the mark and then assisting in Brendan O’Neill swinging over to double their account.
Joseph Wilson got the hosts off the mark with a fine point but at the other end Ciaran McNeill forced a terrific low save from Martin McLaughlin- who felt the effects in the aftermath, but none-the-less would play a crucial role as the game developed.
The hosts restored parity through a Conor O’Donnell point that followed a patient move involving Joseph Wilson and Pearce Rice.
O’Ds would grab the opening goal on the 16th minute. Ardoyne keeper Conor Meekin got his hand to a dipping shot that was dropping over the bar, the loose ball fell to Leigh McGrady and Meekin made an incredible save only for Joseph Wilson to blast home at the third time of asking to give his side a 1-02-0-02 advantage.
It wouldn’t last long however as Ardoyne showed their powers of recovery and hit back within 60-seconds. Brendan O’Neill was slipped in on the edge of the area and he guided a low shot to the net to level.
The sides traded points in the aftermath with Pearce Rice nudging his side back in front from a converted free, and Cormac Barnes steering a shot inside of the posts in response.
Rice dropped over his first from play and would double his account before the half was out. His third score came after Patrick Meehan was dragged back and Rice converted his second free of the half. He would then add an angled point in first half injury time and a further free from Patrick Meehan gave O’Ds a 1-07-1-03 lead at the break.
The hosts extended their lead after the restart through a Marc McKenna point and Patrick Meehan converted his second free of the evening a few minutes later.
Having conceded six without reply Ardoyne needed a score and Sean McBride gave his side a lift with a super point.
Substitute Marc McKenna curled over his second of the half though Brendan O’Neill converted a free in reply.
O’Ds stretched their lead further when James Walsh pointed, and Patrick Meehan kicked his third free of the evening to give their side a 1-12-1-05 advantage.
Dan Moore swung over a much-needed score for Ardoyne and Brendan O’Neill then charged forward and took a score to spark renewed hope amongst the visitors.
Things almost got better when Ciaran McNeill had a sighting of goal, but Martin McLaughlin turned his goal bound effort against the post and Caelan McCallum’s follow-up went over the bar for a point.
McNeill was unable to get a shot away moments later and instead laid the ball off to Brendan O’Neill to pop over their fourth score on the spin and reduce arrears to three-points with just over ten minutes remaining.
The next two scores were traded as Marc McKenna played a one-two with Pearce Rice and clipped over his third of the half, only for Ardoyne talisman O’Neill to respond and ensure a strike of the ball separated the duo.
Patrick Meehan would provide the insurance score in added time, converting a free in injury time, but Ardoyne probed in the remaining minutes and struck the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds.
O’Ds would close out proceedings to add the Martin Shield to the Division Two title that they claimed in 2023 and having remained unbeaten thus far in South Antrim Division One football- the Whiterock side will hope to make strides in the McDermott Cup later in the year.
O’Donnell’s: M McLaughlin, K Maxwell, S Smylie, L McCaffrey, M Sloan, S Lavery, J Walsh (0-01), J Wilson (1-01), P Meehan (0-04f), P Rice (0-04, 0-02f), S O’Donnell, C O’Donnell (0-01), L McGrady, J Lavery, P Golden. Subs: M McKenna (0-03) for J Lavery (21), D Walsh for K Maxwell (21), J Rafferty for L McCaffrey (21), M Close for P Golden (40), L Doyle for S O’Donnell (44).
Ardoyne: C Meekin, M McAuley, C Magee, E Higney, B Mailey, P Marley, O Hickey, D Moore (0-01), O McKee, C McNeill, B O’Neill (1-05, 0-02f), C Barnes (0-01), J Gibson (0-01), S McBride (0-01), C Carter. Subs: C McCallum (0-01) for J Gibson (35), D Watson for O Hickey (46).
Referee: Colly Thompson (St Johns)
