A C League Division One
Erin’s Own Cargin 2-12 Casement’s Portglenone 0-12
‘Goals win games’ is an old adage which oft time rings true and indeed such was the case following a closely contested Division 1 encounter in Toome on Wednesday evening when Cargin played hosts to reigning league champions Casement’s of Portglenone in a top of the table clash before a big attendance. Although little separated the sides in the end a couple of major scores from the county champions in the second half proved the difference in the end, the first coming from a defence slip, which was expertly dispatched to the net by James Laverty and the second from the man who supplied Laverty, full forward Mick McCann.
A keenly anticipated encounter ensured a good crowd was in attendance at Toome, in splendid conditions on Wednesday evening and despite the fact that both the teams fielded short a few regulars, they produced a really good contest.
Casements started the better and raised back to back whites in the opening minutes via Conall Delargy and Ronan Kelly before Callum Gribbin, a teenager with a big future in the Green and white, nipped away to open the home teams’ account.
Paddy Kelly who was to prove accurate in the extreme for the visitors increased the Casements’ advantage with a smart delivery between the posts in the 10th minute and after the home side’s David Johnston replied in kind, the former quickly followed suit with another good finish.
There was little to separate the sides as the game progressed past the opening quarter when the home side were reduced in personnel for a ten minute period, due to James Laverty receiving a black card. With the score tied at 0-06 apiece as Pat Shivers and John Carron points mirrored similar scores at the other end by Michael Hagan and Aiden Mc Aleese the contest was building nicely.
The visitors had nipped ahead as the home side were reduced in number and although a point from Pat Shivers did see the home side return fire further whites raised in the last minutes of the period by the ever accurate Paddy Kelly and corner forward Ciaran Mc Aleese gave Portglenone an 0-08 to 0-06 advantage at the interval.
The Bannsider’s started the second period with their two point advantage but Cargin soon reduced that to the minimum when the ever dangerous Michael McCann pulled one back in the 32nd minute after good approach work by Calum Gribbin and Tom Shivers.
The visitors were quick to return fire and Conor Magee replied to restore Casements two point advantage, but Cargin produced a prompt reply.
Big Geard Mc Cann raised following a good interchange involving Tom Shivers and when Michael Mc Cann took advantage of sloppiness in the Casements defence to flick a breaking ball to James Laverty, the former finished to the back of the net to give the home side a lead they would not subsequently lose
Two points by the excellent Paddy Kelly and another by Ciaran McKenna saw the visitors back on par, but after substitute Tomas Mc Cann and Tom Shivers raised whites, the Toome men had marched ahead to lead 1-10 to 0-10.
The end was nigh for the Portglenone men as the home side stood tall in defiance and with Kevin McShane, Justin Crozier, James Laverty and Hugh O’ Donnell defending stoutly there was no way back for the Casements men. Good work by Crozier then found Gerard McCann with a clearance , who in turn sent Michael McCann away to find the net and all but end, the contest.
Paddy Kelly did add a late point to the visitor’s tally but late points provided by replacements, Conhuir Johnston and Tomas Mc Cann at the other end allowed the home side to cross the winning line points secured on a winning scoreline of 2-12 to 0-12.
Referee P Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
ERIN’S OWN CARGIN
Shea Laverty, Cahir Donnelly, Kevin Mc Shane, Ronan Gribbin, Justin Crozier (0-01), James Laverty (1-00), Hugh O’ Donnell, Justin Carron, Gerard Mc Cann (0-01), David Johnston (0-01), Pat Shivers (0-02), Benen Kelly, Callum Gribbin (0-01), Michael Mc Cann (1-01), Tom Shivers (0-02)
Subs Tomas Mc Cann (0-02), Conhuir Johnston (0-01)
CASEMENTS
Kevin Mullan, Paddy Graffin, Kevin O’ Kane, Jonny Convery, Caolan Tierney, Ruairi Hagen (0-01), Conor Magee, Stephen Kelly, Aiden Mc Aleese (0-01), Connal Delargy, Paddy Kelly (0-06), Ciaran Mc Kenna (0-01), Ronan Kelly (0-01), Michael Hagen (0-01), Caolan Mc Aleese (0-01)
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