JFC Group 2
Eire Og 3-9 Wolfe Tones 1-4
Eire Og put themselves back in the hunt for a play-off place in the Antrim Junior Football Championship with a good win over a battling Wolfe Tones at MacRory Park on Saturday evening.
The Doire Achaidh side were in control for much of the contest but were made to fight all the way by a Wolfe Tones side taking part in only their second year of championship football.
The opening exchanges were close enough as James McClory pointed Eire Og ahead before Martin Connor replied from a 6th minute pointed free for the Greencastle side to level the contest.
With Niall Ward orchestrating matters from around mid-field Eire Og slowly got on top as Mark Graham and Peter James Toal moved them two in front by the 16th minute and then Tones keeper, Danny McIvor pulled off a splendid save to deny Kevin Clarke from close range.
Toal added a point for the Og’s before Martin Connor replied from a second free for he Greencastle side and the goal that had been threatening duly arrived when Niall Ward fired home in the 22nd minute.
Eire Og would push on to lead 1-6 to 0-2 at half time with further points from Kevin Clarke and Peter James Toal and Wolfe Tones looked to have plenty to do to get back into contention as the sides headed to the MacRory Park dressing rooms.
The Greencastle side’s best player got them off the mark for the second half with his third pointed free of the afternoon but Eire Og responded through Mark Graham and Daniel Campbell to move 8 ahead by the 10th minute.
With Kevin Clarke moving out field and Mark Graham on the edge of the square the space was beginning to open up for the Doire Achaidh side and Daniel Campbell struck an excellent goal in the 13th minute following a defence splitting build-up.
Eire Og then lost Gavin Donnelly to a Black card and Wolfe Tones were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty which Martin Connor confidently fired past Mark Hamill to give his side a glimmer of hope.
That hope was soon dashed however as a great move from deep in defence saw Eire Og move the ball with precision and Stephen Erskine struck a superb goal to put the contest beyond reach.
Gavin Donnelly fired over the final point of the game to see his side safely home and with St. Malachy’s falling heavily to Naomh Comhghall at Lamh Dhearg, Eire Og will have the opportunity to climb to second place if the can beat the men from the ‘Markets’ in their final game on the 30th August.
Eire Og: 1 Mark Hamill, 2 Ryan Clarke, 3 Jarlath Devlin, 4 Ciaran Rice, 5 James McClory, 6 Conor McKenna, 7 Shane McEvoy, 8 Peter James Toal, 9 Ronan Donnelly, 10 Stephen Erskine, 11 Mark Graham, 12 Gavin Donnelly, 13 Daniel Campbell, 14 Kevin Clarke, 15 Niall Ward
Subs: Joseph Melarkey, Oran McMenamin
Wolfe Tones: 1 Danny McIvor, 2 Fergal Quinn, 22 Matt McCann, 4 Eamon O’Sullivan, 5 Chris Dawson, 6 Jack Parke, 7 Joseph Carmichael, 8 Kieran Maloney, 9 Martin Connor, 10 Jamie Carberry, 11 Aaron McAllister, 12 Aodhan Maloney, 13 Declan Madden, 14 Gerard McDonnell, 15 Declan O’Neill
Subs: 3 Phil Walsh
Referee: Seamus Shannon (Rossa)