Junior Football Championship Group 1 – Round 3
Friday 30th August
Report by Niall Kelly
Naomh Úna 0-16 Cardinal O’Donnells 1-09
St Agnes’ overcame the rigorous challenge of local rivals O’Donnells in an end to end, ding-dong encounter at a sun soaked Pairc Naomh Úna on Friday evening. Unconquered throughout their Championship campaign, not many Gaels across Antrim would’ve earmarked St Agnes’ as group winners. However, their swashbuckling style of play and newly instilled belief reaped rewards and they deservedly take passage straight to the final four. Nevertheless, after Charlie Hemsworth’s final whistle, it was a case of contrasting fortunes as news began to filter through that Laochra had upset the odds and gained the verdict against Pearses in Group One’s corresponding fixture. This result condemned an injury ravaged ODs to exile and an early exit from this year’s Junior Championship. There can be little doubt that they will rue their collection of spurned chances from this one.
The game burst into life right from the off as the sizable contingent of spectators were treated to a real spectacle. The Aggies raced into an early two-point lead with as many minutes on the clock thanks to scores from Colin Clarke and Ronan Carroll. It was looking ominous for the Os as their hosts were capitalising on the huge spaces that they were afforded and were attacking with real purpose and gusto as talisman Conall Turley added another from the placed ball. It could’ve been much worse for the visitors though as James Campbell’s effort looked destined for the net but was thwarted with a heroic block from Sean Lavery.
The travelling support were relieved when Marc McKenna gained them a foothold in proceedings, splitting the posts from range. The ODs number twelve then doubled his tally with a perfectly curled effort from the flank and suddenly it was the men in maroon and yellow who were purring. Their midfield engine room was proving to be the fulcrum of their attacks as John Rafferty and Conall Carville were having a real influence in proceedings. Quick hands and some delightful interchange of passing carved a host of scoring chances for O’Donnells but they were unable to apply the finishing touches with their wide count growing.
Aggies’ corner back Patrick Carroll then made ODs pay for their lack of composure in front of the posts as he managed to covertly advance up the field before fisting over to finish a well-orchestrated move. By this stage, it was end to end and anybody’s game as the visitors responded positively thanks to two superb points from the industrious John ‘Beef’ Rafferty who closed the gap to the minimum.
It was indeed the visitors now who were asking all the questions and they were desperately unlucky not to have the green flag raised. James Walsh’s drilled effort was so close to finding the net but ricocheted off the post before Jonny McKenna latched on to the rebound only to see his shot agonisingly kiss the other upright before going wide. Perhaps the perfect illustration and epitome of the luck they’ve had this season.
This near miss spurned Naomh Úna back to life as Colin Clarke doubled his tally before the ever-dangerous Cormac McBride split the posts after latching on to a cleverly disguised pass from Ronan Gilligan. With five minutes left of the half, James Campbell added another to increase the gap to four.
O’Donnells though were determined to dismantle the deficit as McKenna stroked over yet another delicately curled effort. Padraig McKissock then found his bearings moments later as he tapped over a close range free. Conall Turley responded with his second of the evening but it would be the visitors who would have the last laugh of the half as they grabbed the game’s only goal.
Jonny McKenna, determined to banish the demons of his earlier near miss, was ‘Jonny on the spot’ and latched on to Conall Carville’s saved effort before drilling to the net from close range to bring proceedings to a deadlock just in time for the interval with the scoreline 0-09 to 1-06.
The second period followed a similar script as the first as both teams went on the offensive. However, a strong final quarter proved the difference as the Aggies were much more potent and composed in front of the posts than their counterparts as they limited the Whiterock side to just three points.
The talismanic Conall Turley opened the second half scoring after commandeering possession straight from the throw in before gliding up the field and nonchalantly tapping over. Moments later, Cormac McBride doubled his tally as he put the gloss on a flowing move from the hosts. Padraig McKissock responded from the deck but Naomh Úna were on a mission and points from Ronan Carroll and McBride again further bolstered their lead with fifteen left to play.
To their credit, O’Donnells continued to search for penetrative avenues of attack but again they continued to spurn an array of scoring chances. McKissock managed to covert another effort from the deck with McKenna pitching in with another curler, but it would prove to be too little given the chances they had.
With the game approaching its climax, it was the hosts who finished the strongest as David McGarahan floated over an expertly executed 45 before Ronan Carroll doubled his tally. The impressive McBride, who was a constant thorn in the O’Donnell’s rearguard, slotted over his fourth for the evening to all but seal a fine evening’s work.
A disappointed end to the season for O’Donnells. However, with so many injuries and key men sidelined throughout their Championship campaign, manager Joe Herald can take many positives going forward particularly with the fact that he had the opportunity to blood a host of his younger options. No doubt this will stand well to them going forward. Congratulations to St Agnes’ who have really been the Championship’s surprise package. There is a real verve and swagger to their play and with safe passage secured straight to the semis, they will certainly dare to dream. Could this be their year?
Teams:
Naomh Úna:
C Carroll; R Reilly, K McCormick, P Carroll (0-01;) D McGaharan (0-01,) C Turley (0-04,) D Turley; R Carroll (0-03,) R Gilligan; C Flannery, C Clarke (0-02,) J Campbell 0-01;) B McLarnon, C McBride (0-04,) D Quigley
O’Donnells:
C Murphy; S Lavery, S Smylie, J Walsh; J Wilson, C Walsh, G McKernan; C Carville, J Rafferty (0-02;) C McKissock, P Rice, M McKenna (0-04;) P McKissock (0-03,) J O’Donnell, J McKenna (1-00)
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