Casement’s, having claimed the Division One league title last term posted a statement of intent on the championship trail in their opening game of the 2024 championship when they proved too strong for their near neighbours St Mary’s Ahoghill at Kelly Park on Friday evening.
The Cloney men were a little short handed without James O’ Connell, Boris O’Connell, and Cahir O’ Kane but the visitors were first to employ the score attendant as Patrick Graham raised an early white flag but the home side soon gained in momentum.
Danny Mc Nicholl’s early brace of points saw Casements take the lead and when the former’s delicate cross opened the way for Oisin Doherty to find the net the writing was visible on the wall as early as the 12th minute.
The Clooney side created chances but failed to finish as the home side took control and only an excellent save from net minder Noel Crossey denied Oisin Doherty a second major.
Conan Delargy despatched the resulting ‘45’ between the posts and as the inspirational Dermot Mc Aleese and Caolan Tierney added points apiece, the Bannsider’s move 1-05 to 0-01 ahead by the 20th minute.
The visitors fought hard as the opening period progressed but the home side were dominant in defence with Ruairi Hagen and the Delargy brothers, Niall and Shane leading by example.
Casement’s were hungry for scores at the other end and retained the offensive mode in the latter exchanges of the opening period with points from Aodhan Mc Aleese, Dermot Mc Aleese, and Caolan Tierney to lead 1-08 to 0-01 as the combatants left the field at Half time.
The Home side were first to strike in the second half as an Aodhan Mc Aleese point increased their advantage.
A Ronan Graham point following indiscretion on the hard grafting Danny O’ Neill saw the Clooney men post reply in kind but it failed to herald a come-back with Ronan Kelly despatching a long range point between the posts at the other end.
Ronan Delargy added another to secure a 1-11 to 0-02 lead and the hard grafting Dermot Mc Aleese added to the home sides ever increasing total at the three quarter mark.
As the game progressed into the last quarter Donal Graham replied with a superb long range point in the 47th minute but despite the efforts of the O’ Neill brother brothers, Fionnbar and Danny and James Magee there would be no way back for the Cloney side.
Casements coasted to a win which looked likely from a long way out as Ronan Kelly, 0isin Doherty, the impressive Conal Delargy, Ciaran Mc Kenna, Paddy Kelly and man of the match Dermot Mc Aleese all helped themselves to points in the latter stages to ease their side over the winning line full value for a 1-17 to 0-03 win.
Casements: Kevin Mullan, Niall Delargy, Shane Delargy, Jonny Convery, Danny Mc Nicholl (0-02), Ruairi Hagen, Ryan Convery, Dermot Mc Aleese)(0-03), Stephen Kelly, Conal Delargy (0-03), Caolan Tierney (0-02), Aodhan Mc Aleese (0-03), Oisin Doherty (1-01), Ronan Kelly (0-03), Ronan Delargy (0-01)
Subs
P Kelly
Feargal O’ Kane
Ciaran Mc Kenna
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, Seamus Mc Keever, James Magee, Hugh O’ Donnell, Fionnbar O’ Neill, Dermot Graham, Patrick Graham (0-01), Tom Mc Glone, Bernard Graham, Danny O’ Neill, Eamon Brady, Donal Graham (0-01, Ronan Graham (0-01), Patrick Dougan, Colla Mc Donnell
Subs: Gerard Graham for Seamus McKeever
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
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St. Agnes turned in a polished performance to overcome the challenge of Na Piarsaigh in this Junior Football Championship, Round 1 encounter at Fennell Park on Friday night.
Superbly organised in defence and with Conall Turley pulling the strings at mid-field, the Aggies controlled the opening half and aided by a somewhat fortunate goal in the 29th minute, they led by five at the halfway stage.
Na Piarsaigh got close on a number of occasions during the second half but every time they did the Aggies were able to respond as they pushed on to win by six in the end to get their championship campaign up and running.
It was Eamonn Connor who pointed Pearses into an 8th minute lead following a cagey start by both side but it didn’t last long as Conall Turley fisted over at the other end.
Paddy Carroll, St. Agnes robbs Eamonn Connor of possession
Sean Moreland restored the North Belfast sides lead but David Quigley replied for the Woodlands side to tie the score for the second time before Ronan Carroll gave St. Agnes the lead for the first time.
The men in black were starting to get on top as they built methodically from the back and their support play began to open up the opposition defence and Eamon McKenna in the Na Piarsaigh goals pulled of a smart save to deny James Halleron.
David Quigley was denied on the follow up with David McGaharan pointing the resulting ‘45’ and as the Woodlands side continued to call the shots Ronan Carroll moved them 0-5 to 0-2 ahead by the 19th minute with an excellent point.
Sean Moreland pulled one back for Pearses but the Antrim Road side were struggling to find a way through a well organised St. Agnes defence where Mark Caldwell, Paddy Carroll and Cormac Flannery were giving nothing away.
Ronan Carroll and Stephen Fitzsimmons exchanged further points before a shot from David McGaharan dipped below Eamon McKenna’s cross bar to put the Aggies into a comfortable 1-7 to 0-5 half time lead.
Sean Moreland had kicked the final score of the half for Pearses and when Aodhan McCavana kicked another in the opening minute of the second half the lead had been reduced to four.
Each time Na Piarsaigh score the opposition were able to reply with Ronan Carroll and James Campbell responding for St. Agnes and McCavana again raising a white flag for the opposition.
Pearses Aodhan McCavana gets his shot away as Conall Turley attempts to block
A point from Ronan Gilligan for St. Agnes and two in reply from Aidan Bannon and Stephen Fitzsimmons for Pearses had it back to four once more before Carroll moved St. Agnes five ahead at the end of the third quarter.
The Antrim Road side were giving it everything but were finding it difficult to negotiate a well organised St. Agnes defence where Mark Caldwell’s reading of the game was proving vital.
Substitute Paul McClenaghan, Conall Turley and Ronan Carroll concluded the Aggies scoring with Pearses only response coming from converted frees from Liam Deegan and Stephen Fitzsimmons.
A great start to their championship campaign for the Woodlands side and thoroughly deserved and in this form they could well qualify for the knockout stages in a group that includes strong opposition in O’Donnell’s and Laochra Loch Lao.
St. Agnes: 1 Colum Carroll, 2 Paddy Carroll, 3 Cormac Flannery, 4 Mark Caldwell, 5 David Quigley, 6 Ronan Gilligan, 7 Conor Gregory, 8 Conall Turley, 9 James Halleron, 10 Colin Clarke, 11 Ronan Carroll, 12 James Campbell, 13 Neill Gillespie, 14 David McGaharan, 15 Cormac McBride
Subs Used: Paul McClenaghan, Declan McLarnon, Patrick Mulgrew, Matthew Corr.
Pearses: 1 Eamon McKenna, 2 Nathan Gorman, 3 Cormac O’Neill, 4 Marcus Kelly, 22 Piaras Donaghy, 6 Aidan Bannon, 7 Aodhan McCavana, 8 James Smyth, 9 Thomas McFarlane, 10 Phil Murray, 11 Stephen Fitzsimmons, 12 Sean Moreland, 13 Fionn Grew, Liam Deegan, 15 Eamonn Connor
Subs used: Peter Johnston, Daniel Magee, Paddy Nolan
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OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, Group Two
Gort na Mona 0-03-1-14 Sarsfields
Kevin Herron reports from Páirc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh
Sarsfields sit in pole position in Group Two of the Intermediate Football Championship after registering their second win in the space of two days with a comfortable 1-14-0-03 win over Gort na Mona at Páirc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh on Friday evening.
The Stewartstown outfit were comfortable winners over Davitt’s in their opening encounter on Wednesday evening, whilst Gort na Mona were beaten by favourites All Saint’s on the road and they were hoping to get off the mark against their Belfast rivals.
It was the Paddies who started positively and led through an angled Joe McNally point inside of two minutes.
The visitors forced a turnover and a trip on Christopher Loughran allowed Gary Lennon to drop the resulting free over to double the lead, with Loughran then turning provider for Brian Healy to extend it.
McNally clipped over his second point before the midway point in the opening half and it took Gort na Mona until the 18th minute to respond. Christopher Carson was felled and Tarlach Enright converted the resulting free.
Sarsfields restored their four-point advantage through a Caolan McDonnell point after Gort na Mona came within inches of finding the net a matter of seconds earlier.
The game’s only goal arrived on the 24th minute, Brian Healy laid the ball off to Gary Lennon and he slipped in Philip McPeake to steer to the net and make it 1-05-0-01 at the interval.
The second period began very much like the first with Sarsfields very much in the ascendancy.
Gary Lennon shot over an early point and then Christopher Loughran laid the ball to Sam Walsh to open his account for the evening.
There was no sign of let-up as Loughran guided a shot over, Brian Healy dropped over a ’45’ and substitute Fionn Jemfrey made an instant impact.
Lennon arguably produced the score of the evening with an outstanding effort from the outside of the foot that sailed over, and Conor Glenholmes would fist over a further score prior to departing.
The hosts were without a score since their solitary point in the 18th minute but doubled their tally in the closing stages.
Goalkeeper Jack Ireland took it upon himself to lead an attack that progressed and after playing a one-two, Ireland directed a shot over the bar.
Desi McClean flashed a further shot over the bar 60-seconds later, though in truth the back-to-back scores were little more than scant consolation for the Gorts.
Sarsfields finished with successive scores of their own, Pearse Murray took a fine pass from Philip McPeake and shot inside of the near post with McPeake then dropping over the final score from range to wrap up a comfortable win for the Paddies and ensure they occupy top spot in the Group at this early juncture.
GORT NA MONA: J Ireland (0-01), J Connolly, M Savage, P Cournane, S Campbell, C Donnelly, T Scannell, G McKenna, C Carson, M McMullan, T Enright (0-01f), J Thompson, N Melaney, D McClean (0-01), T McGreevy. Subs: C Beck for M McMullan (37), P Mulvenna for N Melaney (37), B Burns for T Scannell (40).
SARSFIELDS: M Brady, P Murray (0-01), C Laverty, M McPolin, C McDonnell (0-01), L Mitchell, C Loughran (0-01), C Murray, J McNally (0-02), D Smyth, P McPeake (1-01), S Walsh (0-01), C Glenholmes (0-01), G Lennon (0-03), B Healy (0-02, 0-01f). Subs: N McAlea for D Smyth (36), F Jemfrey (0-01) for S Walsh (41), D Gorman for C McDonnell (52), N Ferris for C Glenholmes (52), K Carson for C Laverty (55).
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Second half goals from Seaan Elliott and substitute Michael Smith ensured last years beaten finalists, Dunloy made a winning start to 2024 championship. This turned out to be an open affair with both teams playing an attacking brand of football and leaving plenty up the pitch when defending and despite Aldergrove going into the lead early in the second half having overturned a three point half time deficit, the Cuchullains reaction to that proved to be the winning of this game.
The home side scored 2-3 without reply and defensively held the Crumlin side to just one shot in the last 20 minutes as defensively they remained organised and turned over ball, making the most of the spaces left in the Aldergrove defence as they pushed forward.
Aldergrove will look at the first half and three missed goal chances. Twice Dunloy ‘keeper Sean Doherty denied Seamus McGarry and Patrick Burns while Cormac McGarry was crowded out by some last gasp Dunloy defending with the goal at his mercy.
The Cuchullains had their own goal chances and were guilty of missing chances throughout the 60 plus minutes but their ability to create chances and the number of different dangermen shone. Seven different scorers for the Cuchullains will please Dunloy manager, Anthony McQuillan and his backroom team while the concession of just 1-5 from open play was a testament to the defensive work put in.
Aldergrove were always a threat on the break with Ronan Hanna a handful on the edge of the square. They had willing runners from deep in the form of Eoin and Declan Gough who’s pace gave them a serious option while Brian McQuillan and Patrick Burns also impressed.
The Crumlin men had their purple patch at the start of the second half but when Dunloy got to grips with their attacking threat, they couldn’t make any inwards into the Dunloy defence.
Declan Gough opened the scoring with barely 15 seconds on the clock. Attacking at pace from the throw in, it was an early warning for the Dunloy defence. The Cuchullains retaliated with Aodhan McGarry splitting the uprights with an instant reply.
Hanna fired over from a mark in the third minute but the home side looked to turn the screw with three points unanswered in the space of two minutes. Seaan Elliott, Caolan Gillan and Kevin McQuillan (free) taking Dunloy into a two point lead.
The visitors to Pearse Park were guilty of spurning chances with a couple of wides before a quick counter saw Patrick Burns fire over his first of two points in the 14th minute to leave the minimum between the sides.
Aldergrove were playing with a slight wind at their back but it was a super move through the Dunloy defence that saw Seamus McGarry through on goal. Doherty in the Dunloy goals came out bravely and denied the Aldergrove marksman with a super save. The Cuchullains temporarily cleared their lines but with the next attack and similar move, Aldergove had another chance. Cormac McGarry looked destined to find the back of the net but the Dunloy defence scrambled to clear.
As if to compound the Aldergrove frustration at missing those chances, Dunloy went up the pitch with the next attack and Keelan Molloy slotted over his first of three frees and five points overall to double the Dunloy lead.
It was Dunloy’s turn to see a goal chance go a begging in the 23rd minute with Aldergrove ‘keeper Conor Totten coming to their rescue. Keelan Molloy found space in the heart of the Aldergrove defence and riffled his shot high only for Totten to get a hand to the ball and deflect it onto the crossbar. The rebound fell to Seaan Elliott but his effort skewed wide.
Molloy would put the Cuchullains three clear in the 24th minute only for the visitors to hit a brace of points from Cormac and Seamus McGarry (free) in the space of a minute. That would be their last score of the half however with Dunloy responding with a brace of points of their own – another Molloy free and a sumptuous score from the outside of the right boot from Chrissy McMahon to give the home side a three point lead.
With time running out in the opening 30, Aldergrove created one more goal chance. Hanna collecting a long ball and he rounded his man instantly before firing on goal. Doherty was the hero for Dunloy once more and kept the Cuchullains lead intact at the half time whistle.
Aldergrove started the second half on the front foot but a couple of wides threatened to derail any momentum they might have before they scored the opening goal of the game. The clock ticked into the fifth minute of the second half when Declan Gough sent a high ball into Hanna on the edge of the square. Doherty didn’t deal with the dropping ball and Hanna gathered the rebound before slotting into the net with an instinctive finish.
Points followed from Brian McQuillan and Patrick Burns – either side of missed chances from Gillan at the other end of the pitch for Dunloy. That would be as good as it got for the Crumlin side however as Dunloy controlled the game from then on.
A brace of points from Molloy (one free) and another from substitute Michael Smith edged Dunloy into the lead once more and only for a couple of chances dropping short, that one point lead could have been more.
With eight minutes of the game remaining, the home side hit the game defining score through Seaan Elliott. A break from deep by Molloy had Aldergrove on the back foot and he played the ball into space for Elliott to break into. Cutting in from the right and faced with Totten, Elliott shaped to hit with his right before sending the Aldergrove ‘keeper the wrong way by using his left. A clever finish that had the Dunloy support purring.
Barely two minutes had passed when the Cuchullains put the game to bed with their second major. Molloy turning provider once again by delivering a long ball into Michael Smith. He evaded his marker and expertly finished to give the home side a seven point lead in the 54th minute.
It would turn out to be the last score of the game as Dunloy looked keep the ball and retain possession. Both sides had further goal chances with Seamus McGarry dragging his effort wide and Seaan Elliott’s left foot letting him down when presented with the chance but it’s the Cuchullains who get their campaign off to a winning start. They travel to Naomh Eanna in two weeks time while Aldergrove will welcome Lamh Dhearg to their turf.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Conor Kinsella, Eoin McFerran, Oran Quinn; Chrissy McMahon, Deaglan Smith, Seaan Elliott; Eoin O’Neill, Ryan McGarry; Nigel Elliott, Caolan Gillan, Aodhan McGarry; Anthony Smith, Kevin McQuillan, Keelan Molloy
Subs: Tom McFerran for A McGarry (45); Michael Smith for K McQuillan (45); Karl Fitzpatrick for C Gillan (60)
Scorers: K Molloy 0-5 (3fs); S Elliott 1-1; M Smith 1-1; C McMahon 0-1; C Gillan 0-1; A McGarry 0-1; K McQuillan 0-1 (1f)
Aldergrove: Conor Totten; Aidan Irvine, Emmett Irvine, Malachy Burns; Eoin Gough, Chris McVeigh, Declan Gough; Oisin Graham, Brian McQuillan; Andrew Flood, Cormac McGarry, Gerald Mallon; Patrick Burns, Ronan Hanna, Seamus McGarry
Subs: Eoin Hamill for A Flood (36); Conleth O’Toole for C McGarry (55); Glenn Dunham for M Burns (55)
Scorers: R Hanna 1-1 (1 mark); P Burns 0-2; D Gough 0-1; B McQuillan 0-1; C McGarry 0-1; S McGarry 0-1 (1f)
Referee: Richie Leahy (St Comgalls)
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Despite finishing proceedings with thirteen men, O’Donnells somehow still managed to navigate the path to victory and seal an important two points in the process in this captivating Junior matchup. It wasn’t always pretty, but it had heart, tenacity and passion in abundance as both teams left it all out there on the greasy MacRory Park surface. An inspired performance from Pearse Rice was no doubt the catalyst for the hosts. Although tender in years, the young number 11 was composure personified in front of the posts and his tally of 1-06 propelled his side to gain the verdict. In what was a frantic and often tempestuous contest, the men in maroon and yellow just always seemed to grab their scores at the perfect time.
The opening ten minutes were ominous for O’Ds as Laochra came flying out of the traps and stormed into a four point lead. The visitors looked sharp and meant business as PJ O’Prey opened his account with an excellent point in the opening minute shimmying his man this way and that. A mere thirty seconds later and the lead was doubled thanks to Dubaltach MacCrabhagain as the men in yellow and black pushed high to pressurise the O’Donnells kick out.
The home side looked to find some sort of reprieve, but handling mistakes were costing them as time and again, Laochra were seizing the turnovers. The visitors had their tails up and further points from MacCrabhagain and Connla Ó’Coinn had their travelling fans purring with content. In truth, the visitors will perhaps rue this period of the game as they should’ve established a greater lead with a few wayward shots failing to find their mark.
O’Donnells were reeling and in desperate need of a score to gain a foothold in proceedings and midway through the half, Pearse Rice tapped over a close range free to get his side off the mark.
The game was becoming increasingly fractured as we approached Gerard Dougan’s half time whistle with a few off the ball incidents and cynical fouls stifling the momentum and flow of the game. It was the visitors though who remained on top as Conor McGuckin angled over a superb effort from the left flank to reinstate their four-point lead.
With five minutes of the half left to play, the game was turned on its head with man of the match, Pearse Rice, proving the source. Rice latched on to Marc McKenna’s flighted free in before turning and blasting his effort into the roof of the net to send the sideline into raptures.
Rejuvenated, the hosts were a different team following Rice’s major and although O’Prey hit back with a caressed effort off the deck, O’Ds had very much awoken from their slumber. The hosts hit the next three scores in succession with two from Rice and an accomplished effort from Nathan Garland who somehow managed to negotiate an inch of space amongst a melee of players to slot over. Despite the barrage of pressure, somehow the hosts were retreating into the changing rooms a point to the good with the score 1-04 to 0-06.
It wasn’t all roses though for the MacRory Park natives as just before the short whistle, Marc McKenna received his marching orders in an off the ball altercation, one of many that were so prominent a theme throughout the sixty.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, O’Donnells started the half like a juggernaut and seemed undaunted by the task of maintaining their lead. A surging run from Mark Close presented Johnny O’Donnell with an opportunity in front of the posts. The imposing full forward made no mistake with his effort as he flighted it perfectly between the posts to stretch the lead to two. Rice then kept his ever-expanding tally ticking over with a free from close range before sending over a monster effort from range to buoy his side further.
Laochra though were still threatening, and the hosts twice survived close scares. When the visitor’s chief marksman, PJ O’Prey came rampaging down on goal, it looked for all the world his effort would nestle in the bottom corner. O’Ds corner back, Barra Corr, came to their rescue though and thwarted O’Prey with a goal saving intervention as he cleared off the line.
The host’s shotstopper, Conor Murphy, was next to answer the call to action as he stormed off his line to deny a drilled goal-bound effort from Pearse McAuley. The pressure would soon tell though as Laochra began to chip away at the lead. MacCrabhagain sent over a perfectly flighted free from range before O’Prey added two more to his collection, demonstrating his prowess off the deck.
When the towering number 14 hit over his fifth of the evening with ten minutes to go, O’Donnell’s were back to clinging on to the slender one point lead and feeling the pressure. Their challenging task was compounded when star-man, Rice, was brandished a black card for a deliberate pull down and the hosts would have to broker the job with thirteen men.
With five to go, Laochra were ramping up the heat and searched for that all elusive levelling score. However, O’Donnells were brave on the counter and when Padraig McKissock’s effort saw the white flag raised, the roars were deafening.
With the game now in injury time, O’Prey slotted over to cut the gap to one once again and set up a nail-biting finish. Ironically, it was the hosts who finished the stronger. Ciaran McKissock and Joe Wilson both spurned chances to wrap up proceedings as Séan Ó’Eacháin pulled off two marvellous saves in the dying embers. It mattered not though as the home side managed to clamber over the finish line with their lead still intact.
Credit to both sides for a thoroughly entertaining affair. Laochra will certainly look back at this game as a missed opportunity. They just couldn’t quite capitalise on their numerical advantage and will rue their first-half wides. Their period of dominance in the opening thirty though shows the potential they have in their ranks and they will look to build on this in their next outing. O’Donnell’s are no strangers to Championship wins having steered their way to two consecutive Junior finals. Bainisteoir, Joe Herald, will be delighted with his young gun’s attitude. With a few key men currently undergoing a prolonged spell on the sidelines with injury, the character that the charges at his disposal displayed, will surely stand them in good stead for future games.
Teams:
O’Donnells:
C Murphy; B Corr S Smylie, J Rafferty; N Garland (0-01,) J Walsh, M Sloan; C Carville, J Wilson; M Close, P Rice (1-06,) C McKissock; C Walsh, J O’Donnell (0-01,) M McKenna
Substitute scorer:
P McKissock (0-01)
Laochra Loch Lao
S Ó’Eacháin; N McKee, C McCaffrey; T MacSiacais; C Ó’Ceallaigh, C Ó’Coinn (0-01,) S Mac An Bheatha; P McAuley, D McPhillips; D MacCrabhagain (0-03,) K Devine, C McGuckin (0-01;) M Daly, PJ O’Prey (0-06,) O Crawford
