Antrim SFC (Quarter Final)
Erin’s OwnCargin 2-20 St Mary’s Ahoghill 0-05
Reigning football champions Erin’s Own Cargin advanced to the semi-final stages of this year’s competition with a convincing win over St Mary’s Ahoghill on Friday evening with a performance that suggests that they are well on course to retain the title.
Ronan Devlin’s charges looked at ease and were always in control under the Casement’s floodlights and took an early lead through a Tomas McCann penalty after Michael McCann was upended inside the danger area.
Michael McCann added a point shortly after and it was 19 minutes before James O’Connell finally got the Cloney side off the mark with a fine point.
Cargin continued to look composed as Tomas McCann, Conhuir Johnston, Justin Crozier, and the impressive Jamie Gribbin added to their increasing tally on the scoreboard with the latter on hand to finish to the back of the net nearing the end of the opening period
Sean O’Neill started the move down the left and found Tomas McCann to offload to his brother Michael who placed the advancing Jamie Gribbin to send to the top corner of the net.
St Mary’s were fighting hard to get their own game together and did increase their tally in the latter stages of the half with James O’ Connell delivering a 40 metre free between the posts in the 23rd minute.
It brought an immediate response from the men in Green with a late point by Conhuir Johnston after another sweeping move and as the half time whistle sounded it looked as good as over with the reigning champions leading 2-10 to 0-03.
There would be no let-up as he second half got under way as the Toome side with a place in the semi-final stages obviously secured, came forward from the throw in and Benen Kelly provided a precise finish which split the posts to increase their advantage.
St Mary’s were not about to give up the ghost despite the situation they faced and Fionnbar O’ Neill placed Ronan Graham’s who’s delivery from away out on the right flank sailed between the posts before James O’ Connell punished an indiscretion with another a couple of minutes later.
Cargin were quick to return fire as James Laverty advanced from the right to fire between the posts and Paul McCann followed with another to extend the champions advantage to 2-13 to 0-05.
At this stage Erin’s Own introduced a couple of replacements with David Johnston coming in for James Laverty and Conan Johnston replacing Jamie Gribbin.
The Toome side continued to press and after a superb catch by the hard grafting Pat Shivers sent Conhuir Johnston away to fire between the posts, Tomas McCann added another with his sibling Michael following suit to move his side 2-16 to 0-05 clear with ten minutes remaining
St Mary’s replaced Seamus McKeever with Harry O’ Donnell just as Michael McCann fired between to posts to add to the Toome men’s lead with Benen Kelly quick to add another.
Substitute Ronan Devlin, who had replaced Paul McCann in the latter stages,
gothis name amongst the scorers with a well delivered 55th minute point with fellow replacement David Johnston following suit.
The score of the game fell to Conhuir Johnston as he delivered between the posts in the last minute to ensure a place in the semi-finals for the reigning champions and serve notice that whoever seeks to replace them at the summit will have to earn that reward.
Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Kevin O’ Boyle, Kevin Mc Shane, Benen Kelly (0-02), Justin Crozier (0-01), Paul Mc Cann (0-01), Sean O’ Neill, Gerard Mc Cann, Pat Shivers (0-010, Tom Shivers, Jamie Gribbin (1-02), Conhuir Johnston (0-04), Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Tomas Mc Cann (1-04)
Subs:
Conan Johnston (0-01)
Conan Devlin (0-01)
David Johnston (0-01)
Callum Gribbin
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, Seamus Mc Keever, James (Bobby) Magee, Donal Graham, Fionnbar O’ Neill, Tom Mc Glone, Patrick Graham, Conor Crossey, James O’ Connell (0-02), Eamon Brady, Donal Graham (0-02), Patrick Graham, Ronan Graham (0-01)
Subs
Ger Graham
Aodhan Graham
Shea Neeson
Harry O’ Donnell
Referee: C Mc Donald (St Gall’s)
FOR MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/oZWUAQgxXci523/?invite=9eef8ed4-7292-45f6-9b93-52a3aea43f56