Senior Football Championship – Relegation semi-final
Tir na nOg 1-11 Con Magees 0-11
A goal five minutes from time by Tir na nÓg right half forward Aodhan Toland secured the Randalstown club’s Senior Football Championship status for next season as it sealed the win over Con Magees in Sunday’s Relegation semi-final at Slemish Park, Ballymena.
After trailing for most of the game things suddenly looked more promising for the Glenravel men when three points without reply in the 21st, 22nd and 24th minutes brought them level. However just when it looked like the door was opening for the men in green it was slammed firmly in their faces when straight from the kick-out Ryan McQuillan’s leveller Tir na nÓg broke downfield and as the Glenravel defence opened up for them Toland raced through and fired to the net to seal the win.
The first half was evenly contested with Ryan McQuillan putting Con Magees ahead in the second minute, but three minutes later Tir na nOg hit back to level as full forward Darragh Fagan, who was to be the games top scorer, fired over the first of his six points.
A minute later Fagan set up right half forward Emet Murray to hit the lead points and though Ryan McQuillan levelled for Glenravel, two more from Josh Higgins and Aaron McNeilly gave Tir na nÓg a two point lead at the end of the opening quarter. Calum Higgins and Aidan O’Donnell brought Glenravel level with just five minute of the first half remaining, and the sides were level again entering injury time after Tir na nÓg’s Oliver McAtamney and Con Magees Ryan McQuillan exchanged points, but Toland tipped the scales back in Randalstown’s favour just before the break to send them in with a 0-6 to 0-5 lead.
Two more from Toland frees just after the restart stretched the Tir na nÓg lead to three, but Con Magees came back with two inside a minute from Aidan O’Donnell and Ryan McQuillan to cut the gap to the minimum. Fagan responded with another pointed free for Tir na nÓg before a great solo point from Glenravel’s Calum Higgins, who ran from deep inside his own half to fire over, left just a point between them once again.
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When Toland and Fagan came back with points for Tir na nÓg they were in charge entering the final quarter, but they scoring dried up for the boys in blue and two points from Ryan McQuillan and one from centre back Cathal Hynds brought the sides level with just five minutes left to play.
The momentum appeared to be with the Glenravel men at this stage but not for the first time this season their hopes were dashed when Tir na nÓg broke straight through the middle from Sean Paul McAtamney’s kick-out and Aodhan Tolan fired to Glenravel net to secure Senior Championship status for his team in 2025. Glenravel on the other hand must face St Enda’s in the relegation final in two weeks’ time in a game that will determine not only their championship status next year but also the Division 1 league status.
