Above – Big Pat Shivers was in top scoring form as he hit Aldergrove for 1-10 in their O’Cahan Cup win over Aldergrove in Toome
South West Antrim O’ Cahan Cup (Round One)
Erin’s Own Cargin 3-18 St James Aldergrove 2-10
Erin’s Own Cargin oft times custodians on the South west premier trophy, the O’ Cahan Cup, ensured they remained on the trail of the recapture of the silverware when they gained passage into the second phase of the expense of the visiting Aldergrove at their Toome venue on Wednesday evening under the floodlights.
The home side moved onwards at the expense of the Crumlin men in what was a historic occasion, under the ‘new rules’ with a margin in double figures at conclusion but their visitors gave their all in combat and will depart for the season ahead under John Rafferty in positivity.
Cargin started very much on the positive and were on the scoreboard a minute after the new styled throw-in claimed by Kevin Mc Shane before a combination involving Jamie Gribbin and Tomas Mc Cann opened the way for Pat Shivers to find the net. The big man fired to the net at ease on the way to a super performance and a double number return on the scoreboard.
The home side were to look to change shortly into proceedings losing the services of Paul Mc Cann before the 5th minute being replaced by Benen Kelly and again a few minutes thereafter change was required as a stricken Sean og O’ Neill endured injury to be replaced by Callum Gribbin with the 18 year old making impression in his senior duty.
A swift getaway by the home side and the reigning county champions looked to be on the way to success from an early stage with big Pat Shivers causing problems galore for the Aldergrove rearguard and Kevin Mc Shane ruling the roost in the central zone. Replacements Callum Gribbin and Benen Kelly were quick to seize hold of the bit and the home side were not to be knocked out of stride.
Aldergrove were not to readily give up the ghost and with Ronan Hannon and Coary Fogarty getting to grips in the middle of the park and Seamus Mc Garry causing problems up front. the visitors remained positive and only a handful of points in arrears at the end of the opening period.
All the three front men, Seamus Mc Garry, Ronan Hanna, and Ryan Mc Carthy raised white flags in the latter stages as Callum Gribbin, who impressed from introduction, David Johnston Tomas Mc Cann and the indomitable Pat Shivers(3), were raising similar and the visitors were still in the hunt at the interval with the home side at 1-09 to 0-07.
Aldergrove started the second half with an early score as Seamus Mc Garry raised an early white, but the home side were prompt in reply as a Jasmie Gribbin cross was volleyed to the net with a superb strike form Tomas Mc Cann who quickly added a further point. The home side added further scores via Shivers and Jamie Gribbin, both from a distance, to earn (2), with John Mc Nabb and Pat Shivers quick to follow suit and the Toome residents had further ahead.
Ronan Hanna gave the visitors some hope after finishing to the back of the Cargin net following a smart approach from Seamus Mc Garry but although that revitalised the visitors cause Cargin were hit back quickly when Benen Kelly fired to the back of the net at the other end following a stylish right sided approach with David Johnston.
The home side had gone clear with the end in sight and although John Carron and Tom Shivers increased the Cargin advantage with back to back points the visitors still retained and appetite in front of the posts as Seamus Mc Garry raised a further white flag, but it proved to be too little to late and Cargin crossing the line with a 3-18 to 1-10 advantage, and a place in the next round.
A moment in history at the Shore Road venue, learning exercise for both the teams in playing under the ‘new rules’ as well as those onlookers who braved the elements to witness that little bit of history.
Cargin
John Mc Nabb (0-01), Conan Johnston, Kevin O’ Boyle, Gerard Mc Corley, Ben Mc Larnon, Paul Mc Cann, Sean O’ Neill, Kevin Mc Shane, Gerard Mc Cann, John Carron, David Johnston (0-02), Jamie Gribbin )2*), Tomas Mc Cann (1-02), Pat Shivers (1-10) Tom Shivers (0-02)
Subs
Callum Gribbin (0-01)
Charlie Mc Cann
Brendan Laverty
Sean og Quinn
Ben Mc Larnon
Aldergrove
Oisin Mc Garry, Ronan Wilkinson, Cayden Lagen, Emmet Magee, Conan Browning, Oisin Mc Veigh, Eoin Gough, Oisin Graham, Coary Fogarty(0-02), Chris Mc Steen, Cormac Mc Garry, Kian Jones, Ronan Hannon (2-02), Seamus Mc Garry (2*)4)
Subs
C Browning
Shay O’ Connor
Seamus Faye
Lewis Smith