Erin’s Own Cargin 2-15 All Saint’s Ballymena 0-14
‘Goals Win Games’ is the old adage utilised on many an occasion and it rang true on Wednesday eveniing following a closely fought and hugely entertaining affair as Cargin played host to the All Saint’s, Ballymena in early summer sunshine on an excellent Toome sod.
The home side enjoyed a great start to the game as Sean O’ Neill and Jamie Gribbin combined to send the full forward away to find the net just minutes into the division one league encounter.
Laverty, better known as a defender made no mistake and when presented with the opportunity was not to miss the chance blasting to the back of the net and adding a point shortly thereafter with David Johnston raising a further white flag the Toome men were away in style.
All Saint’s got their scoring show on the road in the seventh minute as Peter Mc Reynolds raised a white flag and the visitors gained in composure, but with the ever impressive Tomas Mc Cann added a couple of scores to earn a four point advantage for his side by the 10th minute
The Saints having got their bearings, soon got their scoring show on the road, and by the 20th minute as Patrick Feeney, Paidin Mitchell (2), and Paddy Mc Aleer split the posts only a single score separated the contestants with the early Laverty goal securing a 1-05 to 0-05 advantage at the 20th minute.
The last minutes of the first saw the home side gain in impetus and although a few chances were spurned Cargin lead 1-09 to 0-06 at the sound of the short blast.
Benen Kelly and the hard grafting John Carron had raised points apiece before Hugh O’ Donnell vacated his defensive duty nipping up the left hand side to split the posts and after the home side missed opportunity to add a second major as a James Laverty assist sent Tomas Mc Cann in on the target only foiled in his effort to find the net by the All Saint’s net minder Ryan Stewart who pulled off a great save to deny.
A James Laverty point allied by a David Johnston delivery looked the last score of the period but such was to belong to the Saint’s wing half back Joe Rafferty just in time added time raising white to reduce the home side’s lead to 1-06 to 0-06 at the short blast.
The second period was in its infancy when Paddy McAleer reduced the home side’s lead by a point as he raced through to split the posts but a Tomas Mc Cann reply in kind soon followed to restore his team’s three point cushion. The Cargin man was posing threats aplenty for the visitors with his searching forward runs a feature, Ballymena men were soon to regain their composure amd Paddy Mc Aleer grabbed another point after Patrick Finnegan’s lightning approach.
The visitors threatened comeback but when the brothers Gribbin combined, following a fetch by John Carron, a subtle combination between the Gribbin brothers Jamie and Callum sent the former away to find the back of the All Saints net, and when the latter followed with a point the home side’s lead was out to eight points. (2-10 to 0-08).
The Cargin men looked to be safe at this stage but their visitors, with Paddy Mc Aleer and Paidin Mitchell leading the way, replacement Michael McCarry grabbed back to back points in the 45th and 47th minutes to close the gap. However at the other end James Laverty and John Carron delivered replies in kind for the Toome men to ease safely ahead once more.
The ever busy Paidin Mitchell and Shaun O’ Callaghan added points apiece to the All Saint’s cause but the home side were to have the last say in proceedings as Tom Shivers, James Laverty and Jamie Gribbin raised white flags apiece to see the county champions cross the line to extend their unbeaten run to eight on a scoreline of 2-15 to 0-14.
Referee Ray Matthews (Rossa)
Teams
Cargin
John Mc Nabb, Sean Og Quinn, Hugh O’ Donnell (0-01), Kevin Mc Shane, Benen Kelly 0-01, Conan Johnston, Callum Gribbin (1-02), Michael Mc Cann, Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-01), John Carron (0-04), Jamie Gribbin(0-02), James Laverty (1-04), Tomas Mc Cann (0-03)
Subs
Jack Harney
Ben Mc Larnon
Pat Shivers
Tom Shivers
All Saint’s
Ryan Stewart, Matthew Downey, Cal O’ Brien, Pater Mc Nicholl (0-02), Patrick Francis (0-01), Seamus Mc Callin (0-01), Joe Rafferty( 0-02), Peter Mc Reynolds(0-01) Emmett Killough, Paddy Mc Aleer (0-03), Brendan Mc Donnell, Ciaran Campbell, Sean Mc Veigh (0-01), Paidin Mitchell (0-02)
Subs
Michael Mc Carry (0-02)
Harry Connon (0-01)
James Gillan
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