Antrim Football League – Division 1
Con Magees 5 – 13 v 2 – 23 Casements
The decent sized crowd that assembled to watch two mid-table teams spar in this mid-season league encounter were treated to a memorable score fest that in the end saw Casements record their sixth win of the campaign, as they make their way into top six contention after enduring, by their own standards, a bleak start to the campaign.
These clubs met in a round robin stage of last seasons championship, that one ended in a draw, and with both sides missing a few regulars another draw was forecast in the Saffron Gael match preview. That looked unlikely when Glenravel opened up a nine point gap after only twelve minutes, or when Casements looked like they had weathered the storm to go six up with only eight minutes left. In the end, when Ritchie Leahy blew for full time there was one single point between the sides after a full on absorbing contest that gave both sets of supporters a proper run for their money.
Con Magees signalled their intent early, in fact in the very first minute, when playmaker and scorer in chief Eamon Fyfe drilled an unstoppable shot low and hard past Kevin Mullan in Portglenone nets to get the hosts off to a perfect start.
Although Casements Ronan Kelly, Caolan Tierney and Aidan McAleese all raised white flags in the opening quarter to keep in touch with minors finished off by Glenravels Sean McKay and Conleth OLoan, the contest took on a new look when inside of a glorious five minute spell that man Fyfe and county star Ryan McQuillan hammered home a goal apiece, and when McQuillan fired over from distance, followed up by the best score of the day from the emerging talent Niall Hynds, saw the gap open to nine points on the scoreboard.
Portglenone responded with a quad of their own, Dermot McAleese starting a resurgence of kind with a brilliant effort, that was followed by scores from Kelly cousins Paddy and Ronan (2), plus a great solo effort from Kevin O’Kane reducing the margin to a manageable amount, but Con Magees twin scoring threats McQuillan and Fyfe (2) saw the half out in favour of the hosts, who went in a goal to the good at the break.
Playing down the “hill” and with a gentle wind on their back, Casements started the second half in business-like fashion, dominating proceedings and drawing level just five minutes in with well taken points from the boot of Stephen Kelly (2) and Ronan Kelly. Anyone thinking this game was heading in one direction was misplaced when Glenravel substitute Fergus Donaghy picked his spot and rifled a bullet to the back of Portglenone net to once again establish a three point lead for the Glensmen.
As the contest started the turn for home Casements showed their character once again, furnishing eight of the games next ten scores. All points, the highlight of these being a long range Paddy Kelly free resulting in deux points, and a cool finish from Oisin Doherty, as the game started to ebb and flow back in favour of the visitors who were now four points to the good, despite a duo from the left foot of Ryan McQuillan to keep the contest honest.
Eight minutes to go though and anything could happen such was the frantic pace of the game that had swayed one way then the other from the opening bell.
Two glorious chances went abegging as Glenravel came again. Firstly a piledriver from Eamon Fyfe slammed off the crossbar, the alert Fergus Donaghy on hand to register another point. Meanwhile just a minute later with a goal at his mercy the normally accurate Ryan McQuillan pulled his goalbound effort right, and to the dismay of the home supporters, wide of the uprights.
That could have been two goals in a minute for Glenravel, though they had to settle for just one white flag as a reward. The game had almost swayed once again, Portglenone regrouping and determined to see out the clock registered three points as the game finally ticked over to its inevitable conclusion.
Or maybe not! With less than 90 seconds remaining on the stopwatch, and the visitors comfortably five up, a superb solo effort from Calum Higgins reduced the deficit to four. Glenravel saw a late window and threw all they had at it, a weave of sharp passing delivered Eamon Fyfe for a one on one opportunity just ten yards out, but a magnificent stop from Kevin Mullan was deemed to be a foul by the man with the whistle, and Fyfe himself left debutant stand in keeper John McAtamney with no chance. In the blink of an eyelid there was just a single point between them. Could the Saffron Gael match pundit be right…was this match destined to be a draw?
Stand in as the injured Kevin Mullans replacement, keeper John McAtamneys first kick for Casements seniors was the last kick of the day, when in mid air Ritchie Leahy blew his long whistle to signal the end of an absorbing contest, with the visitors short nose in front at the line.
As an advertisement for fast open football this was as good as it gets. Seven goals scored and at least four more (two from each side) that should have been, sandwiched between thirty six points. Hard hitting and competitive, but not quite at championship levels that both teams will produce in a few months when they once again lock horns in championship mode.
County panellists Dermot McAleese Ryan McQuillan Calum Higgins, Daniel McNicholl and Niall Hynds all look on top of their game.
For Glenravel Eamon Fyfe looked every inch a loss to county management throughout, his finishing was box office. Three goals and one off the crossbar a good return for an hours work…marquee forward in action while Charlie Henry, Sean Higgins and Fergus Donaghy can be pleased with their contributions.
For Casements Caolan Tierney, Kevin O Kane, Paddy Kelly Oisin Doherty and Stephen Kelly upon his introduction all caught the eye at stages.
Roll on the round robin.
Referee Ritchie Leahy (Moneyglass).
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