O’Neills ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 1-13-1-03 Aghagallon
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Photographs: Brian Hamill
Lámh Dhearg had 10-points to spare in a victory that ensured their top-flight status for next season after they saw off an Aghagallon side short of their big hitters in a 1-13-1-03 victory at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts were first off the mark from a Ciaran Boyd point after Paddy Cunningham played an indirect free short, but Odhran Rooney converted a free to restore parity.
Adam Murray re-established his side’s lead and Ben Rice broke the resulting kick-out and popped over.
A Ruairi McShane score halved the deficit, however the hosts began to move up through the gears and scored the games opening goal.
Terry McCrudden was unable to continue after sustaining a knock in the early stages and it was his replacement in Sean McCarthy that netted the opening goal.
Donal Martin flighted a ball into the path of Adam Murray whose goal bound shot was acrobatically parried by Gabhan Baine in the Aghagallon goal, though McCarhty was quickest to react and poked the loose ball to the net to make it 1-3-0-2.
In the aftermath points were traded between Paddy Cunningham (free) and Eoin Maginnis, with Maginnis’ score his sides last of the half.
Lámh Dhearg kicked on and had stretched their lead into double figures by the break, Paddy Cunningham converted three frees on the bounce with his second a two-pointed effort from outside the arc.
A further two-pointed score came from play courtesy of Ben Rice as the hosts were 1-10-0-3 ahead at the interval.
The second half was a relatively low scoring affair, playing with the wind- Aghagallon found the net within five minutes of the restart with Odhran Rooney’s deflected shot finding it’s way past Gerard Smyth.
They threatened a further goal within 60-seconds but Gerard Smyth was able to smother the danger after a scramble in the area.
The Lámhs kept possession effectively and it took until the 48th minute before they replied through a Declan Smyth shot that dropped over the bar.
Paddy Cunningham kicked his fifth free of the afternoon from a difficult angle and Owen McKeown would clip over to seal a straight-forward 1-13-1-3 win at the conclusion, a result that moves the Hannahstown men firmly into the safety zone with three games remaining,
Aghagallon meanwhile occupy one of the bottom four spots and are amongst a trio of sides deadlocked on six-points, hoping to move away from the end of season relegation play-offs next month.
Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, D Murray, P Mervyn, Ross Murray, D Smyth (0-1), B Rice (0-3, 1×0-2pt), R Diamond, C Boyd (0-1), P Fitzsimons, O McKeown (0-1), P Cunningham (0-6, 4f, 1×0-2f), D Bellew, D Martin, T McCrudden, A Murray (0-1). Subs: S McCarthy (1-0) for T McCrudden (10), C Murray for D Bellew (39), A McGuigan for P Cunningham (59).
Aghagallon: G Baine, K Hamill, A Mulholland, A Doherty, S Branagan, J Lamont. C Magill, S Devlin, P Maginnis, R McShane (0-1), C Maginnis, O Rooney (1-1, 0-1f), S McCavigan, E Maginnis (0-1), M McStravick. Subs: J McIntyre for A Doherty (HT), J Hannon for S Branagan (40), T Mallon for R McShane (47), C Mallon for S McCavigan (51).
Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgalls)
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