Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship
Group 1 – Match Day 2
Tír na nÓg 5-8 Dunloy 4-15
Saturday 16 August
Brendan McTaggart reports from Whitehill, Randalstown
Dunloy sealed their passage to the last eight of the senior championship on Saturday evening but they were made to fight all the way by a Tír na nÓg side who found their goal-den touch.
This one turned into a goal-frenzy with six goals coming in the second half, four in the final 10 crazy minutes that saw the Randalstown men cause Dunloy plenty of problems.
Livewire full-forward Caleb Smith helped himself to a hat-trick in a game that Smith was a constant threat while Eamon Og McAllister and Emmet Murray were always a danger.
The Cuchullains bagged two goals in either half, Keelan Molloy and Karl Fitzpatrick before the interval – Fitzpatrick with a well taken penalty while Nigel Elliott and substitute Eoin O’Neill found the back of the Tír na nÓg net after the break.
Deaglan Smith put in another exemplary performance from midfield, landing five points over the hour while Seaan and Nigel Elliott were a constant threat for the Cuchullains. They would score just 1-2 of their final tally from open play, 2-6 coming from open play in the second half which no doubt will have pleased the Cuchullains management. What will have been a note for concern was the manner of the goals conceded, in particular the last three which they will see as unavoidable. Tír na nÓg were in the right place and made no mistake when presented with the opportunity.
Despite playing into whatever wind was blowing, Dunloy made the brighter start with three points on the scoreboard in the opening five minutes – Seaan Elliott, Smith and Tom McFerran with the scores.
A brilliant two pointed effort from Sean Duffin got the home side firing shortly after before Caleb Smith bagged the opening major of the game. Collecting a long ball from Duffin, Smith dropped his shoulder and finished superbly to put his side in the lead. They had another glimpse of a major with the next attack but Murray’s effort came back off the post.
The Cuchullains recovered to tie the scores with points coming from Seaan Elliott, Tom McFerran, Smith (free) and Molloy, a brace of placed ball points from Fagan the response from the home side.
Two Dunloy goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half proved to be crucial however with Keelan Molloy getting on the end of a super move that saw Luke McFerran providing the assist while Fitzpatrick nailed his penalty high to the net and put daylight between the sides. Caleb Smith and Oliver McAtamney fired over points for the home side while Deaglan Smith (free) and Seaan Elliott raised white flags for Dunloy to leave the half time score 2-9 to 1-6 in the Cuchullains favour.
Tír na nÓg made the best possible start to the second half when they were awarded a penalty for an foul on McAllister. Fagan converted the spot kick with precision, high to the back of the Dunloy net that gave the Cuchullains substitute ‘keeper Sean Doherty no chance.
The home side wouldn’t register another score for over 10 minutes while Dunloy hit back. Points from Molloy, Deaglan Smith and Nigel Elliott came before Elliott landed his sides third major.
A point from substitute Joshua Higgins stopped the Dunloy onslaught but the Cuchullains registered further scores from Deaglan Smith and Seaan Elliott to put nine between the sides with ten minutes of the hour remaining.
The time that remained proved to be bizarre with four goals coming, three for the Whitehill side. Two in two minutes from Sean Duffin and Caleb Smith’s second, Duffin collecting a long, high ball from McAllister before spinning his man and hitting the back of the net. Smith’s major coming after brilliant work and a strong run coming from Barry McCormick to create the chance.
Dunloy responded with their fourth goal, substitute Eoin O’Neill showing his predatory instincts to get on the end of an Aodhan McGarry through ball and palmed the ball beyond the rushing McAtamney.
O’Neill would split the uprights soon after to put seven between the sides with five minutes remaining but Tír na nÓg kept coming. A defensive error gave Caleb Smith the opportunity to complete his hat-trick, he made no mistake with a fine near post finish to give Tír na nÓg hope but despite the Cuchullains going down to 14 men with Ryan McGarry receiving a black card, Dunloy saw out the remaining time.
Dunloy turn their thoughts now to the small ball and ash as they face Naomh Éanna next Friday while Tír na nÓg will face Glenariffe in the Intermediate championship next Sunday. When both sides return to big ball action, Dunloy will face current Antrim kingpins Cargin while Tír na nÓg take on St John’s, both games to be played at neutral venues.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Chrissy McMahon; Reece Cunning, Aaron Crawford, James Scally; Aodhan McGarry, Ryan McGarry, Jack Martin; Eoin McFerran, Deaglan Smith; Nigel Elliott, Tom McFerran, Seaan Elliott; Luke McFerran, Keelan Molloy, Karl Fitzpatrick
Subs: Sean Doherty for C McMahon (28); Eoin O’Neill for K Fitzpatrick (42); B arry McCloskey for L McFerran (48)
Scorers: D Smith 0-5 (2f); K Molloy 1-2; S Elliott 0-4; N Elliott 1-1; E O’Neill 1-1; K Fitzpatrick 1-00 (1-00pen); T McFerran 0-2
Tír na nÓg: Sean-Paul McAtamney; Ciaran McGrillis, Dylan McLarnon, Daniel Martin; Ryan Crilly, Ciaran O’Neill, Brandon McLarnon; Barry McCormick, Darragh Fagan; Aodhan Tolan, Sean Duffin, Oliver McAtamney; Eamon Og McAllister, Caleb Smith, Emmet Murray
Subs: Aaron McNeilly for O McAtamney (HT); Joshua Higgins for A Tolan (45); Ryan O’Neill for C Smith (60)
Scorers: C Smith 3-1; D Fagan 1-3 (1-00pen, 2f, 1’45); S Duffin 1-2 (1TP); O McAtamney 0-1; J Higgins 0-1
Referee: Darren McKeown (Naomh Gall)
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