SFC Group 1
St John’s 1-11 Erin’s Own Cargin 4-15
‘Goals win prizes’ is the old adage which can oft time ring true and it was to be the case at Corrigan Park on Sunday when the reigning senior football Champions, Erin’s Own Cargin found the net on four occasions to ensure further progress in pursuit of another title.
The opening period saw little separating the second round contenders with the hosts seeking to gain their first victory in the competition and the West Belfast side were fully expected to give the Toome men a run for their money.
The Johnnies gave as-good as they got in the opening period and were on par 1-06 to 0-09 at the end of the first half.
Cargin were first on target as Tomas McCann and his nephew Sean O’ Neill raised early white flags apiece.
The Johnnies were ahead 0-05 to 0-03 by the 10th minute as the trusty boot of Patrick Mc Bride earned a ‘two’ pointer followed by points apiece from Paddy Nugent and a further two from McBride to their side 0-05 to 0-03 ahead.
The Toome side were finding it difficult to claim the high kick-outs from net minder John McNabb and the broken ball was being swept up by the home side but by the 22nd minute Cargin had moved ahead.
Conhuir Johnston split the posts after claiming the broken ball and when Gerard McCann rose highest to break the lofted delivery he rounded his marker to despatch to the back of the net and Tomas Mc Cann followed with a point to put the visitors into a 1-05 to 0-05 lead.
Sean O’ Neill’s 24th minute point extended the advantage for the Toome men but the Johnnies replied in the latter stages with points from Conal Mc Glade 0-2 and Conal Quinn to ensure parity on the board as the game clock ticked towards the break.
A couple of stoppages in the opening period saw time added and Cargin looked to have benefitted when Sean O’ Neill pounced to seize the ‘broken ball’ on the ‘40’ and broke forward but St John’s net minder McDonnell stood tall to deny him and it remained 1-06 to 0-09 at the break.
The early minutes of the second half saw both sides battle for the lead and in the event it was the Cargin net minder John McNabb who broke the deadlock as he fired between the posts in the 34th minute.
That lead was short lived as mid-fielder Patrick Nugent rose highest to punch a Patrick Mc Bride cross to the net and the home side were back ahead and question were being asked of the reigning champions.
St. John’s were reduced in number in the 38th minute as corner back Jack Bohill was shown Black with Tomas Mc Cann despatching the award between the posts and he added a two pointer after John McNabb was fouled to put the visitors 1-09 to 1-08 ahead.
Conor Adam’s pointed in response to a Michael Mc Cann white at the other end to reduce the gap to the minimum again but Cargin were about to take a firm hold of the proceedings and James Laverty placed Kevin O’ Boyle to race forward to find the net.
St. John’s tried to respond but Cargin were now on top and brother’s Michael and Thomas McCann combined to place Benen Kelly for another goal and the visitors were 3-09 to 1-10 ahead.
Erin’s Own continued to press forward and Tomas McCann added another point before St. Johns lost a player to a second yellow card and it looked as good as over at this stage.
The Toome side were certainly in the driving seat as the clock ticked down as Conhuir Johnston found the net again, and added a point shortly after and Sean O’ Neill followed quickly with another.
Cargin finished on top and John Mc Nabb added another point with Tomas Mc Cann following suit to see them comfortably home and a place in the quarter-final secured.
Cargin: John McNabb (0-02), Kevin O’ Boyle (1-00), Kevin Mc Shane, Ronan Gribbin (0-01), Benen Kelly (1-00), Conan Johnston, Jack O’ Neill, John Carron, Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston, James Laverty, Sean og O’ Neill (0-03), Conhuir Johnston (2-03), Michael Mc Cann (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann (0-05*)
Subs
Jack Harney
Brendan Laverty
St John’s: D Mc Donnell, Jack Bohill, Enda Mc Gurk, Oisin Jackson, Ronan Quinn, Sean Wilson, Conor Mc Avoy, Paddy Nugent (1-00), Ronan Mc Neilly (0-03), Catha Mc Glade (0-01), Patrick Mc Bride (0-4), Oran Mc Auley, Conal Quinn (0-01), Andy Mc Gowan, Conor Adams (0-02)
Referee: C McDonald (St Gall’s)
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