Graham Tarmac JFC Group 1
O’Donnell’s 1-13 Naomh Una 1-21
St. Agnes cemented their place at the top of Group 1 of the GRAHAM TARMAC JFC when they recorded a hard earned win over an O’Donnell’s side who were battling for third place in the group and a place in the quarter-finals.
Naomh Una showed why they were top of Group 1 as they controlled the opening half despite being without a few regulars and with the wind in their favour they raced into a 1-9 to 0-3 half time lead.
After the break their hosts, O’Donnell’s stepped up their game considerably and a goal from Conor Walsh had it back to five with 8 minutes remaining but the ‘Aggies’ reacted with three quick points to ease the danger.
Despite a sustained effort by the O’D’s this was as close as the Whiterock Road side got with St. Agnes pushing on to win by 8 in the end and secure their place in the semi-finals.
Visitors to MacRory Park, St. Agnes raced into a 4 point lead by the 10th minute with Cormac McBride, Conall Turley 0-2 and Shay Madden the men on target as O’Donnell’s struggled to turn good possession into scores against the swirling breeze.
Fionnbar McKernan got them off the mark from a free in the 16th minute after the Aggies had breached the 3-up rule and Pearse Rice added another following a pull down offence.
It looked like the home side were finally getting to grip but St. Agnes raced up the field from the resulting kick-out and Shay Madden placed Conall Turley who fired to the net.
A couple of pointed frees from David McGaharan and points from Turley and James Campbell in response to one from a Fionnbar McKernan free for O’Donnell’s had the visitors 1-9 to 0-3 ahead at the short whistle and they looked in total control.
It was a much more motivated O’D’s who emerged for the second half and Gearoid McKernan pointed after 20 seconds but St. Agnes restored their nine point advantage through Cormac McBride with 4 minutes of the new half gone.
There was a greater urgency about the men in Maroon & Yellow however as Matthew Sloan kicked a good point and McKernan added another from a free with Shay Madden replying for Naomh Una with 9 minutes on the clock.
Joe Wilson for O’Donnell’s and the excellent Caoimhin O’Maoltuile for the Aggies exchanged further scores but O’Donnell’s were beginning to enjoy a bit of success and McKernan kicked three frees on the bounce to cut the deficit to five at the end of the third quarter.
St. Agnes looked under a bit of pressure for the first time in the game as the home support sensed a famous comeback but Conall Turley replied from a well struck free from distance into the wind and David McGaharan added another from play.
The momentum was still with O’Donnell’s however and Conor Walsh fielded a high dropping delivery and somehow squeezed his shot home in the 21st minute.
It was at this stage the ‘Aggies’ showed just why they were division 4 league champions this season as they responded with points from Cormac McBride 0-2 and James Campbell to ease the pressure.
Back came the MacRory Park side and Ciaran McKissock hit a great 2 pointer and it was down to five again but that would be as close as they got.
St. Agnes finished as they had started with the impressive Turley pointing from an acute angle and Shay Madden, David McGaharan and Dan Turley pointed with O’D’s sole reply coming from Fionnbar McKernan.
This win earns Naomh Una an automatic semi-final place and Ardoyne are through to the quarter-finals in second place but confusion reigns over the battle for third spot which also qualifies for a place in the quarter-finals.
O’Donnell’s only point to date came in a draw with St. Malachy’s who themselves have a single point but failed to field against St. Agnes on the 17th August so the matter will most likely have to be dealt with at committee level.
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