SFC Group 2
Portglenone 6 – 15 St James, Aldergrove 1 – 07
The last time these two clubs met was in a first round league encounter in March when St James ran riot, winning by twelve points in a one sided contest at the Grove. Fast forward a few months to championship action and those tables were ruthlessly turned, Casements impressive from the start, demonstrating their obvious wellbeing in the process.
Despite having little of any consequence to play for, their championship aspirations already nullified, Aldergrove did turn up in competitive mode, and to their credit started brightly when Ronan Hanna opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Although Casements did respond with early points from Michael Hagan and Dermot McAleese, little separated the sides during the opening quarter. At this point the contest turned in the blink of an eye, three quickfire goals in the space of as many minutes, from Caolan Tierney Aidan McAleese and Oisin Doherty… and all of a sudden the gap was ten.
Grove didn’t go away though, marksman Seamus McGarry (who was well contained throughout by Conor McGhee) was forced to forage deep to win his own ball. On one such occasion he did manage to break free and set up lively Glen Durham who blasted to the net, Seamus following this up with an excellent long range free.
Casements were ruthless in their reply, Michael Hagan and Paddy Kelly twice splitting the posts to maintain a double digit lead for Casements. With the half time whistle approaching, Dermot McAleese fielded highest, laid off to marauding Niall Delargy who slipped the ball to the waiting hands of Niall McKeever who made no mistake in placing the ball into the corner of the Aldergrove nets for the loudest cheer of the day. It was Big Niall’s first game of football for almost a year and the Portglenone support showed their appreciation.
Ronan Hanna started the first half scoring, and the big full forward finished it too with an excellent point from a free out on the wing after Eoin Gough was judged to have been fouled, seconds before Cathal McDermott blew his whistle for the short break.
As a contest the outcome was already long decided, and to their credit Aldergrove never at any point threw in the towel. Impressive Ronan Hanna raised several more white flags and Eoin Gough continued to enjoy plentiful possession, a player who wouldn’t look out of place in any team. The dependable Seamus McGarry knocked over a majestic long range two pointer, but those were intermittent highlights in red of a second half which saw Casements largely dominate proceedings, perfecting some training ground routines and go to town on the scoreboard.
Gough, Dunham, McGarry and Hanna all worked their socks off for St James for the full hour despite the disparity on the scoreboard. Casements were just a cut above though, a nudge to timing your run, whilst demonstrating the obvious difference between league and championship.
John McKeever introduced five subs who all made a worthwhile contribution. Ciaran Mc Aleese finished with a goal and two points to show for his twelve minute cameo, and Fergal OKane showed plenty enough to suggest he should have a much more prominent role going forward.
Up front Michael Hagan Aidan McAleese and Oisin Doherty are moving well and linking up nicely. Paddy Kelly Niall Delargy and Dermot McAleese still pull the strings in the middle third, where Niall McKeever showed glimpses of his old self. In a solid defence Kevin OKane continues to impress, as did Conor McGhee and Caolan Tierney.
Casements look like a team that’s moving nicely, and with a different style to previous years which is demonstrating much greater efficiency. 13 goals across their three round robin matches, and a plus 61 point group differential is testimony to ongoing work on the training ground.
John McKeever and his well assembled backroom team will know that much harder tasks await though, starting with an intriguing quarter final against a rejuvenated St Galls, as this year’s championship suddenly bursts into life.
Casements Scorers:
Dermot McAleese 1 – 02, Oisin Doherty 1 – 02, Ciaran McAleese 1 – 02, Caolan Tierney 1 – 00, Paddy Kelly 0 – 03, Michael Hagan 0 – 3, Niall Delargy 0 – 01, Niall McKeever 1 – 00, Stephen Kelly 0 – 01, Fergal OKane 0 – 01, Aidan McAleese 0 – 01.
Aldergrove Scorers:
Ronan Hanna 0 – 04, Gary Dunham 1 – 00, Seamus McGarry 0 – 03.
Referee: Cathal McDermott.
