Reserve Cup Football Semi Final
St Galls 3-15 Erin’s Own Cargin 5-10
Cargin defied a slow start and the concession of a couple of goals in the opening quarter when the met up with St Gall’s up at their Milltown abode in the semi-final of the ‘Reserve Cup’ on Wednesday evening.
The home side were quicker out of the start traps than their visitors with positive results and with corner forward Barra Mc Caffrey asking questions of the visitors rear guard,his contribution of 1-2 allied with a goal from Ethan Walsh and three white flags raised by pace laden Padraig 0’ Muirigh Jnr, saw Gall’s 2-05 to 0-02 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.
Cargin did look probably bound for second place as the game moved into the second quarter with the home side on top with the Toome men struggling to gain a foothold troubled by the pace within the ranks of their hosts.
In the event however the Toome men were about to light the fuse on their positivity, getting organised in the defensive area with Sean Og Quinn, Cahir Donnelly and Brendan Laverty leading the way, Odhran Molloy and Charlie Mc Cann getting on top in the central zone and confidence restored with the lively PJ Quinn and Ben Mc Lernon raising white flags each.
Cargin had just got going when a Ronan Devlin cross saw Mark Kelly punch to the net and wing back Laverty was on hand to find the net again a minute later which saw the visitors close the gap with the Gall’s now owning a three point lead at 2-05 to 2-02.
Cargin gained the impetus in the latter minutes of the opening half and although the home side responded with an excellent Jarlath Mervyn point, the Toome men were about to add a third major as Mark Kelly found the net after Cahir Donnelly and Jack Harney combined on a forward run.
Cargin were very much back in contention following a slow start but as the short blast loomed the home side added points through Cormac Austin and hard grafting Jarlath Mervyn who hit a 2pointer in the last minute to give his team a 2-09 to 3-03 advantage at the break.
Having underlined the fact that they were up for this challenge, Cargin started the second half on the positive and by the 35th minute they were within touching distance of their hosts as Mark Kelly and the hard grafting Jack Harney added points apiece.
St Galls were quick to reply via a white flag raised by Gerard O’ Neill and after Ben McLarnon replied for he visitors, Marty Murray and Barra Mc Caffery split the posts to give the home side a three point lead 3-06 to 2-12.
The lead didn’t last long however as the Toome men regained control and when replacement Marty Kane sent Ben Mc Larnon away on the right to find the net the combatants were level again 4-06 to 2-12, but the home edged ahead again when Marty Murray raised white at the other end to regain advantage.
Ben Mc Larnon, assisted by a Jack Harney delivery, fired home to edge Cargin back in front and when Brendan Laverty raised white after a Marty Kane delivery the visitors were 5-07 to 2-13 to the good and the finish line was in sight as the impressive Jack Harney added a point.
St Gall’s looked in some trouble as the long blast loomed but they were not about to make any concession and just as the Toome men possibly contemplated a place in the deciderthey struck back with a Cormac Austin goal before the visitors replacement Marty Kane was sent through by Darren Mc Daid to split the posts.
St. Gall’s came back strongly with back to back points from Padraig Og Muraigh that saw his side on par and extra time looked possible.
In the event no extension was required as Cahir Donnelly who had an excellent hour, came forward to send Jack Harney in for a late point to send Cargin to the final of the ‘Cup’ on a scoreline of 5-10 to 3-15.
Referee: Seamus Shannon (0’Donovan Rossa)
Cargin: Daniel Mc Cann, Cahir Donnelly, Sean og Quinn, Hugh O’Donnell, Brendan Laverty (1-02), Gerard Mc Corley, Ronan Devlin, Charlie Mc Cann, Odhran Molloy, Patrick O’ Neill, Dermot Mc Daid, Jack Harney (0-04), PJ Quinn (0-02), Mark Kelly (2-01), Ben Mc Larnon (2-01)
Subs: Marty Kane (0-01)
St Gall’s: Niall Mc Curdy, Oisin O’ Callaghan, Aidan Mc Donagh, Eoghan Mc Curdy, Liam Lynn, Mark Kelly, Cormac Austin (1-02), Conail Murray (0-01), Jarlath Mervyn (2*), Ethan Walsh (1-01), Ruairi Wilson, Marty Murray (0-01), Padraig jnr O’ Muirigh (0-06), Nial Fallon), Barra Mc Caffery (1-03).
Subs: Simon Dowds, Dan Murphy, Conn Doherty
