Reserve Football Cup semi-final
Casement’s 1 – 12 St Brigid’s, 0 – 14
Pics by Colleen Webb Photography
Despite the gathering dark clouds, a large crowd had also gathered to witness two of Antrim’s top club sides go toe to toe for the right to contest the county reserve championship final against Cargin in a fortnight.
There has been little to separate these clubs in recent seasons, from the juvenile ranks right through to senior, and as a result a healthy rivalry has developed. In any event semi finals are not nice to lose, so there was no shortage of motivation from all quarters.
Both clubs were playing a number of senior players or panellists, and the quality throughout was of a high standard, as were fitness levels across the pitch.
To say both sides were fairly evenly matched is a bit of an understatement. From the shrill of the opening whistle to referee Joe McCavana’s last, the sides traded score for score with the outcome in the balance throughout.
Casements started on the front foot, with a two pointer from midfielder Stephen Kelly which was followed by a single from Ciaran McAleese all before their visitors had made a mark. Their response came as a result of some excellently flowing football and direct hard running, which drew numerous frees, expertly punished by the accurate feet of James Turkington and Brian McGurk. Both teams were contributing to a fine game, with additional scores at both ends. With half time approaching a long range effort form Casements marksman Ciaran McAleese resulted in referee Joe McCavana raising both arms, but nevertheless it was the visitors St Brigid’s who headed off to the temporary sanctuary of the dressing room with a handy trio of points to spare.
The championship feel of the game resumed upon the restart, and the trading began once more as both sets of players responded to the promptings of their respective managements.
Ciaran McAleese was proving a handful at full forward for Portglenone, and added a superb two pointer to leave just the minimum between the sides. Then suddenly, St Bridid’s began to assert themselves upon this contest, with four out of the five scores to nip several points up again on the scoreboard. Oran Boyle was getting on a lot of ball and with Brian McGurks pace through the middle third catching the eye, numerous scoring opportunities began to emerge. Conor McAleer, Shane Boyle and Daire Quinn (twice) kept the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors. Casements had Michael Donnelly to thank for several excellent fetches that won vital ball for his teammates but behind him it was backs to the wall as St Brigid’s looked increasingly lively as the game entered the final stretch.
A fast flowing move from the hosts changed that dynamic though. Chris Gillen and Ciaran McKenna were getting involved and when Sean Byrne got on the end of a superb movement, to fire the ball past St Brigid’s custodian Fearghus Canning, suddenly this contest was alive and it was game back on!
St Brigid’s were still several points to the good and more importantly were also winning the possession stats. Another score would probably do it and with every possession now counting, and little over two minutes remaining, it took another vital turnover from the experienced Shane Delargy to turn the tide, just when it looked like one more match winning score for the visitors was the likelier outcome. Delargy set up the industrious hard running Michael Kelly who fed big Fergal OKane for a certain score, but to the dismay of the crowd, O Kanes blockbuster rebounded off the crossbar and wide to safety. St Brigid’s two point lead remained and the clock was ticking.
With a minute on the clock and St Brigid’s with one foot in the final, Corey McLaughlin rose highest to claim the resultant kickout and send a ball to Stephen Kelly who had picked up an unmarked position wide on the wing. Close to the sideline, Kelly drew the ball off the outstep to curl in at the far post from over forty metres and drift inside the post to the largest cheer of the evening. The sides were level.
On the blow, next possession was vital. Fergal OKane caught, laid off to the overlapping Ryan McKeever who dispatched between the posts to signal a comeback that looked most unlikely just a few minutes earlier.
Best for St Brigid’s were Conor McAleer upfront, Brian McGurk in midfield, and Oran Boyle, James Turkington and Oran Boyle.
Casements best performers on the night were Ciaran McAleese, Shane Delargy, Fergal OKane, Michael Donnelly, Corey McLaughlin and Michael Kelly.
On the night though Casements somehow found a way, and manager Phelim McCluskey’s side will dust themselves down and have a day out against Cargin in the final, a repeat of last season’s two senior finalists.
