MFC (Preliminary round)
Erin’s Own Cargin 2-13 Casement’s Portglenone 1-18 (a.e.t)
Portglenone based Casement’s move onwards into the next phase of the minor football championship at the expense of Cargin when they gained passage with a hard earned win over the Erin’s own lads before a big attendance in Toome on Sunday.
The visitors recorded a victory over the Erin’s Own outfit in their earlier meeting in the league and although they started this championship encounter as firm favourites they had to work hard and it took extra time to separate the protagonists in the end.
Casement’s arrived in Toome burdened with the ‘favourites’ tag and indeed they were smartly out of the start traps and seemed on the way when split the posts twice without reply from their hosts in the opening quarter with Ryan McKeever and Oran Doherty credited with the scores.
The visitors enjoyed the assistance of a strong southerly breeze in the first period but such was soon to be negated by the home side with Jack O’Neill leading in the engine room.
Cillian Scullion opened their account from the right hand side to settle his side and although a further point from Oisin Doherty insured a three point lead, the home side had settled to the task in hand.
The home side should have regained parity shortly after when Fiontan O’Donnell grabbed a scuffed kick out but after racing clear on the target his fisted finish went agonisingly wide of the post.
In the event Erin’s Own were to finish the opening period on the positive with Jack O’ Neill and his mid-field partner Fiontan Hardy getting to grips in the central zone and a free kick for a foul on Hardy was firmly punished when Cillian Scullion despatched the ball between the posts.
The centre half forward was equally precise shortly thereafter as a foul on Carl McCann was similarly despatched between the posts to bring the sides closer together at the break with the wind assisted Casements 0-05 to 0-04 ahead.
The home side started the second period aided by the breeze which was soon accompanied by a heavy shower and the visitors were first away with a smart Ryan McKeever point and it was 0-06 to 0-04 to the visitors.
In the event the scoreboard was to read differently shortly after as a Dara Mc Auley assist aided Jack O’ Neill to send over the goal line and the Toome lads were 1-04 to 0-06 ahead.
It was game on a few minutes later as Fiontan Hardy added a fisted point which was soon negated at the other end as Oran Doherty added a point to the Casement’s total.
A Cillian Scullion point increased the home side’s lead to a couple of points when he was again unerring from a 40 metre free kick at the end of the third quarter but despite the wind in their face, the Casement’s replied with back to back points from Tom Doughard and Oran Doherty to leave it all square again.
Tom Duffin added a goal for the visitors after being set up by Oisin McAtamney assist and the game seemed to have swung in favour of the Portglenone side and questions were being asked of the home side.
In the event the Cargin lads had the answers and a Cillian Scullion point worked the trick and it saw Erin’s Own dominate for a period as Dara O’Boyle and Cillian Scullion added points.
Cargin were now calling the shots and when Jack O’ Neill’s and Fiontan Hardy combined to set up Dara Mc Auley to finish to the net, only a point separated the sides.
Casements added a point to their slim lead through the excellent Oran Doherty and when the home side lost the services of a player to a red card the home side looked in trouble.
When Ryan McKeever and Tom Doughart added points apiece to the Casements lead the home side looked in big trouble as full time approached.
In the event the home side rallied to the cause for one last effort and when youngster Conor Mc Cann fired to the net the sides were level and extra time required.
The first 10 minute of extra time ended with nothing separating the protagonists with Carl McCann raising white for the home side and Francis McAleese replying for for Casement’s.
A point from Fiontan Hardy in the opening minutes of the second half gave the Cargin support hope but back came Casement’s and three quick points from Oran Mc Atamney, Pheilim Mc Cluskey and Cillian McDonnell in answer to a Cillian Scullion point for the home side saw them cross the winning line 1-18 to 2-13 ahead to set up a meeting with St Brigids in the next round.
Cargin: Oisin Laverty, Eoin Scullion, Sean Mc Peake, Niall Quinn, Sean og Bovill, Fiontan 0’ Donnell, Patrick O’ Neill (0-01), Niall Quinn, Conleth Hamill, Jack O’ Neill (1-00), Fiontan Hardy (0-02),Cillian Scullion (0-09), Eamon Mc Cann (1-00), Dara O’ Boyle (0-01). Daragh Mc Auley
Subs:
Dylan Mc Nabb
Casement’s: John Mc Austin, Cillian Mc Kenna, Ciaran Mc Donnell, Conor Morgan Oisin Mc Atamney (0-01)Ryan Mc Keever (0-02), Oran Doherty (0-08 1*), Tom Convery, Francis Mc Aleese, Tom Convery (0-02), Tom Dougart (1-01,Phrilim Mc Cluskey (0-02), Eoin Mc Erlean, J P O’ Kane
Subs:
Cillian Mc Donnell
R Mc Aleese
Referee: P Burns (St Comgall’s)