Senior (Reserve) Football Cupc final
Erin’s Own Cargin 2-17 Casements Portglenone 2-10
Cargin are the reserve Football champions 2025 after defeating Casement’s Portglenone in a hard fought decider at Dunsilly before a good audience on Wednesday evening.
A seven point tally from the excellent Callum Gribbin and a couple of goals from Ben McLarnon ushered the Toome men over the line in an entertaining final.
Little separated the contenders in the opening period with the brisk breeze across the pitch offering no advantage to either side but the accuracy from frees by Callum Grbbin saw the Toome men gain advantage at the interval 0-08 to 0-06 ahead.
Casement’s started very much on the positive with an early score from full forward Ciaran Mc Aleese, who kicked a two pointer but Brendan Laverty got the Cargin scoring show on the road with a point a couple of minutes later.
Callum Gribbin, who was to greatly impress in the Green of Cargin opened his scoring account with a 11th minute point but as the Casement’s gained foothold in the central zone they added points through Stephen Kelly and Stephen Mc Aleese to see them nip ahead.
Callum Gribbin continued to impress and replied with a point for the Toome men at the end of the opening quarter and Ciaran Mc Aleese for the Ports and Cahir Donnelly for Erin’s own exchanged further points.
Cargin gained a foothold in the closing stages of the opening half and although James Mc Larnon’s point increased the Casement’s advantage, Cargin finished the stronger with late points from replacement Marty Kane and another from Callum Gribbin moving them 0-8 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
The Toome side increased their advantage in the early minutes of the second half through the impressive Gribbin when he sent a ‘45’ between the posts following one from play by the same player but the Bannsider’s were quick to respond and a Ciaran Mc Aleese goal following a Ciaran Lynch fetch in the middle saw the Casements on par 1-06 to 0-09.
Portglenone moved ahead from a long range 2point free kick from Stephen Kelly but Cargin replied through Brendan Laverty and Callum Gribbin to leave one between the sides.
Cargin hit the front again when Ronan Devlin claimed possession in the central zone and found Mark Kelly who placed Ben McLarnon and the corner man fired to the back of the net to move his side 1-10 to 1-08 ahead.
Replacement Eunan Quinn was proving strong in the middle of the park and Callum Gribbin added a point from a disputed close range free and the Toome men had moved 1-11 to 1-08 ahead.
Despite falling behind, Portglenone were fighting hard to get going again and they were soon back on terms when Declan Mc Erlean found the back of the net and the sides were level on a score line of 2-08 to 1-11.
With time ebbing away, Erin’s Own needed a response and an excellent catch from Eunan Quinn and a Mark Kelly delivery sent Ben McLernon on his way to add his second goal and move his side three ahead.
A Eunan Quinn point from distance increased the Cargin lead to four and a Callum Gribbin two pointer moved them further ahead with Fearghal Quinn and Declan McErlean replying at the other end but it was too little-too late.
The final score of the game fell to Cargin’s man of the match, Callum Gribbin who is likely to be seen in the senior line up sooner rather than later ushering his side over the line 2-17 to 2-10 ahead.
Indeed these two clubs, who met in last year’s senior final are on course for a repeat of that final in 2025 with Cargin drawn to meet neighbours, Creggan and Portglenone due to cross swords with Dunloy in the other semi-final
Erin’s Own: Daniel Mc Cann, Sean og Quinn, Gerard Mc Corley, Hugh O’ Donnell (0-01), Benny Laverty (0-02), Cahir Donnelly (0-01), Ronan Devlin, Charlie Mc Cann, Oran Molloy, Jack Harney, Damien Mc Davitt, Callum Gribbin (10*) Jack Harney, PJ Quinn, Mark Kelly (0-02), Ben Mc Larnon (2-00)
Subs
Eunan Quinn (0-02)
Marty Kane (0-01)
Diarmuid Quinn
Casements: Brian Mc Manus, Johnny Comvery, Shane Delargy, Michael Kelly, Ryan Convery, Declan Dobbin, Paddy Graffin, Stephen Kelly (0-03), Ciaran Lynch, Fearghal O’ Kane (0-01), Corey Mc Laughlin, Michael Donnelly (0-01), James Mc Larnon (0-01), Ciaran Mc Aleese (1-04), Sean Byrne
Subs
Ciaran Mc Kenna
Declan Mc Erlean (1-00)
Chrissy Gillan
Paddy Murray
Referee: Richard Leahy
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