Breslin Shield Final
Erinn’s Own Cargin 4-10 St Comgall’s Antrim 4-09
A late, injury time strike by Cargin mid-fielder Sean Mc Peake secured the ‘Breslin Shield’ for Cargin after his injury time goal secured victory over Naomh Comhghall in Ballymena from the jaws of defeat.
The Toome lads aided by the breeze in the first period had nipped quicky out of the start gate with corner man Oisin Mc Guckin opening account with a couple of early points to settle the butterflies.
St Comgall’s went through their league programme undefeated but didn’t start well in Ballymena and with the Cargin duo, Sean Mc Peake and Kevin Johnston dominant in the central zone and Conleth O’ Boyle, Ryan McCann and Dylan McNabb solid in the half back line, Erin’s Own took early control.
St Comgall’s struggled against the stiff breeze for a term but despite that they had remained in touch but points from Darren Og Craig and Sean McPeake had increased Cargin’s lead to five points at 0-08 to O-03 at the end of the opening quarter.
Naomh Comhghall, with Michael Sloan and Shay Wilkinson starting to get to grips at mid-field with Sloan’s long range deliveries causing the Cargin rearguard anguish and opened the way for a Pearce Hazelton point.
The first time tactic of the long ball into attack finally found reward for the Antrim town side in the closing minutes as Jake Hughes found the net and corner man Cayden Holmes followed suit to allow St Comgall’s parity on the scoreboard 2-08 apiece at the end of the opening period.
With the wind now in their favour, St. Comgall’s looked in a strong position going into the second half but it was Cargin who made the early running as they raced into a three point lead.
Naomh Comhghall responded and a Francis Mc Allister goal squared the contest once more as he cut in from the left to fire past Eoin Emery
The Antrim town side continued to press with the lofted delivery tactic earning reward and Charlie Ewart and Jake Hughes added further goals to move them 4-08 to 2-08 ahead and looking very much in charge.
Charlie Ewart added a point and the Shield looked on its way to Antrim but Erin’s Own were far from finished and they produced a strong finish to turn the game on its head.
A Ryan McCann point in the closing minutes looked merely compensation but there would be more to come as Cargin threw everything at the opposition.
Sean Mc Peake added a point and when the pace laden Darren Og Craig was sent away by Oisin Mc Guckin to finish to the net it was game on again.
Naomh Comhghall looked to have done enough as the game ebbed into time added on but Erin’s Own staged one last attack and a clearance from the excellent Dylan Mc Nabb found Darren Og Craig who placed Sean Mc Peake to apply the finish and grab victory from the jaws of defeat.
A great game of football between two well matched sides as the Cargin support celebrated victory with their heroes at the final whistle but heart breaking for a Naomh Comhghall side who won the U16C championship just a week ago and looked at one stage like adding the Shield to their trophy cabinet.
Cargin: Oisin Laverty, Caolin O’ Neill, Dylan Loughran, Conlaith O’ Boyle, Ryan Mc Cann (0-01), Dylan Mc Nabb, Kevin Johnston, Sean Mc Peake (1-01), Darren Og Craig (1-03) Conor Mc Cann (0-02), Francis Mc Allister 1-00), Oisin Mc Guckin (0-02), Pearce Scullion (1-01)
St Comgall’s: Owen Emery, Eunan Proctor, Eoin Gillen, Jack Hughes, Josh Mc Queen, Rory Mc Connell, Cormac Harrison, Rory Mc Connell, Michael Sloane (0-02), Shay Wilkinson (I-02), Charlie Ewart, Pearse Hamilton (0-01), Ben Mc Aleese (0- 02), Caolan Holmes (1-02), Jake Hughes(1-00), Thomas Doherty (1-00)
Referee: Deaglan Carey (Con Magees)
