Under-21 A Football Championship (round one)
Erin’s Own Cargin 1-22 St James Aldergrove 1-04
Cargin defied the weather and the challenge of the men from Crumlin to claim a place in the next round of the under-21 football championship when they proved too strong for the visiting Aldergrove in a one sided affair in Toome on Sunday.
The home side, under the guidance of Tomas McCann, Justin Crozier, and Kevin Mc Shane entered this one as firm favourites and were quickly into their stride.
Tom Shivers and Charlie McCann proved dominant in the central zone from the outset and the former helped himself to several scores in the early stages and such dominance ensured a 0-14 to 0-1 lead at the halfway stage.
A couple of early scores in the second period including a converted penalty from Chris Campbell offered hope to the visitors but the home side were quick to respond with Cillian Scullion converting a penalty and Cargin had gone well clear by the final whistle.
The Erin’s Own lads, with a number of players who had been part of the ill-fated senior championship panel on duty, started as firm favourites and were quickly on their way, despite facing a cold northerly breeze in the first period they soon gave employment to those on umpire duty.
The irrepressible Jack O’ Neill split the posts after a couple of minutes and Ben McLarnon was quick to follow suit with a couple of white flags raised by the 6th minute.
A Fiontan Hardy clearance opened the door for Jack Harney to raise a further white flag before Cillian Kennedy pulled the trigger from away out on the right wing to add another and the home side were 0-06 to 0-00 ahead a couple of minutes later when Tom Shivers sent a free between the posts,
The visitors were rewarded for their labours as the game passed the half way juncture with wing half back Cormac Morris answering the call when he despatched a 35metre free between the posts in the 17th minute.
This score failed to inspire his colleagues however and the home side returned to the positive to add a further supply of scores in a dominant ten minutes with Tom Shivers, Ben Mc Larnon, and Caomhin Kennedy raising white flags apiece in as many minutes.
Cargin continued to dominate and Cillian Scullion, Jack Harney, and a two pointer from Tom Shivers, his second of the afternoon, ensured a 0-14 to 0-01 lead for the home side at half time.
Erin’s Own started the second half as they had finished the first and Jack O’ Neill split the posts in the 32nd minute.
The St James men looked in serious trouble but an excellent approach and finish by mid fielder Delany raised their second white flag of the afternoon.
Delaney’s score brought an immediate reply from the home side when Hugh O’ Donnell pointed at the other end a couple of minutes later.
The visitors kept battling against what looked impossible odds and after Cormac Morris sent a free between the posts they were awarded a penalty after Ronan Aiken was adjudged to have been fouled inside the area and Colan Hanna duly delivered the award to the back of the net.
Although still well in arrears of their hosts on the score board Aldergrove had been handed a lifeline but that hope was soon to be dashed as the home side resumed control.
Cargin dominated the closing stages and points from the impressive Jack O’ Neill and another from Cillian Scullion and a goal from the same player put the contest out of sight and sent Cargin trough to a quarter-final meeting with St. Brigid’s next weekend.
Cargin: S Laverty, Fiontan Hardy, Cahir Donnelly, Cahir O’ Boyle, Callum Gribbin, Ben Mc Larnon (0-03), Jack O’ Neill (0-04), Charlie Mc Cann (0-01), Tom Shivers (0-6), Hugh O’ Donnell, Jack Harney (0-03), C Kennedy (0-01), Cillian Scullion (0-03), Diarmuid Quinn (0-01)
Subs
Dara Mc Auley
Niall Quinn
Jack Meatchick
Aldergrove:David Mc Cutchen, Jamie Scallan, C Lagan, Adam Mageda, Cormac Morris (0-03) Liam Magee, Shea Cormon, Luke Delaney (0-01), Aiden Erwin, Dara Maguire, Adam Conway, Jude Keenan, Fionbar Murbans, Jude Keenan, Liam Mc Carry, Ronan Aiken
Subs
C Hanna
Chris Campbell
Conal Hanna (1-01)
Referee: P Nugent