O’Cahan Cup
All Saints 0-9 Moneyglass 0-13
St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass got their season up and running when they travelled to Ballymena on Sunday and overcame the challenge of All Saints in the opening round of the O’Cahan Cup.
The home side have three games under their belts in the Ulster league this season but it was the visitors who looked much better prepared as the action got under way with a strong wind at their backs at Quinn Park.
Aidan McErlain got them on their way with a point in the 4th minute then struck a fine 2 pointer to move them three ahead by the 8th minute.
Sean McVeigh rose to fist over a dropping ball for All Saints in the 12th minute but team captain, Colm Duffin replied as he raised the Orange flag from a free and when Sean Boyd hit another 2 pointer from play the visitors were 0-7 to 0-1 ahead.
All Saints had been second best up until this point but Brendan McDonnell converted two frees in quick succession and a fine point from play from youngster, Sean O’Brien had it back to three by the 28th minute.
Given the strength of the breeze three points looked a manageable lead but it was St. Ergnat’s Colm Duffin who responded with the final score of the half when he again raised Orange to leave his side 0-9 to 0-4 ahead at the break.
Ryan Stewart replaced Connor Brennan in the All Saints goals for the start of the second half and with the wind behind them they would have been confident of overturning the visitors lead.
However it was St. Ergnat’s who opened the brighter and Caolan Boyd extended their lead with a good point in the 9th minute.
A 2point converted free from James McDonnell had it back to four, a minute later but All Saints found further scores hard to come bye as a solid Moneyglass defence swept up everything that came their way.
It would be a further 10 minutes before Brendan McDonnell converted his third free of the game to leave just three between the sides and when Sean O’Brien struck an excellent effort from distance there was only one between the sides.
That would be as close as the home side got however with the impressive Sean Boyd replying at the other end and Aidan McErlain added another from a converted free with four minutes remaining.
McErlain added another from the same scenario as things threatened to boil over and it was to prove the game’s final score as St. Ergnat’s marked their return to division 1 after one year in division 2 and on this performance they look well capable of holding their own in the higher grade.
All Saints: 1 Connor Brennan: 2 Oliver O’Rawe, 3 Rian Tom, 4 James Gillan, 5 Patrick Ferris, 6 Finn Connon, 7 Charlie Metrustry, 8 Peter McNicholl, 9 James McDonnell, 10 Darrach Bradley, 11 Ciaran Campbell, 12 Sean O’Brien, 13 Emmet Killough, 14 Sean McVeigh, 15 Brendan McDonnell.
Subs: Ryan Stewart, Connell Lemon, Jack Patterson, Archie McGreevey
Moneyglass: 1 James McLaughlin, 2 Eunan McErlain, 3 Matthew Mullan, 4 Colum Duffin, 5 Conleth McCann, 6 Paul Duffin, 7 Connor O’Kane, 8 Sean Boyd, 9 Seanchan Duffin, 10 Caolan Boyd, 11 Aidan McErlain, 12 Francis Duffin, 13 Tyler Cassidy, 14 Colm Duffin, 15 Charlie McCloskey
Subs: Callum Murray, Odhran Duffin
Referee: Colin Mallon (Aghagallon)
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