Antrim U16 Breslin Cup Quarter-Final
Roger Casements Portglenone 2-7 St. Mary’s Aghagallon 2-6
Photos and report by Brian Hamill
Roger Casements Portglenone booked their place in the SW Antrim U16 Breslin Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought one-point victory over a gallant St. Mary’s Aghagallon side on Thursday evening, running out 2-7 to 2-6 winners in a contest that swung one way and then the other before the hosts finally held their nerve.
From the very first whistle it was Aghagallon who looked the more settled side, with Michéal Mulholland opening the scoring from a free inside the first minute. Ronan Hughes added a point from play shortly after, and by the time Portglenone had found their footing, the visitors had built a comfortable two-point cushion. Portglenone’s Patrick O’Boyle brought the sides level with a goal from play, but Aghagallon responded with real character. Mulholland landed two points from play in quick succession, and then right corner-forward Finn Mulholland rattled the net to put the visitors in the ascendancy. Centre half-back Finn Kerr underlined Aghagallon’s adventure with a point from play moments later, leaving St. Mary’s 1-5 to 1-0 ahead heading into the closing stages of the first half.
Portglenone, however, refused to capitulate on their own patch. Charlie Convery who would prove to be the home side’s talisman throughout the evening began to find his range, firing over two points from play before the break to leave the scoreboard reading 1-5 to 1-2 in Aghagallon’s favour at half time. It was a flattering lead for the visitors, with Portglenone showing signs of momentum as the whistle blew.
The second half was an absorbing affair. Convery continued where he had left off, knocking over two further points from play early in the second period to drag Portglenone back to within a single score. When Ronan McAleer added a point from play to level the game at 1-5 apiece, the contest was perfectly poised. Aghagallon’s Liam Davey edged the visitors back in front with a point from play, but Convery replied immediately with a converted free to restore parity once again.
The decisive period of the game arrived in the final quarter. Portglenone’s Conan McKeever, playing at right half-forward, produced the moment of quality the home side needed, driving forward and burying a goal from play to put Portglenone ahead for the first time. Goalkeeper Joe Duffin demonstrated his confidence from placed balls by splitting the posts from a free to push the lead out to four, and it appeared the game was Portglenone’s to lose.
But Aghagallon showed tremendous courage to mount one final charge. Full-forward Liam Davey crashed home a goal from play to reduce the gap to one, and for a brief, breathless moment it seemed as though the visitors might snatch a dramatic equaliser. Portglenone’s defence, however, stood firm and repelled everything Aghagallon threw at them in the closing minutes, holding on to claim a narrow but deserved victory.
For Portglenone, Charlie Convery’s five-point haul, four from play and one free, was the backbone of their win, while the second-half goal from McKeever proved the decisive intervention. Joe Duffin’s free from the goalkeeper position showed a cool head under pressure that belied his years.
For Aghagallon, there was no shortage of heart or talent on display. Michéal Mulholland, Finn Mulholland and Liam Davey all caught the eye, while Finn Kerr’s point from centre half-back showed the attacking instincts that ran through this young side. On another day, with the fine margins going their way, St. Mary’s would have progressed, and there is plenty for their management to build on as the season continues.
Scorers — Roger Casements Portglenone: Charlie Convery 0-5 (0-4 from play, 0-1f); Conan McKeever 1-0; Patrick O’Boyle 1-0; Ronan McAleer 0-1; Joe Duffin 0-1f.
Scorers — St. Mary’s Aghagallon: Liam Davey 1-1 (1-0, 0-1 from play); Finn Mulholland 1-0; Michéal Mulholland 0-3 (0-2 from play, 0-1f); Ronan Hughes 0-1; Finn Kerr 0-1.
TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN HAMILL’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW