Senior Football League – Division One
Dunloy 2-8 Sarafields 1-10
Sunday 5 April
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy recorded their opening win of the 2026 league campaign on Sunday afternoon as they defeated Sarsfields by the bare minimum. The county champions had to comeback from eight points down at half time and produce a scoring burst of 1-7 unanswered in a little of 10 minutes to get the win and leave the Paddies wondering how they contrived to leave the Village with the loss.
The Stewartstown Road side had been in control for long periods and Philip McPeake’s major late in the first half looked to have given them enough daylight at the interval to hold off the Cuchullains. That looked to be the case with neither side recording a score in the opening 12 minutes of the second half before the home side finally found their range.
The Paddies had chances at the death to get at least a draw but it was the home side who hung on for the victory.
Dunloy won the toss and elected to play against the substantial breeze that predominantly blew towards the score board at Pearse Park. Sarafields showed their intent with Daniel Smyth firing over his first of three points with the game barely 20 seconds old.
The first goal of the game came with the first meaningful attack by the home side with Nigel Elliott making the run into space where he collected the ball. Elliott showed plenty of composure to apply the finish but the home side wouldn’t record another score for 18 minutes. While Sarasfields did have the lions share of possession in that time, Dunloy struggled to make any inroads in a well organised Paddies defence.
A run of seven points unanswered from the visitors put them five ahead going into the final 10 minutes of the half. Caolan McDonnell, Skillen, Garry Lennon and Conor Glenholmes all getting on the scoresheet as the visitors to Pearse Park made the most of the elements in their favour, squeezing up on the Dunloy kickouts.
Stephen McAlone pointed for the home side, firing over after great work from James Scally but it was the visitors who finished the half on top. Glenholmes splitting the uprights before McPeake’s major in the 25th minute. Collecting a quite brilliant, precise pass over the top by Fionn Jemfrey, McPeake remained calm despite Chrissy McMahon rushing out to try and reduce the angle.
With the Paddies ahead 1-9 to 1-1 at half time, Dunloy had a mountain to climb. They did have the wind but eight points felt like a big lead and as Sarsfield started the half with control and patience, the chances of a Cuchullain comeback looked slim.
But, the home side went through the gears starting with Elliott’s first white flag of the hour. Two pointers followed from Aaron Crawford and Jack Martin as Dunloy reduced the Sarafields lead to just three points.
Elliott took his tally to 1-2 for the game before Tom McFerran dissected the posts in the 53rd minute from a free to bring Dunloy to within touching distance.
The comeback was complete with the next attack when the home side scored their second major of the game. Tom McFerran went for a two pointer, only for his effort to drop short. Sarsfelds failed to clear their lines and Charlie Cunning was on hand to palm the ball into the back of the net to give Dunloy a two point lead with six minutes of the hour remaining. The home side wouldn’t record another score however and while they tried to hold onto possession and see out the time remaining, the visitors looked to up the ante.
Sarsfields regained composure and could have had a second goal of their own moments later. Jemfrey racing through and punched the ball beyond McMahon in the Dunloy goals but his effort went to the left of the posts and wide.
Daniel Smyth hit his third white flag of the contest, a brilliant effort with the outside of his boot but the Paddies couldn’t get the equalising score in the time that remained.
The Cuchullains are on their travels for their next football match as they face Rossa on 15 April while Sarsfields will welcome St Brigids to the Bear Pitt on the same evening looking for their opening league win.
TEAMS
DUNLOY: Chrissy McMahon; Michael Traynor, Sean Og Blaney, Cathair McCloskey; Jack Martin, Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella; Ciaran McQuillan, Paudie McGilligan; Charlie Cunning, Tom McFerran, James Scally; Stephen McAlone, Nigel Elliott, Emmett McKendry
Scorers: N Elliott 1-2; C Cunning 1-00; J Martin 0-2 (1TP); A Crawford 0-2 (1TP); S McAlone 0-1; T McFerran 0-1 (1f)
SARSFIELDS: Michael Brady; Kevin Barry McArdle, Connor Laverty, Philip McPeake; Joe McNally, Conor Moley, Liam Mitchell; Cormac Murray, Ethan Mervyn; Daniel Smyth, Conor Glenholmes, Caolan McDonnell; Tomas Skillen, Garry Lennon, Fionn Jemfrey
Scorers: D Smyth 0-3; P McPeake 1-00; C McDonnell 0-2; T Skillen 0-2 (1f); G Lennon 0-2; C Glenholems 0-1
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
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