ACFL Division 1
Erin’s Own Cargin 1-14 (17) – St. John’s 2-14 (20)
St. John’s weathered a fierce second-half comeback from reigning champions Cargin to claim a three-point victory in a high-quality Division 1 encounter in Toome on Wednesday night. A dominant first half, aided by a significant breeze, ultimately gave the Belfast side enough cushion to withstand a Callum Gribbin-inspired Cargin resurgence. St. John’s exploited the conditions early, racing into a commanding 1-12 to 0-5 lead by the 28th minute. Their attack was fluid, with Conchur Adams and Conal McGlade
finding their range with ease. The pressure told when Conor McEvoy stepped up to bury a penalty after a foul in the small square.
Cargin looked shell-shocked but found a lifeline just before the short whistle. In a mirror-image scenario, David Johnston was upended and Callum Gribbin stepped up to confidently dispatch the penalty award to the net.
HT: Cargin 1-05 St. John’s 1-12
With the wind at their backs, Cargin emerged with renewed intensity. Paul McCann got them off the mark seven minutes in, and as the pressure mounted, points from Marty Kane and Jack O’Neill cut the deficit. Callum Gribbin continued his fine form, moving into a playmaker role that had the visitors’ defence at full stretch.
The game’s turning point arrived in the 19th minute of the half. After soaking up a sustained period of Cargin pressure, St. John’s broke at pace. Paddy McBride spearheaded a well-organized transition, feeding Conchur Adams, who finshed from close range and despite appeals from the home side the goal was allowed to stand.
Despite the setback, Cargin rallied again. Points from Gribbin and a long-range effort from John Carron brought the gap back to just two points with five minutes remaining. However, the Whiterock Road men remained composed; OdhranMcAuley stepped up to slot over the final point of the game with St. John’s holding on to possession to ensure they would head home with the spoils.
Callum Gribbin was Cargin’s outstanding performer and was a scoring threat every time he got posession while Paddy McBride led St. John’s from mid-field and with Conal McGlade and Conchur Adams in sparkling form the Whiterock men were worthy winners in the end.
Erin’s Own Cargin: Callum Gribbin (1-08), Paul McCann (0-01), Marty Kane (0-01), Jack O’Neill (0-01), John Carron (0-01), James Laverty (0-2)
St. John’s: Conchur Adams (1-04), Conor McEvoy (1-00), Conal McGlade (0-04), Tomas Adams (0-02), Paddy McBride (0-01), Odhran McAuley (0-01), Others (0-02).
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