Antrim Football League – Division One
Moneyglass 2-14 Dunloy 1-18
Wednesday 20 May
Brendan McTaggart reports from the Loughbeg Road, Moneyglass
Dunloy produced a strong second half performance against Moneyglass on Wednesday evening to take the league points on offer. By the time Kevin Parke called for time, it was just the minimum between the sides with the home side left with a strong sense of ‘what might have been.’
Having led by two at the break and looking like the better side for long periods of the first half, Moneyglass were pegged back by a quite brilliant start to the second half by the Cuchullains. They looked to have weathered that storm when Dermott McErlain fired over a two pointer and Sean Boyd followed up with a major, the home side looked to take control. Dunloy finished strongly however with Donnach Laverty’s free taking ability giving them the edge. He would finish top of the scoring charts with 1-5 while Tom McFerran’s second half performance was a large reason for the Dunloy turnaround – three of his four points coming in that opening quarter of the second half as the Cuchullains cut loose.
The home side were excellent in that first half with Callum Murray, Sean Boyd, Aidan McErlain and Seanchan Duffin all impressing. Second half goals from Sean Boyd and Odhran Duffin kept the St Ergnat’s men in the game but Dunloy held out for the points.
The opening quarter was a fairly even affair that the home side just edged. Aidan McErlain was giving the Cuchullain defence plenty of problems with a couple of points while Caolan Boyd and Dermott McErlain were also on the scoresheet. Dunloy’s response came through points for Tom McFerran, Reece Cunning and Oisin McCamphill.
A further brace of points from Aiden McErlain stretched the Moneyglass advantage to three by the half way mark of the half.
In a game that ebbed and flowed, both sides coughed up turnovers that added to what was an entertaining game. The home side were worthy of that early advantage but Dunloy hit back with the opening goal of the contest. Donnach Laverty finding the back of the net after good work from Eoin McFerran and Nigel Elliott in the build up.
Moneyglass’ response was to fire over another brace of unanswered points. Sean and Caolan Boyd with their second points of the contest. Dunloy answered with Luke McFerran marking his return to the Dunloy football shirt before a free from McCamphill restored parity with seven minutes of the half remaining but Moneyglass landed the last two scores of the half to give the home side a 0-10 to 1-5 lead at the break.
With a slight wind advantage in their favour for the restart, Dunloy made a lightning start to the second half. Points from Laverty (free), McFerran (two) and McCallin brought them into a two point lead after just eight minutes of the second half. Moneyglass would register their opening score with a point from Sean Boyd, electing to handpass over the bar when he had a half chance for goal but Dunloy’s dominance continued. A further three unanswered points from Tom McFerran, Aaron Crawford and Eoin McFerran gave the visitors a four point lead.
A brilliant two pointer from Dermott McErlain gave the home side the lift they badly needed before Sean Boyd’s major in the 45th minute. His initial effort was superbly saved by Chrissy McMahon in the Dunloy goals but he reacted quickest to the breaking ball and palmed the ball to the empty net.
Dunloy responded with Tom McFerran and McCallin edging them ahead once again but the second Moneyglass goal came in the 50th minute thanks largely to the persistence of Odhran Duffin. The Dunloy defence stuttered when it looked like the Moneyglass man was being fouled but Duffin played on and made no mistake when he got the half yard needed in front of goal.
But, just like the first Moneyglass goal, Dunloy responded superbly. A trio of scores from Laverty frees – one from outside the 40 meter arc put the Cuchullains two points ahead at the end of the hour. The home side continued to look for ways back into the game but a pointed free from Colum Duffin was their only reward in the time that remained.
A highly entertaining contest that the visitors probably did enough to take the points on offer. Dunloy will welcome Lamh Dhearg to Pearse on Saturday evening for their next match while Moneyglass will make the short journey to All Saints Ballymena in search for their second league win of the campaign.
TEAMS:
Moneyglass Starting XV: Jamie McLaughlin; Eunan McErlain, Matthew Mullan, James McCormick; Callum Murray, Fearghal Duffin, Odhran Duffin; Seanchan Duffin, Dermott McErlain; Sean Boyd, Colum Duffin, Conor O’Kane; Charlie McCloskey, Aidan McErlain, Caolan Boyd
- Subs: Tyler Cassidy for C McCloskey (38), Conleth McCann for C O’Kane (43)
- Scorers: S Boyd 1-3; A McErlain 0-4; O Duffin 1-00; D McErlain 0-3 (1xTP); C Duffin 0-2 (2F); C Boyd 0-2
Dunloy Starting XV: Chrissy McMahon; Sean Og Blaney, Aaron Crawford, Cathair McCloskey; Reece Cunning, Ryan McGarry, Jack Martin; Eoin McFerran, Paudie McGilligan; Luke McFerran, Tom McFerran, Oisin McCamphill; Oisin McCallin, Nigel Elliott, Donnach Laverty
- Subs: James Scally for R McGarry (12); Eoghan McGrath for O McCamphill (53); Ciaran McQuillan for J Scally (57)
- Scorers: D Laverty 1-5 (3F, 1xTPF); T McFerran 0-4; O McCallin 0-2; O McCamphill 0-2 (1F); E McFerran 0-2; L McFerran 0-1; A Crawford 0-1; R Cunning 0-1
Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Eanna)
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