Antrim Football League – Division 3
Eire Og 0-17 O’Donnell’s 1-18
Report and pics by Philip Cooke
The battle for the Division 3 Football League title goes down to the last day with leaders Rasharkin and second placed O’Donnell’s locked on 19 points each, though Rasharkin have a superior scoring difference. While Rasharkin kept on track by travelling to Colaiste Feirste and beating Lochra Loch Lae, O’Dee’s travelled over to Woodlands and beat Eire Og in a closely contested contest.
On a hot and humid evening, the game burst into life almost immediately when Éire Óg goalkeeper King produced a remarkable goal-line save after just 19 seconds to keep his side level. Cardinal O’Donnells opened the scoring in the second minute through Fergal McNerney. The first half was a closely contested affair, with both sides trading scores in an end-to-end encounter. However, three unanswered points from Éire Óg allowed them to gain momentum and edge ahead.
Cardinal O’Donnells responded well, and with Éire Óg striking the post twice from frees in quick succession, the visitors capitalised to turn the game around. By the interval, O’Donnells held a narrow two-point advantage.
Éire Óg made the brighter start to the second half. Eoin Dixon converted a free before Luca Mulholland landed an excellent two-pointer. A further free from Conor Dixon pushed Éire Óg into the lead.
The advantage was short-lived, however, as Cardinal O’Donnells hit back through a free from Padraig McKissock and Richard McEvoy’s first score of the evening.
The contest remained finely balanced until a pivotal moment saw Éire Óg concede a penalty. Barry McDaid received his second yellow card of the match and was dismissed.
McKissock stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was brilliantly saved by the Éire Óg goalkeeper. The rebound, however, fell kindly back into McKissock’s path, and he made no mistake at the second attempt, firing the ball to the net.
Further scores from McKissock, who added two frees, along with points from Richard McEvoy and Marc McKenna, ensured Cardinal O’Donnells finished strongly and secured the vital victory.
Scorers for Éire Óg:
Eoin Dixon 0-5 (0-4 from frees, including two two-point frees), Luca Mulholland 0-3 (1 two-point score), Conor Dixon 0-4 (0-2 frees), Conor McKenna 0-2, Patrick Maxwell 0-1, Ronan McKeown 0-1, Gavin Donnelly 0-1.
Scorers for Cardinal O’Donnells:
Padraig McKissock 1-6 (0-6 frees), Marc McKenna 0-4, Fionnbar McKernan 0-3, Jonathan McKenna 0-2, Richard McAvoy 0-2, Fergal McNerney 0-1,