Senior Football League
Division One
Relegation Semi-Final
Moneyglass 3-27 Con Magees 5-26 (AET)
Sunday 12 July
Brendan McTaggart reports from Slemish Park, Ballymena
Before we start, it should be acknowledged that this was the best game of football I’ve been at this year and by some distance. A game that had everything you would want from a game of football, a game that no one deserved to lose. In the end, it was the Con Magees who held their nerve long enough in extra time to seal their topflight status for the 2027 season.
It was a game that Glenravel will feel like they had to win twice. Leading by eight points at half time and 12 some two minutes into the second half but they were faced with the dogged tenacity of a Moneyglass side who produced a Lazarus style comeback and effectively, probably should have won it at the end of the hour.
It took a two pointer from Calum ‘Bomber’ Higgins to force extra time as the Con Magees used their ‘get out of jail’ card. A second chance that they took with both hands as their game management and fitness levels were seemingly a small step further than what Moneyglass could reach.
In a high scoring game, incredibly Con Magees recorded 5-25 from open play and had 11 different scorers with contributions from all over the pitch. Ryan McQuillan was top of the scoring charts with 2-6 while Calum Higgins, Colla Ward and Cathal Hynds grabbing the other majors.
Moneyglass were reliant on the brilliance of Colum Duffin and Aiden McErlain to lead their scoring threat. McErlain with 2-12 for the 80 minutes, Duffin landing 0-7. Midfielder Seanchan Duffin scored their third goal but the St Ergnat’s men will rue the closing stages of normal time. They looked to see out the clock and hold off the Con Magees charge, a dangerous ploy that ultimately sealed their fate after extra time.
Despite the blistering heat at Slemish Park, there was a fresh wind blowing down the pitch that the Glenravel men had to their advantage in the first half. They held a two point lead after the opening 10 minutes with the sides showing a sign of things to come – Sean Boyd and McQuillan firing over two pointers in those early exchanges. The orange flag would be raised a further nine times throughout the contest.
The first goal came in the 14th minute with Ryan McQuillan palming the ball to the back of the net after great work by David Higgins in the build up.
Colum Duffin’s second free of the match briefly halted the Con Magees charge but a two pointer from Calum Higgins and a fisted point from Colla Ward saw the Glenravel men open an eight point lead.
Moneyglass had a glimpse of the Glenravel goal when Tiernan McCormick bore through the heart of their defence and created the chance for Seanchan Duffin but his effort flew over the bar. If there was any disappointment from that miss by Moneyglass, it was compounded seconds later when Glenravel scored their second major – Calum Higgins taking his tally to 1-2 for the game with a composed finish to put the difference to double figures.
Moneyglass responded well with their first goal coming in the next attack. Aiden McErlain with the incisive run before finding Seanchan Duffin and he made no mistake. It signalled the beginning of a chaotic end to the first half that saw another two goals scored. Cathal Hynds firing beyond Rory Gribbon after great work from Cormac McKeown to turnover the ball while Aiden McErlain scored the second major for Moneyglass after a scramble on the edge of the square.
The half time score saw Glenravel lead 2-12 to 2-7 and given how the opening 30 minutes transpired, no one could have foreseen how the second 30 minutes would play out.
Con Magees held a nine point lead when they scored their fourth goal of the game in the second minute after the restart. Rian Lennon with the run before laying off to Lennon who put away the chance with aplomb.
Moneyglass found another level however with Dermott McErlain splitting the uprights from outside the 40 meter arc to get them firing again. Points followed from Aiden McErlaine (free), Colum Duffin and Dermott McErlain again to reduce the Glenravel lead to seven points.
Rian Lennon briefly halted the Moneyglass comeback but three two point scores in just three minutes had the St Ergnat’s men within two points before the half way mark of the second half. A brace of frees from Aiden McErlain and Seanchan Duffin with the scores.
Glenravel regrouped and had two major chances that saw Colla Ward fire wide from close range before a second chance moments later that saw him bring the best out of Rory Gribbon while Eamon Fyfe’s rebounded effort came back off the foot of the post.
Points from McQuillan (free) and substitute Harry Fyfe were followed by Lennon’s second of the game but the Glenravel men wouldn’t register another score for 14 minutes as Moneyglass took control.
Colum Duffin fired over a two pointer from open play before Aiden McErlain took advantage of a misunderstanding in the Glenravel defence to score the St Ergnat’s mens third goal of the contest. Colum Duffin and Aiden McErlain split the uprights from placed ball to give Moneyglass a two point lead going into the final two minutes.
They looked to slow down the play and try to maintain a level of game management in the closing stages but the Con Magees pressed and pressed. With time running out, they were awarded a ’45 that saw Lennon and Calum Higgins work the ball short between them and the big midfielder splitting the uprights from distance with what was effectively the last act of the hour.
Playing with the wind at the start of extra time, it was the opening 10 minutes that were effectively the winning of the game for the Glenravel men. They held a one point lead before Ryan McQuillan scored his second major of the day, Calum Higgins with the strong run and assist before McQuillan would put five between the sides at the short whistle.
Given what happened in the second half, five points wasn’t a massive lead and well within the reach of Moneyglass but it was one comeback too far as the Con Magees men played with more assurance and patience, bringing an element of control to the game.
Moneyglass did manage to score another brace of two pointers from Aiden McErlain but scores from Aiden O’Donnell (2), Eamon and Harry Fyfe ensured Glenravel were ahead at the final whistle.
A brilliant game of football in draining conditions between two evenly matches sides. Con Magees can look forward to the senior championship now with the knowledge that their status in Division One is secure for next season while Moneyglass will have one more bite of the cherry when they face Tír na nÓg in a winner takes all encounter.
TEAMS
Con Magees starting XV: Jude Scullion; Declan McAuley, Sean Higgins, Niall Dickson; Cathal Hynds, Niall Swann, Rian Lennon; Calum Higgins, David Higgins; Niall Hynds, Colla Ward, Cormac McKeown; Declan Traynor, Eamon Fyfe, Ryan McQuillan
- Subs: Connleth O’Loan for J Scullion (26); Harry Fyfe for D Traynor (44); Eoin Hynds for D Higgins (55); Luke McQuillan for C Ward (56); C Ward for E Fyfe (ET5)
- Scorers: R McQuillan 2-6 (1TP, 1F); C Higgins 1-5 (2TP); C Ward 1-1; C McKeown 0-3; C Hynds 1-00; E Fyfe 0-2, H Fyfe 0-2, R Lennon 0-2, N Hynds 0-2, Aidan O’Donnell 0-2; D Higgins 0-1
Moneyglass starting XV: Rory Gribbon; Bobby Kennedy, James McCormick, Callum Murray; Eunan McErlain, Fearghal Duffin, Sean Boyd; Tiernan McCormick, Seanchan Duffin; Odhran Duffin, Aidan McErlain, Conor O’Kane; Mark Duffin, Colum Duffin, Dermott McErlain
- Subs: James Devlin for O Duffin (HT); Francis Duffin for Fearghal Duffin (ET3)
- Scorers: A McErlain 2-12 (3TPF, 1TP, 1F); C Duffin 0-7 (4Fs, 1TP); S Duffin 1-3 (1TP); D McErlain 0-3 (1TP); S Boyd 0-2 (1TP)
Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)
To see more of Brendan’s photos from the game, follow the link below….
https://myalbum.com/album/rhWM7z4sHey5Yg/?invite=c0a20f0b-bdbf-4c8e-997b-f4f758dc83f0