Antrim JFC – Round 1
Laochra Loch Lao 1-20 Pearses 0-11
Laochra Loch Lao laid down a significant marker in the first round of the Antrim Junior Football Championship, securing a comprehensive 1-20 to 0-11 victory over Na Piarsaigh (Pearses) at Colaiste Feirste. Driven by an electric attack and a solid team ethos, Laochra controlled the tempo for the majority of the contest.
The game burst into life immediately, with Laochra’s number 8, Jack Mac Iomhair, registering a point from play within the opening 10 seconds. Pearses responded swiftly on the two-minute mark when Sean Moreland slotted a point from play to level the proceedings. Gearoid Mac Seáin and Moreland then traded points from play and from a free, keeping the sides neck-and-neck at the four-minute mark.
As the half progressed, Laochra began to assert their dominance. A slick team move in the eighth minute culminated in a point for their corner forward , followed closely by a score from Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh at number 15. A sweeping move that covered the length of the pitch was finished brilliantly by Oisín Mac Crabhagain on 12 minutes, extending the Laochra lead. Following a 13th-minute point from Jack Mac Iomhair and a free by Oisín Mac Crabhagain, Pearses found a lifeline in the 20th minute when Oisin Grew successfully landed a two-pointer, briefly stunting the Laochra momentum.
However, Laochra’s attacking machine kept rolling. After a 23rd-minute point, Jack Mac Iomhair forced a brilliant save from the Pearses goalkeeper, who managed to tip the ball over the bar for a point in the 24th minute. Despite some very good points under pressure from Oisin Grew and Phil Murray for Pearses, Laochra closed the half strongly with excellent points from play by their number 13 and Conchubhar Mac Gafraidh left the halftime scoreline reading Laochra 0-11 to Pearses 0-06.
Second Half: Laochra Pull Away
Pearses emerged from the break with intent, as Sean Moreland grabbed a point in the 33rd minute to cut the deficit. Laochra, however, responded ruthlessly with back-to-back points from their number 13 and Oisín Mac Crabhagain. The Pearses goalkeeper produced a spectacular point-blank save shortly after to keep his side in the contest, which was immediately rewarded by another Sean Moreland point on the nine-minute mark of the half.
Yet, Laochra’s depth proved too much. Jack Mac Iomhair knocked over a point from play, followed quickly by Fionntan Ó Tuathaláin on 34 minutes. Gearoid Mac Seáin added a free after a breach in the Pearses defence, and Connla Ó Coinn kept the scoreboard ticking with a point from play in the 51st minute. Just a minute later, Jack Mac Iomhair hit an exceptional individual score, and Pádraig Ó Préith capped off a stunning end-to-end team move with a point to put the game entirely out of reach.
Sean Moreland knocked over another point for Pearses on 28 minutes, but the decisive blow landed on 60 minutes when Fionntan Ó Tuathaláin found the back of the net, registering the game’s only goal from play. Dubhaltach Mac Crabhagain piled on the misery for Pearses in the closing moments with a fisted point on 61 minutes and another point from play shortly after. Sean Moreland tapped over a final consolation point for Pearses in the 65th minute, but the damage was already done, bringing a commanding performance to an end.
Final Score: Laochra Loch Lao 1-20, Pearses 0-11
TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
https://myalbum.com/album/XgybF7Dkoh4zYp/?invite=e34a9925-b8b7-46c7-b575-5f07cfdd0a14