Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship – Group1 Round 1
Conn Mag Aoidh 2-15 Tír na nÓg 1-18
Conn Mag Aoidh will look back on this Senior Football Championship encounter with a mixture of frustration and disappointment after surrendering a game they largely controlled, as Tír na nÓg’s clinical finishing ensured the spoils were shared in a 2-15 to 1-18 draw.
In other words, Conn Mag Aoidh created the opportunities to win the game — but Tír na nÓg made far better use of theirs.
Ryan McQuillan opened the scoring inside the first three minutes before adding another shortly afterwards, but Tír na nÓg settled and responded through Oliver McAtamney, Darragh Fagan and Eamon Óg McAllister.
McQuillan was central to Conn Mag Aoidh’s first-half performance, contributing a goal and a number of points. His goal in the 19th minute helped Conn Mag Aoidh regain control, before further scores from McQuillan, Colla Ward and Cahal Hynds saw them move into a 1-7 to 0-7 half-time lead.
The statistics tell the story of the opening half. Conn Mag Aoidh had the greater share of possession and territory, while their opponents were forced to rely on making the most of the chances that came their way.
Tír na nÓg came out strongly after the break, however, and Oliver McAtamney fired in a goal just five minutes into the second half to bring the sides level at 1-7 apiece.
Conn Mag Aoidh responded through Niall Hynds and McQuillan, with Aiden O’Donnell also getting on the scoresheet. Cormac McKeown then added two points as Conn Mag Aoidh appeared to be edging towards victory.
But Tír na nÓg simply refused to go away.
Darragh Fagan, who proved particularly influential from placed balls, kept the scoreboard moving, while Eamon Óg McAllister, Barry McCormick and Conor O’Neill also contributed as the visitors remained within touching distance.
With Conn Mag Aoidh leading 1-15 to 1-14, McQuillan looked to have delivered the decisive blow when he converted a penalty in the 59th minute, putting his side three points clear on 2-15 to 1-16.
Yet there was still time for Tír na nÓg.
Eamon Óg McAllister reduced the deficit to two before Darragh Fagan calmly converted a free deep into stoppage time to bring the sides level at 2-15 to 1-18.
It was a dramatic finish, but one which will leave Conn Mag Aoidh wondering what might have been.
There were also some excellent individual performances for Conn Mag Aoidh. Ryan McQuillan finished with 2-4 and 10 points, while Cormac McKeown contributed two two-point scores and a point. Colla Ward, Cahal Hynds, Niall Hynds, Rian Lennon and Aiden O’Donnell also got on the scoresheet.
For Tír na nÓg, Darragh Fagan finished with eight points, including four from frees, while Oliver McAtamney contributed their crucial goal and a point. Eamon Óg McAllister added three points.
Ultimately, this was a game Conn Mag Aoidh had every opportunity to win. They had more possession, dominated the kickouts, and led for significant periods, but football is decided by scores rather than possession statistics.
And on the day, Tír na nÓg were simply more clinical.
Conn Mag Aoidh will feel that they left a victory behind them, while Tír na nÓg can take great credit for staying in the contest and showing the composure to take their chances when it mattered most.
Conn Mag Aoidh: 1 Jude Scullion, 2 Declan McAuley, 3 Sean Higgins, 4 Niall Dickson, 5 Cahal Hynds, 6 Niall Swann, 7 Rian Lennon, 8 Callum Higgins, 9 Davy Higgins, 10 Eoin Hynds, 11 Colla Ward, 12 Niall Hynds, 13 Harry Fyfe, 14 Ryan McQuillan, 15 Cormac McKeown.
Tír na nÓg: 1 Sean Paul McAtamney, 2 Ciaran McGrellis, 3 Brandon McLarnon, 4 Ryan Crilly, 5 Aodhan Tolan, 6 Barry McCormick, 7 Ciaran Logan, 8 Cormac Devlin, 9 Ciaran O’Neill, 10 Sean McKeown, 11 Caleb Smith, 12 Oliver McAtamney, 13 Eamon Óg McAllister, 14 Darragh Fagan, 15 Connor McKenna.
Referee – Paul Burns
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