Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 4

Sarsfields 0-13-1-15 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Davitt Park 

Lámh Dhearg progressed to the quarter-final of the Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC after seeing off the challenge of a determined Sarsfields side 1-15-0-13 at Davitt Park and the result in Toome also going in their favour. 

The Hannahstown side were failing to live to their side of the bargain, trailing 0-9-0-7 at the interval- however they showed their clinical side in a ten-minute period in which they had the numerical advantage after the break. 

Ben Rice struck the game’s only goal and proved pivotal as they held out for victory. Elsewhere Portglenone edged out Aghagallon in Toome and when news of that result filtered through to the Lámhs players in their huddle in Davitt Park, there was a huge sigh of relief that their Championship campaign will continue on as they face Championship holders Dunloy in the last eight. 

Early scores were exchanged between Kevin Quinn and Philip McPeake inside of two minutes. 

Pearse Fitzsimons re-established his side’s lead, but the Paddies should have had the game’s opening goal after five minutes. 

An attempted Caolan McDonnell point crashed off the large post and fell kindly for Garry Lennon whose shot on the turn drew a fine quick reaction save from John Finucane at the expense of a 65’ that converted by Cayden Smyth. 

Sarsfields forged ahead through a splendid Caolan McDonnell point on the break, though Niall McGarry clipped over to restore parity a few minutes later. 

Paddy Cunningham opened his account for the evening from Marc Jordan’s lay-off and he then added his first placed ball of the evening from close range after Ben Rice had his run checked. 

The Paddies replied in turn through a second converted 45’ from goalkeeper Cayden Smyth and a Garry Lennon shot that dropped over. 

A quickfire exchange between Cunningham (free) and Caolan McDonnell tied things up again at 0-6 apiece. 

Philip McPeake was illegally grappled back in the view of referee Ray Matthews and from the resulting free outside the arc, Cayden Smyth kicked the two-pointer to nudge the Paddies ahead for the second time. 

A further score from Tomas Skillen extended their lead, with Lámh Dhearg substitute Jack Davitt reducing the deficit upon entering the fray before the half concluded as Sarsfields held a 0-9-0-7 lead at the interval. 

The turning point in the game came within three minutes of the restart after Kevin Barry McArdle was black-carded for an overzealous attempt at halting the run of Marc Jordan towards goal. 

In the ten minutes the Lámhs had a numerical advantage they first restored parity, Paddy Cunningham scored the resulting free and Ben Rice’s point from play squared things at 0-9 apiece. 

Paddy Cunningham swept over his second score from play and a few minutes later landed a two-pointer from a free to give his side a 0-12-0-9 lead. 

In response Fionn Jemfrey fisted over from the angle, but the game’s only goal pushed the gap to five and Sarsfields had a job on their hands upon McArdle’s return. 

In the 43rd minute a sliced attempt from outside the arc by Paddy Cunningham was palmed down by Pearse Fitzsimons and Ben Rice was waiting underneath the break to fire a shot into the corner past Cayden Smyth and make it 1-12-0-10. 

Sarsfields thought they had found the perfect response in the 45th minute when Jay Maguire dropped in a shot that Cormac Murray palmed to the net, but after consulting with his umpires- Ray Matthews signalled for a square ball. 

Ross Murray added a further point, palming a floated Marc Jordan pass over the bar from close range with little under a quarter of an hour remaining. 

With six and a half minutes remaining Sarsfields were still down by six, though Conor Moley swung over a fine two-pointer from play to give his side renewed hope. 

Substitute Owen McKeown popped over at the other end in reply, but Sarsfields were given a golden opportunity to make it a score game after a Lámh Dhearg free was cancelled out and the ball moved forward for dissent into a two-point opportunity for the Paddies that Cayden Smyth was unable to profit from. 

A Daniel Smyth free reduced arrears in added time, however Adam Murray converted a free with the final kick of the evening to ensure his side ran out 1-15-0-13 winners at the conclusion. 

There was a nervous wait for the Hannahstown side in the immediate aftermath as they awaited the final score from Toome, and there was palpable relief when the scoreline filtered through that the result in Toome ensured they would progress to the knock-out rounds and a quarter-final clash with County Champions Dunloy in a fortnights time. 

SARSFIELDS: C Smyth (0-4, 1×0-2ptf, 0-2 45’), M McPolin, C Laverty, KB McArdle, E Mervyn, D Smyth (0-1f), C McDonnell (0-2), C McKernan, C Murray, P McPeake (0-1), C Moley (1×0-2pt), J Maguire, T Skillen (0-1), G Lennon (0-1), F Jemfrey (0-1). SUBS: L Mitchell for P McPeake (51), C Mulligan for J Maguire (51), S Walsh for F Jemfrey (54). 

LÁMH DHEARG: J Finucane, M McGarry, Ross Murray (0-1), D Smyth, B Rice (1-1), D Lynch, D Martin, P Fitzsimons (0-1), M Jordan, N McGarry (0-1), R Murray, K Quinn (0-1), P Cunningham (0-7, 1×0-2ptf, 3×0-1f), P Mervyn, M Finnegan. SUBS: J Davitt (0-1) for D Martin (28), O McKeown (0-1) for M Finnegan (33), A Murray (0-1f) for N McGarry (38), C Murray for P Cunningham (53). 

REFEREE: Ray Matthews (ROSSA)