Antrim Under 16 B Football Championship
Con Magees Glenravel 2-11 Tir na nÓg Randalstown 1-09
Con Magees Glenravel eventually shook off a relentless Tír na nÓg Randalstown to secure a breathless 2-11 to 1-09 victory after extra time in this Antrim Under-16B football quarter-final at Fr Maginn Park.
The defensive, low-scoring opening period belied the creeping intensity of the contest. Glenravel drew first blood in the ninth minute when centre-forward Noah Mackle confidently dispatched a penalty to set the tone. Points from Killian Cassidy and John og Darragh stretched the home side’s advantage, while Tír na nÓg struggled to convert their hard-won possession, registering their sole first-half score through Oistin Mooney in the 22nd minute. At the interval, the hosts held a steady, if unspectacular, 1-02 to 0-01 lead.
The tempo shifted dramatically upon the restart. Man of the match Dylan McMullan and Oliver Mooney tapped over early points to extend Glenravel’s buffer to 1-04. However, the Randalstown boys ignited their challenge just past the quarter-hour mark when Oistin Mooney found the back of the net straight from a 45. Oisin Henry quickly followed up with a sharp point to narrow the gap. While Glenravel’s McMullan and Patrick J Kelly responded to keep the hosts ahead at 1-06 to 1-02 with minutes remaining, Tír na nÓg produced a storming finale. Corey Dowie began the late rally, and Ciaran Corr held his nerve to slot two crucial frees. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Cadáin Dickson fired over a dramatic equalizer to tie the game at 1-06apiece, forcing extra time beneath the rapidly fading Glenravel light.
Momentum seemed to rest with the visitors. Despite Glenravel inching ahead with early extra-time points from Cassidy and McMullan, Tír na nÓg responded fiercely. Excellent scores from Thomas Neeson, Dowie, and Corr saw them take the lead for the first time in the match, sitting at 1-09 to 1-08 by the extra-time turnaround.
Yet, the home side refused to fold when it mattered most. A McMullan free levelled affairs, and Noah Mackle immediately edged Glenravel back in front. The defining climax arrived in the waning moments of the final period when second-half substitute Damian‘Dee’ Laverty seized his opportunity, smashing the ball to the net to break Tír na nÓg hearts. McMullan added a final flourish with a late point right at the death, ensuring Glenravel marched on to the semi-finals after an unforgettable battle.
GLENRAVEL: 16 Cillian Cree 2 Ollie Joe Mc Alonan, 3 Callum O’Neill, 4 Owen Reid, 5 Eoghan McCormick, 6 Cormac Higgins, 7 Sean Doherty, 8 Noah Mackle, 9 Dylan McMullan, 10 Killian Cassidy, 11 John og Darragh, 12 Oliver Mooney, 13 Dara Ward, 14 Harry Wilkinson, 15 Patrick J Kelly, Subs – 17 Odhran Higgins, 18 Harry Blaney, 19 Connlaodh Clarke, 20 Ewan Fyfe, 21 Ollie Mullan, 22 Damian (Dee) Laverty.
TIR NA NÓG: 1 Kyran Shannon, 2 Ciaran Redmond, 3 James Mullan, 4 Eoghan Kennedy, 5 Ethan Ryan McLaverty, 6 Cillian Gillespie, 7 Caoimhin McCloskey, 8 Oisin Henry, 9 Caodhan Letters, 10 Ciaran Corr, 11 Oistin Mooney, 12 Thomas Neeson, 13 Rori Martin, 14 Oisin Sisk, 15 Corey Dowie, 17 Daniel McAreavey, 18 Cadáin Dickson, 19 Matthew Cregan, 20 Rónán Heffron, 21 Charlie Neely, 22 Adam Kerr, 23 Sean Convery.
Referee – Joe McCavana
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