Above – Aldergrove’s Ronan Hanna punches the air in celebration as Man of the Match Seamus McGarry looks on during Friday evening ‘s Intermediate Football Championship semi-final at Dunsilly.
IFC Semi-Final
St. James Aldergrove 5-13 St. Mary’s Ahoghill 0-10
St James Aldergrove cruised into the final of the Intermediate Football Championship when they recorded a comprehensive win over a sadly off the pace, St. Mary’s Ahoghill on an excellent Dunsilly surface on Friday night.
The Cloney side made the better start and were guilty of a number of poor misses before Colla McDonnell (fisted), Conor Crossey and Patrick Graham shot them into an early lead.
The Crumlin side were guilty of some poor shooting themselves but when their star man, Seamus McGarry adjusted his shooting sights they suddenly came to life.
The mercurial McGarry kicked four on the bounce between the 12th and the 17th minute and Ryan Owens as Conleth Hendron took a firm grip around midfield and Lewis Smith looked to be in for a goal but was foiled by a late challenge.
The goal wasn’t long on arriving however and a sweeping move saw Ronan Hanna set up Seamus McGarry with a defence splitting pass and the Aldergrove number 11 made no mistake to move his side four ahead after 22 minutes.
Ahoghill tried to respond and Shane O’Neill in the St. James goal came to their rescue with a smart save before McGarry pointed at the other end to take his total for the evening to 1-5.
Ahoghill were struggling to cope with the pace of their opponents but a heavily strapped James O’Connell raised an Orange flag and when Ronan Graham added a pointed free there was just two between the sides.
Those minutes leading up to the break would prove decisive however with Ryan Owens firing home for Aldergrove’s second goal following a slick build up and 2 minutes later, Gerard Mallon finished to the net for a third before McGarry concluded the first half scoring with another fine point.
The Crumlin men looked to be in firm control as the sides left for the dressing rooms and St. Mary’s needed to show a marked improvement if they were to close the 9 point gap separating the sides at half time.
Tom McGlone did raise the first flag of the second half but Seamus McGarry replied immediately and another decisive move tore the Cloney defence wide open with the hard working Ronan Hanna firing home goal number four with only four minutes of the new half gone.
It went from bad to worse for St. Mary’s when they conceded a penalty as they fought to contain a rampant Aldergrove attack and McGarry stroked the ball to the net to move his side 5-8 to 0-7 ahead after seven minute and even at this early juncture it was all over.
St. James were dominating the kick-outs with Ryan Owens and Eoin Gough prominent and they had willing runners all over the field as they continued to press forward.
Another point from the majestic McGarry and a fisted effort from Hanna kept the score board ticking before James O’Connell replied from a 10th minute free as Fergal Burke and Chris McStein were introduced to the action.
Ahoghill were giving it all they had and Shane O’Neill in the Aldergrove goals pulled off a good blocking save to deny Tom McGlone before James O’Connell pointed another free for a St. Mary’s side who were living on scraps.
Burke marked his introduction with a point for the Crumlin side with James O’Connell replying from another free but it was simply an act of damage limitation with substitute Declan Gough kicking two excellent late points to see St. James comfortably home.
A splendid performance from a Seamus McGarry inspired Aldergrove who were superior all over the field and played with a pace and commitment that their opponents quite simply couldn’t live with on the night.
The Crumlin side will, no doubt have a keen eye on Saturday’s other semi-final between Naomh Eanna and Gort na Mona at Glenavy and on this form St James will fancy their chances of going all the way.
St. James Aldergrove: 1 Shane O’Neill, 2 Corey Fogerty, 3 Emmet Ervine, 4 Logan Fleming, 5 Chris McVeigh, 6 Eoin Gough, 8 Ryan Owens, 9 Conleth Hendron, 10 Gerard Mallon, 11 Seamus McGarry, 12 Oisin Graham, 13 Ronan Hanna, 14 Lewis Smith, 15 Cormac McGarry, 19 Malachy Burns, 26 Conor Mackel
Subs: 7 Declan Gough, 17 Fergal Burke, 18 Chris McStein, 23 Ryan McCarthy, 22 Adam Connelly
St. Mary’s Ahoghill: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham, 20 Martin Graham, 6 Diarmaid Graham, 7 Eamonn Brady, 8 Patrick Graham, 9 Tom McGlone, 10 Dan O’Neill, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Patrick Dougan, 13 Conor Crossey, 14 Jamers O’Connell, 15 Colla McDonnell.
Subs: 18 Ryan McPeake, 23 Ben Friel, Donal Graham, Seamus McKeever
Referee: Ray Matthews
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