Report and Photographs: Brian McKee
Minor Football C Semi-Final
Ardoyne 6-10 Lamh Dhearg 2-18
A breathtaking, 8-goal masterclass left spectators breathless at Fenell Park as Ardoyne Kickhams and Lámh Dhearg went toe-to-toe in an exhilarating Minor C Championship semi-final. An unrelenting display of attacking football saw the sides locked in a draw when the short whistle brought a temporary halt to a chaotic, high-scoring opening half.
The home side could not have dreamed of a better start. With just three minutes on the clock, Ardoyne’s star forward, Ryan O’Neill, ignited the contest by breaching the Hannahstown defence to slot home the first of his four goals.
Lámh Dhearg refused to be rattled and the scene was quickly set for a captivating duel between O’Neill and Lámh Dhearg talisman Matthew Murray. Murray initiated the Hannahstown response by sending over a superb two-pointer from play to steady his side. Moments later, the visitors took the lead when Daniel Mulholland found the net with a clinical finish from play.
By the ten-minute mark, the Hannahstown men had established complete dominance. Their grip on the game tightened significantly when Mulholland struck again, bagging his second goal of the afternoon. Backed up by a well-taken point from play by Fegan, Lámh Dhearg rapidly established a commanding six-point cushion.
Ardoyne’s only reprieve during this blistering spell came from the in-form Barry McKervey, who kicked a fine point from play, signalling that he would be a constant thorn in the visitors’ side.
As the clock ticked toward the 20-minute mark, Ardoyne finally found answers to Lámh Dhearg’s defensive stranglehold. McKervey once again provided the crucial inspiration, splitting the posts with a vital two-point effort from play. The momentum completely swung back to the hosts in the 26th minute when Conor Larkin slotted home a beautiful goal.
The final ten minutes of the half produced a high-scoring frenzy. O’Neill capped an astonishing individual performance in the black-and-white jersey by slotting home his second goal of the half, sending the home crowd into raptures. Yet, there was to be one final twist before the break.
Deep into stoppage time, Murray coolly stepped up to slot a pressure-filled two-pointer from a free, levelling the scores and bringing a sensational first half to a dramatic close.
Half-Time: Ardoyne 3-03 Lámh Dhearg 2-06
The second half began with the same blistering intensity, but it was Ardoyne who found another gear to break the deadlock. Ryan O’Neill continued his unstoppable afternoon, terrifying the Hannahstown full-back line. Turning provider before ruthlessly rattling the net three more times, O’Neill completed a truly remarkable personal tally of four goals.
While O’Neill provided the finishing touches, Ciaran Lopes produced a masterclass of his own. Lopes ran the length of the field throughout the match, continuously cutting the Lámh Dhearg defence apart to create endless opportunities for his teammates.
Lámh Dhearg fought gallantly to stay in touch, relying heavily on the accuracy of Matthew Murray and continuous pressure from their half-forward line. The Hannahstown men showed immense character, tagging over fine points from play and set pieces to keep themselves within striking distance, eventually racking up a highly respectable 2-18.
Ardoyne had an answer every time the visitors threatened a comeback. Alongside O’Neill’s goalscoring exhibition, the North Belfast side showed great composure in possession, kicking ten crucial points over the course of the hour to keep their opponents at arm’s length.
When referee Ray Mathews blew the final whistle, it was Ardoyne who emerged victorious from an unforgettable championship classic. The 6-10 to 2-18 scoreline seals their place in the Minor C Championship Final, capping off a spectacular afternoon of attacking football at Fennell Park.
Final Score: Ardoyne 6-10 Lámh Dhearg 2-18
Ciceam Ard Eoin
1.Breandan Lagan 2.Sean Og Curran 3. Eoghan Craig 4. Aidan McConnell 5. Ciaran Lopes 6. Ruairi Teague 7. Aidan Mailey (0-01) 9. Oisin Copeland 10. Martin Keenan 11. John Lindsay (0-02) 13. Antoin Mallon (1-0) 14. Ryan O’Neill (4-0)15. Conor Larkin (1-0) 16. Eoghan Gorman 17. Kailum Murphy 18. Barry McKervey (0-06, 3f)19. Cormac Corrigan 20. Tiernan McKenna (0-01) 21. Gerard Mailey 22. Ryan Donnelly 23. Eoghan Maguire 26. Eamonn Fennell
Lamh Dhearg
1. Michael McCluskey 2. Orin Agnew 3. Tiernan Lee 4. Oisín Campbell 5. Daniel Mulholland (1-01) 6. Oisín Mackey 7. Darragh Quinn 8. Aaron Kennedy 9. Eoin Flynn
11. Matthew Murray (0-13,8f) 12. Ronan Webb (0-02) 13. Aaron Brady 14. Dylan Fegan (1-02) 15. Conal Quinn 16. Oran Laverty 18. Cairan Herron 19. Caoimhin Saunders
Referee: Ray Matthews
Ardoyne will now meet Naomh Comhghall, who defeated St. Enda’s in the other semi-final, in the decider in 2 week’s time.
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