Antrim Football League Division 1

Erin’s Own Cargin 6-11 Con Magees Glenravel 1-07

Reigning county champions Cargin kept on the winning trail when they proved just too good for their visitors, Con Magees Glenravel on their own sward at a pleasant if chilly evening in Toome on Wednesday evening.

It has been a while since the Con Magees arrived at Toome on a Division One league assignment but the Glensmen having gained promotion in an excellent 2023 came a calling on Wednesday evening looking forward to a long tenure back in the top grade.

The Glensmen have not been seen at their best thus far in their new niche and arrived at the Toome arena awaiting their first positive return in 2024. However if a good start to proceedings was sought they were to be disappointed as the home side were quick from the traps, and back to back points from Tomas Mc Cann showed the visitors the scale of their challenge.

Glenravel sought the comfort of a first score to settle into the game they were to be struck a blow in the midriff in the 5^th minute when Jamie Gribbin combined in stylish approach with the Mc Cann brothers Michael, and Tomas to finish to the back of the net.

The visitors were on the board in the 13^th minute when Eamon Ward split the posts but such did not hint at a change in the direction of the game. The home side lost the services of Mark Kelly to injury early in play but his replacement Brendan Laverty settled quickly into the game and after he sent Tomas Mc Cann in to add a point David Johnston and Michael Mc Cann combined to send Conan Johnston in to grab a 12^th minute goal.

Cargin were calling the shots in the opening quarter and as the Glenravel men looked to bridge the gap the home side regained control as Conan Johnston and the eye catching Jamie Gribbin who was in fine fettle sent Tomas Mc Cann in for goal number 3 to make it 3-04 to 0-02 at the 25^th minute.

The Con Magees looked to be in for a goal as the opening half entered the last phase but although the approach to the posts, made by a combination of Niall Hynds and Aiden O’ Donnell, set up the chance of a major, but Cargin net minder John Mc Nabb was quick to post the no entry sign making a fine save to deny the corner forward. Aiden O’ Donnell did  add a point to the Glenravel total in the latter stages of the first period and when the livewire corner man Eamon Ward,  having made fine progress towards the home side’s posts  was brought down in the ‘square’ a penalty was awarded by match referee Ray Matthews.  The visitors had a chance of finishing the half on a high, but the excellent Cargin keeper John Mc Nabb saved the shot and so the county champions went to the changing rooms at the break with a healthy 3-05 to 0-03 interval advantage.

Having started in the second half with a healthy advantage Cargin retained their vice like grip on the game and their ageless ace Tomas Cann combined with Gerard Mc Cann to open the way for Tom Shivers to add goal number 4.

The home side continued to rule the roost as the second period made progress and after Tomas Mc Cann added a couple more points to extend his personal haul replacement Ben Mc Larnon and Tom Shivers combined to open the door for full back Kevin Mc Shane to come forward from his central defensive position to underline his attack quality with a slick finish and a 43^rd minute goal.

The end in sight and the home side dashing towards the end line retained the positive in search of scores as Jamie Gribbin who had an excellent hour combined with Tom Shivers to send replacement Ben Mc Larnon in for a goal.

The end was in sight as Michael Mc Cann and the visitors Aiden O’ Donnell exchanged points with Donal Mc Quillan who had a good game adding one at the other end for the visitors.

Tomas Cann who had another excellent hour in the green added a further couple of points in the latter stages with Conan Johnston adding another but it was to be the visitors who would strike last.

Cargin net minder John Mc Nabb, who had a super game made a splendid save from a Niall Swan delivery in the last minute but Niall Hynds did claim the clearance to return the leather to the back of the net to end, what was a footballing lesson on a bright note.

Cargin

John Mc Nabb, Sean og Quinn, Kevin Mc Shane (1- 00),Cahir Donnelly, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Jamie Gribbin (1-01), Gerard Mc Cann, James Laverty, David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann (2-06), Mark Kelly, Conan Johnston (1-01), Tom Shivers (1-02),Michael Mc Cann (0-02)

Subs, Brendan Laverty (0-01), Callum Gribbin, Ben Mc Larnon (1-00), Hugh O’ Donnell,

Glenravel

Shaun 0’ Boyle, Charlie Henry, Eoin Mc Cusker, Conor Higgins, Niall Swann, Cathal Hynds, Declan Mc Auley, David Higgins, Niall Hynds (1-00), Declan Traynor, Sean Mc Kay, Daniel Mc Quillan (0-03), Eamon Ward (0-02), Ryan Mc Quillan, Aiden O’ Donnell (0-02)

Referee – Ray Matthews O’ Donovan Rossa

O’Neill’s ACFL Division 1

Kikckhams Creggan 0-13 St. Gall’s 1-12

St. Gall’s continue to remerge as a strong force in Antrim football and tonight in Creggan they recorded their 5^th win in five starts to move proudly to the top of the league after a win over Kickham’s on the Staffordstown Road.

The former All Ireland club champions have gone through a major rebuilding job in recent years and the hard work is beginning to pay dividends. Many new faces have come to the fore in recent years with a sprinkling of the old brigade still there to add a bit of knowhow.

Amongst the veterans on duty Chris Kerr, Aodhan Gallagher and Micky Pollock all played a big part in their sides victory and their experience could be vital to Terry O’Neill’s side as the season progresses.

The certainly didn’t get it all their own way against a Creggan side, missing more than a few regulars and those lucky enough to be in attendance were treated to a full-blooded encounter of championship intensity.

It was one of their more seasoned campaigners, Micky Pollock who opened the scoring with a point in the second minute with Creggan responding through a Conor Small free and a point from Patrick McAuley to take the lead by the 5^th minute.

It was end to end football right from the start with Niall Burns bring the Milltown side level, Small restoring the Creggan lead from a second free and Pollock squaring it for the second time by the 10^th minute.

The turning point in the game came after 13 minutes when the visitors forced a turnover and captain, Marcus Donnelly rode a couple of poor tackles before firing past Oisin Kerr to put his side three in front.

This score seemed to lift the boys in blue and they kicked three on the bounce through Daniel Quinn and two from the impressive Niall Burns to lead 1-6 to 0-3 after 19 minutes.

The home side were handed the opportunity to get themselves right back into contention when Ethan Carey-Small was brought down as he raced in on goal and referee Mark O’Neill pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Conor Small but his spot-kick cannoned back of the angle between the upright and the crossbar and back into play and was cleared to safety.

A minute later Daniel Quinn pointed at the other end as St. Gall’s continued to carry the game to their opponents but the home side regrouped with points from Conor Small (f), an excellent point from Sean Duffin and another from the same player in injury time to leave four between the sides at the interval.

The first half had been played with great intensity with neither side holding back with their tackling and that intensity was to continue as matters got underway again.

Conor Small and Niall Burns exchanged early points and a great point from full-back Ricky Johnston had it back to a single score, 1-8 to 0-8 after eight minutes.

It was Creggan who were now enjoying the better of the exchanges and they looked in for a goal when Ruairi McCann raced in from the right and fisted across goal but there was no one there to get the vital touch and the ball was cleared to safety.

Conor Small and Joe McAteer came back with points for the Kickham’s to close the gap to one after 13 minutes and it looked to be swinging the home side’s way but the Milltown Row side were able to respond.

Conn Doherty and Niall Burns found the target at the other end and Micky Pollock popped up with another fine effort to move St. Gall’s four in front once more as the game moved into the final quarter.

Back came the Staffordstown Road side through Kealan McCann and Jake McAteer and a great effort from Conor Small had it back to one with nine minutes remaining.

The hits were going in hard and fast as referee Mark O’Neill fought to keep a lid on matters and Conor Small, who had been excellent all evening missed an opportunity to tie the contest when well placed.

That was as close as the home side would get and Conn Doherty kicked the final score for the visitors to ease the pressure and leave St. Gall’s top of the league after five rounds of games and looking the part.

Creggan: 1 Oisin Kerr, 2 Conor Mccann, 3 Ricky Johnston 4 Jake McAteer, 5 Ethan Carey-Small, 6 Aidan Maguire, 7 Odhran Hampsey, 8 Kealan McCann, 9 Paddy McAuley, 10 Sean Duffin, 11 Joe McAteer, 12 Tiarnan McLarnon, 13 Dominic McAteer, 14 Ruairi McCann, 15 Conor Small.

Subs: 17 Paddy Coey, 26 Fintan Close, Lee Johnston

St. Gall’s: 1 Chris Kerr, 2 Tiarnan Keenan, 3 Gairech MacAdhaim, 4 Eoghan McCurdy, 5 Ruairi Wilson, 6 Marcus Donnelly, 7 Conall McCabe, 8 John McCullough 9 Aodhan Gallagher, 10 Niall Burns, 11 Michael Pollock, 12 Michael Hopkins, 13 Conn Doherty, 14 Callum Walsh, 15 Daniel Quinn

Subs: 17 Dominic Sharkey, 21 John Leneghan

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

O’Neills ACFL Division One

Lámh Dhearg 0-09-1-10 All Saint’s, Ballymena

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown

Ronan McKillop netted in added time to make sure that All Saint’s left Hannahstown with the spoils on Wednesday evening after a 1-10-0-09 victory over Lámh Dhearg.

A minute’s applause was poignantly held pre-throw in, in memory of the late Ryan Straney.

It took seven minutes for the opening score to arrive through Patrick McAleer’s point, though a foul on Ryan Diamond allowed Mark Finnegan to convert the resulting free and level.

Declan Lynch swept his side into the lead only for county team-mate McAleer to drop a high shot between the posts.

Further scores were traded between Michael McCarry (free) and Marc Jordan as the duo couldn’t be separated a quarter of an hour in.

All Saint’s had two glorious chances either side of the midway point, the first after Patrick McAleer seized on a defensive error and Gerard Smyth made a smart stop.

McAleer was then unable to turn the ball home at the back post after James McDonnell had slipped in Eoin Walsh and he opted to float a fist pass across to the back stick.

Patrick Ferris was proving a danger for the visitors, and he kicked a fantastic point from range, with Kavan Keenan bearing down and shooting another shortly afterwards to give his side a 0-05-0-03 lead.

A foul on Declan Lynch led to Mark Finnegan halving the deficit with his second free of the half and a goal was almost forthcoming when Ciaran Boyd floated a pass over the top which Terry McCrudden gathered, he headed for the target, but his shot was turned behind by Ryan Stewart in the All Saint’s goal.

Adam Murray levelled through a close range free and minutes later a foul on Marc Jordan saw Finnegan convert his third of the half to edge the Lámhs ahead at the interval.

The hosts survived a late goal chance before the break with a high fisted pass across the face of goal falling to Connell Lemon- whose shot was cleared off the line as his side trailed 0-06-0-05 at the break.

All Saint’s restored parity within four minutes of the restart through a Michael McCarry free and they had a further goal chance when Joe Rafferty charged through but was denied by Smyth.

The visitors hit the front for the fouth time in the contest through a fantastic Emmet Killough score, only for Mark Finnegan to swing over his first from play in response.

Substitute Sean McVeigh shot over on the turn to edge his side ahead for the last time as successive points followed through Kavan Keenan and Patrick McAleer (free) to open up a 0-10-0-08 lead with little over five minutes of normal time remaining.

Adam Murray dropped over his second free of the evening with 60-seconds of the 60 minutes remaining.

The Lámhs pushed for a goal that would have saw them edge ahead in injury-time, but they were caught out and substitute Ronan McKillop blasted to the net to all but seal the two-points.

Murray kicked a free in response, though it was little more than consolation with All Saint’s running out 1-10-0-09 winners at the conclusion.

Lámh Dhearg:  G Smyth, R Murray, M McGarry, F Mervyn, D Smith, B Rice, D Murray, M Jordan (0-01), C Boyd, R Diamond, D Lynch (0-01), A Murray (0-02f), M Finnegan (0-04, 0-03f), J Quinn, T McCrudden. Subs: D Martin for R Diamond (41), M McElgunn for J Quinn (44), A McAufield for B Rice (48), C Fegan for M Finnegan (54).

All Saint’s: R Stewart, E Walsh, M Read, J Gillan, P Ferris (0-01), S O’Callaghan, J McDonnell, P McNichol, E Killough (0-01), C O’Brien, P McAleer (0-03, 0-01f), K Keenan (0-02), J Rafferty, M McCarry (0-02f), C Lemon. Subs: S McVeigh (0-01) for M McCarry (44), R McKillop (1-00) for J Rafferty (49).

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)