ACFL Division 1

Moneyglass 1-12 St. Brigid’s 2-13

This was a clash between 2 sides from opposite ends of table with Moneyglass hoping to bounce back from defeat last time out.  It was Brigid’s, playing against the strong breeze who would make the early running, scoring 1 -01 through James Smith with only 3 minutes gone.

 Moneyglass replied with a point from Fearghal Duffin  but St Brigid’s cancelled  this out with a point from King  but the home-side, aided by a strong breeze weren’t about to go away and following a swift break up field Conor O’Kane fired to the St. Brigid’s net.

Inspired by this score St. Ergnat’s pushed forward again and Sean Boyd fired over the equaliser with10 minutes gone and it looked like we were in for a battle at Marian Hill.

 St Brigid’s showed just why they are joint top of the league as they rattled off the next 3 scores to put them 3 ahead again but the next passage of play would have a significant  bearing on the game when a Moneyglass goal chance was cleared off the line.

The visitors broke up field, leading to a 2nd goal to put six between the sides at 2 -6 to 1-3 but to their credit Moneyglass weren’t about to throw in the towel. They replied with 3 points on the bounce from a Conor Boyd free followed by 2 from the impressive Aidan McErlain to leave the halftime score 2-6 to 1-6

St. Ergnat’s made a blistering start to the second half with a Conor Boyd free and 1 from Seanchan Duffin leaving the minimum between the sides and barely 5 minutes on the clock.

Try as they might Moneyglass couldn’t get on level terms however with St Brigids registering the next 2 points to stretch the lead to 3 again, but Moneyglass refused to go away as they came back with two of their own through Colum Duffin leaving 1 in it at 1-10 to 2-08.

 St Brigid’s didn’t panic with things opening up and as both sides went in search of scores it was the visitors who would hit the last 3 scores of game to win on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-22 but great credit must go to both sides for an entertaining game in difficult conditions.

ACFL Division 2

 St Pauls 1.08 Dunloy 1.05

St Paul’s continued their recent good run with a victory over Dunloy at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday night. In a low scoring game both teams struggled to get to grips with the strong wind but it would be the home side who eventually took control in the first half.

A well worked team goal finished by Liam McLarnon got St Paul’s on top with the teams exchanging points before the break.

HT score St Pauls 1-5 Dunloy 0-4

The wind continued to trouble the sides in the second half with both teams struggling in front of goal. There looked to be life in the Dunloy fight back when a Mickey Smith goal midway through the second period reduced the defecit to two points. St Paul’s though answered back with a couple of points of their own.

In a frantic last 10 minutes Dunloy looked to close the gap but the home side held on for a 3 point win which see them top Division 2.

ACFL Division 1

Erin’s Own Cargin 3-12 St John’s 0-09

Cargin retained their winning habit with a 3-12 to 0-09 victory over the visiting St John’s at a windy Shore road venue on Wednesday evening last.

Ronan Devlin’s charges concluded with a 12 point winning margin over their visitors but in the event they were slightly flattered by the final scoreline.

The Johnnies started with the stiff northerly breeze behind them in the opening half and although the West Belfast side arrived at Toome in the role of outsiders they began in a positive mode and had raised four white flags without reply in the opening phase.

The Toome men were hampered by the gusty elements in the early stages with the target proving elusive as was the distribution of the ball and they failed to give work to the scoreboard attendant for the first quarter in which their bye ball total was increasing.

St John’s were quick to close them down in the early stages and with Conal Mc Glade, Ronan Quinn, impressing they had four points on board without reply in the first quarter.

Cargin opened their account through Conhuir Johnston at the start of the second quarter and came strong in the latter stages but the Whiterock men maintained advantage at the short whistle as they led 0-06 to 0-04.

Cargin started the second half aided by the elements and Michael Mc Cann got them on their way with back to back points in the opening minutes and when his sibling Tomas and Tom Shivers added a couple more, the Toome men had nipped into the lead.

As the second half progressed the home Cargin began to get on top and a foul on David Johnston was suitably punished as Pat Shivers delivered the free between to posts and when Tomas Mc Cann was fouled, a few minutes later the big mid-fielder followed suit.

St. John’s were still battling hard with replacement Anto Press looking strong on the counter attack and a foul on the Johnnies substitute in the 44^th minute opened the way for Connor Adams to deliver the free kick between the posts to open the visitors second half account.

As the game entered the last quarter the home side began to dominate withGerard Mc Cann excellent under the high ball but the visitors were not finished and a foul on the advancing Press was punished when Andy Mc Gowan delivered the awarded free between the posts.

The home side held a five points lead at this stage but they turned the screw in the closing stages as the visitors finally yielded to the constant pressure.

A Michael Mc Cann, Callum Gribbin combination opened the way for Tomas Mc Cann to find the net  in the 55^th minute, and Michael McCann again opened the door for the nimble centre forward to beat net minder Eoghan Ruadh Lambert from close range.

The result was not in doubt as the game progressed towards conclusion but after the visitors had claimed a 58^th minute point via Conal Mc Glade’ the resultant kick out was gathered by replacement Sean Og Quinn who placed Tom Shivers to finish to the net.

Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-01), James Laverty, Kevin Mc Shane, Hugh O’ Donnell, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Conan Johnston, Pat Shivers (0-02), Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-01), Tomas Mc Cann 2-02), John Carron, Conhuir Johnston (0-01), Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Tom Shivers (1-03)

Subs

Callum Gribbin

Sean og Quinn

Cahir Donnelly

St John’s: Eoghan Rua Lambert, Daire King, Ronan Quinn, Matthew Mallon, Josh Robb, Conor Mc Evoy, David Mc Garrity, Andy Mc Gowan (0-01), Conal Mc Glade (0-04), Enda Mc gurk, Connor Adams (Adams), Stephen Tierney, Darragh McCallin, Luke Peden

Subs: Anto Press

Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)

ACFL Division 2

Davitt’s 2-10 St. Teresa’s 0-5 

St. Teresa’s remain top of division 2 despite this comprehensive defeat to Michael Davitt’s, their second in two outings. The home side took control at the end of the opening quarter with a goal from Gerard Slane and never looked back.

It was St. Teresa’s who opened the scoring at Davitt’s Park on Wednesday evening when John Mallon pointed them ahead from a free but an excellent long range point from Padraig McParland and another from Sean Og O’Neill saw the home side ahead for the first time.

Anton Taylor tied the contest for the second time and further exchanges from Nathan Maginn and Conor McCann left it 0-3 each and at this point there was little between the sides.

Paul McLaughlin edged Davitt’s ahead once more with a fine point and the game then swung decisively in favour of the home side when they turned over a St. Teresa’s kickout and Gerard Slane finished clinically to the net to put them four ahead.

Slane was having a fine game for the Davitt’s Park side and he finished the half with a point to leave his side leading 1-5 to 0-3 at the short whistle and good value for that lead.

Half Time Davitt’s 1-5 St. Teresa’s 0-3

Davitt’s started the second half as they had finished the first, on the front foot and Sean Og O’Neill increased their lead with an early point as Daniel Wallace replaced Padraig McParland in the home defence.

St. Teresa’s tried to respond but with no success and the home side put themselves in a strong position when the ball was worked the length of the field from a kick-out and Conor John Sullivan got on the end of a lob over the top of the visiting defence to fire past Ciaran Murtagh in the visitor’s goal.

The home side were in complete control as Anthony Rowntree got his name on the score-sheet with a point before Eoghan Hamill finally opened the visitors second half account with a point with ten minutes remaining.

Back came Davitt’s as Sean Og O’Neill made it 0-3 for the evening before John mallon replied with St. Teresa’s 5^th and final point of the night with Gerard Slane and Conor John Sullivan concluding the scoring with late Davitt’s points.

Following a great start to the season, the wheels seemed to have come off the St. Teresa’s wagon in the last two games but they shouldn’t panic as they still hold top spot in the table.

Thery have a home game on Sunday where they entertain an improving St. Mary’s Rasharkin and can expect nothing easy there but a win would go some way to restoring their confidence.

Davitt’s have made Davitt’s Park something of a fortress in recent times and this win moves them onto 10 points, only two behind the league leaders and on this form they are capable of making a serious challenge for honours this year.

Davitt’s: 1 Aaron Slane, 2 Caoimhin Rainey, 3 Paul McKinney, 5 Nathan Maginn, 6 Padraig McParland, 7 Odhran O’Kane, 8 Niall McParland, 9 Deaglan Mooney, 10 Anthony Hargan, 11 Gerard Slane, 12 Paul McLaughlin, 13 Conor John Sullivan, 14 Anthony Rowntree, 15 Sean Og O’Neill, 16 Jay Maguire, 17 Camhan Slane, 19 James Lindsay, 22 Brendan McKenna, 23 Daniel Wallace, 24 Ryan Park, 25 Michael Connolly

St. Teresas: 1 Ciaran Murtagh, 2 Eoin Connolly, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Aodhan Dugan, 5 Colm McGoldrick, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Conor Mallon, 8 Darren McCann, 9 Stephen Carey, 10 Eoghan Hamill, 11 John Mallon, 12 Paul McGoldrick, 13 Mark Small, 14 Conor McCann, 15 Anton Taylor

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)