ACFL Division One (round 5)

Erin’s Own Cargin 0-08 St Brigid’s 1-04

The accuracy of Cargin net minder John McNabb proved to be the difference as the home side gained a welcome couple of points at the expense of the visiting St Brigid’s at a windy Toome on Wednesday evening.

McNabb defied the strength of an almost gale force westerly breeze howling in from nearby Lough Neagh to concluded as top scorer in what proved to be a close affair with the match official kept on his toes throughout to keep control.

Cargin had the assistance of the breeze in the opening period and it took the Toome men a time to take advantage of the elements which was a tribute to the dogged resistance of their visitors who were quick to pounce on any mistakes their hosts would make.

Cargin were first away when Ciaran Bradley who worked like a Trojan throughout, raised the opening flag after John Carron won the throw in.

The centre forward raced through to plant the leather between the posts with the home contingent anticipating more of the same with the strong wind in their favour.

Despite the opening score arriving less than a minute into proceedings it was the visitors who were quick to respond as a mistake by the home side was punished by a quick counter with Jack Dowling’s delivery sending Conor McAleer in to send between the posts.

St Brigid’s were to prove strong in defence from the outset and quick in the counter attack with centre back John Toner chief architect.

The home side endured a couple of setbacks in the opening phase as Gerard McCann received a black card with Kevin O’ Boyle forced to follow suit with a groin injury shortly after.

The Toome men regained the lead again in the 14^th minute as John Mc Nabb delivered a ‘45’ between the posts and that lead was increased as Benen Kelly completed a strong approach with a fine finish to make it 0-03 to 0-01.

John Mc Nabb increased the advantage when he pointed from 55 metres when Ronan Gribbin was fouled and Cargin looked to be taking control.

St. Brigid’s replied and Peter Lundy sent over from a close range free before Conor McAleer followed suit and St Brigid’s were back within a point of their hosts with the end of the opening period approaching and seemed to be gaining in confidence.

In the event Cargin finished strongly and a smart 28^th minute finish from centre forward Ciaran Bradley was followed within a minute as a heavy challenge on the advancing David Johnston was punished when John McNabb converted the resulting frere.

Cargin started the second half with a three point advantage as they faced the elements and less than a minute in an unforced error was punished in the extreme.

A Niall Lundy interception as Cargin tried to build from the back and the wing man was quick to find Patrick Finnegan in the clear to despatch to the net and it was all square at 0-06 to 1-03 and the South Belfast men looked to literally have the wind in their sails.

The home side looked in some trouble but with big Gerard McCann back from his time in the ‘sin bin’ leading by example and Cahir Donnelly, Benen Kelly, and Eunan Quinn standing up to be counted the home side stood tall in resistance.

St Brigid’s aided by the elements pushed forward again but were finding the posts an elusive target as their efforts to nip ahead eluded the Musgrave men.

Erin’s Own countered and Michael Clarke broke through the St Brigid’s defence but his daisy cutter finish sailed just wide of the mark in the 47^th minute. John Carron then rose highest to field on the 40 and was fouled and John McNabb came forward to send the award between the posts defying the strength of the elements and Cargin were ahead again.

The Toome men introduced Paudie McLaughlin for David Johnston in the latter stages in a change which would earn reward.

The replacement was first to a Sean O’ Neill delivery in the 58^th minute before being fouled with Ciaran Bradley coolly despatching the awarded free between the posts.

The home side held a two point advantage but with the game entering time added the visitors were still battling hard to get back into contention.

It was much a case of backs to the wall as Marcus Lynch pointed to reduce the deficit to the minimum but that was as close as the visitors got, with Cargin holding on to conclude with a 0-08 to 1-04 winning advantage.

Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-04), Sean og Quinn, Cahir O’ Boyle, Kevin O’ Boyle, Ronan Devlin, Sean og O’ Neill, Ronan Gribbin, John Carron, Gerard Mc Cann, Benen Kelly (0-01), Ciaran Bradley (0-03), Eunan Quinn, David Johnston, Mark Kelly, Michael Clarke

Subs

Gerard Mc Corley for K O’ Boyle

Paul Mc Cann for R Devlin

Paudie Mc Laughlin for D Johnston

St Brigid’s: Declan Heery, Shay Campbell, Conor King, Reuben Carleton, Peter King, John Toner, Feargal Mennagh, Michael Cummings, Jack Dowling, Niall Lundy, Patrick Finnegan (1-00), Peter Lundy (0-02), Marcus Lynch (0-01), James Smith, Conor McAleer (0-01).

Referee: Conall J Roberts (St John’s)

ACFL Division 1

St. Mary’s Ahoghill 0-9 Casement’s Portglenone 1-7

A Michael Hagan point with three minutes remaining proved the winning score in this keenly contested derby played in dreadful conditions in Cloney tonight. The home side had one last opportunity to get something out of this game but James O’Connell saw his 40 meter free tail wide in the swirling wind with Fionntan McCotter’s whistle bringing matters to a close from the resulting kick-out.

In conditions not conducive to good football with a driving wind blowing in the direction of the Pavilion end it was the visitors who won the toss and decided to play with the wind in their favour in the opening half.

It looked like being the right decision when they were awarded a penalty in the 5^th minute but Michael Hagan’s well struck shot came back of an upright and was cleared to safety

Ahoghill responded, working the ball through the hands to good effect and James O’Connell pointed them ahead from a free in the 7^th minute and when his brother PJ added another they were two in front with 11 minutes on the clock.

The visitors took a time to settle with a number of efforts carrying harmlessly wide in the driving wind but they struck a telling blow with a Corey McLaughlin goal after 15 minutes. Bernard Graham’s attempted pass from a sideline, deep in Ahoghill territory was intercepted by Niall Delargey and he slipped the number 12 in to finish clinically from close range and give his side the lead.

The visitors moved further ahead from a Michael Hagan point from a difficult angle with the home side claiming it had tailed wide but the score stood and it brought a response from Danny O’Neill’s side.

James O’Connell point a 22^nd minute free to close the gap to the minimum but Corey McLaughlin replied with an excellent point from 45 meters to move his side two in front again with four minutes remaining to the break.

The hits were going in fast and hard as referee, McCotter issued a number of ‘yellows’ in an attempt to cool matters down and Ahoghill were given a let off when Paddy Kelly shot wide from a 13 meter free in the 30^th minute.

The home side came racing back up field and looked to be in for a goal of their own but Conor Crossey’s effort from close range was charged down by Rian O’Neill with Owen Neeson volleying the rebound over the bar to leave just one between the sides as the half time whistle sounded.

With the wind now at their back and conditions worsening by the minute, St. Mary’s looked favourites to push on in the second half and when Owen Neeson pointed, five minutes after the restart they were back on terms.

Portglenone had other ideas however and they began to move the ball around at speed, keeping possession and Noel Crossey in the Ahoghill goals brought off a smart save to deny Ronan Kelly after a move involving half a dozen players.

Paddy Kelly added a point for the visitors to edge them in front once more but it looked to be turning in the Cloney side’s favour when Conor Crossey sent over a good point from out on the right to level matters for the first time as the rain began to fall.

Portglenone were closing down their opponents and knocking them out of their stride and were forcing a lot of turn overs and Conall Delargy fisted over to restore the Casement’s lead again in the 12^th minute.

The home side were finding it hard to put prolonged periods of possession together as the opposition pushed up on their kick-outs but James O’Connell pointed frees in the 13^th and 18^th minute to edge them ahead for the first time and at last the game looked to be swinging their way.

Back came the Bann siders however with Conal Delargy fisting over from close range following another fast moving build up and Niall Delargey split he posts from distance to restore their lead with only three minutes remaining.

Ronan Graham tied matters once more before Michael Hagan edged the Casement’s in front again with time almost up but Ahoghill were handed one last chance to take something from the game when they were awarded a free some 40 meters from goal. Up stepped James O’Connell’s but his well struck effort tailed wide of the posts in very difficult conditions with the full-time whistle sounding just after.

This win keeps Portglenone’s one hundred percent record intact but I’m sure they will agree that this was their toughest encounter to date but John McKeever will be pleased that they did just enough to get over the line while the home side will feel that they deserved something from the game.

St. Mary’s: Noel Crossey, Patrick Dougan, James Magee, Bernard Graham, Eamonn Brady, Fionnbar O’Neill, Diarmaid Graham, Patrick Graham, James O’Connell, Owen Neeson, Dan O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Conor Crossey, Donal Graham,  PJ O’Connell,

Casement’s: Rian O’Neill, Ronan Delargy, Shane Delargy, Johnny Convery, Caolan Tierney, Ruairi Hagan, Ryan Convery, Niall McKeever, Niall Delargy, Corey McLaughlin, Ronan Kelly, Paddy Kelly, Michael Hagan. Subs used: Ciaran McKenna, Oisin Doherty, Stephen Kelly and Paddy Carey

Referee: Fionntan McCotterr (Sarsfields)

ACFL Division 2

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass 0-10 St. Mary’s Rasharkin 1-6

St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass made it four wins from four starts in the ACFL Division 2 but they were given a late scare by newly promoted St. Mary’s Rasharkin at Marian Hill on Sunday. The visitors led 0-5 to 0-3 after 23 minutes and were full value for their lead but late points from Conall Prenter, Colm Duffin and Dermot McErlain edged the home side into a 0-6 to 0-5 half time lead.

St. Ergnat’s pushed on in the second half with Colm Duffin the star performer as he fired over four points (2 frees) to leave his side looking comfortable with five minutes remaining but the Dreen side struck with a late goal from Emmet McFerran to ensure a nervous finish for the hosts.

Niall Boyd and Jack McCoy fired over early in the game to give the hosts a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after a cagey 11 minutes and it was 14 minutes before Ryan Lynch split the posts for the visitors to close the gap to one.

Tiernan O’Boyle came forward from his goalkeeping berth to level the scores before Shane Hasson pointed an 18^th minute free to give the visitors the lead for the first time.

Seanachann Duffin for Moneyglass and Conor McFerran for Rasharkin exchanged further points and when Thomas McMullan fired over with seven minutes remaining to the break, the Dreen side were two in front and edging the exchanges at this stage of the contest.

It was St. Ergnat’s who wrestled back the initiative in the period leading up to the break however with Prenter, Duffin from a free and McErlain adding unanswered points to leave them leading 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Could Rasharkin respond again? Was the question at the start of the second half but the answer was a resounding no as the hosts tightened up at the back and slowly they began to put further daylight between the sides.

Colm Duffin pointed St. Ergnat’s further ahead from a free in the 7^th minute and the big mid-fielder was to have a massive influence on the outcome as the game progressed. Duffin added another with 12 minutes of the second half gone as both sides pulled men behind the ball.

Rasharkin were now struggling to put meaningful attacks together but making life difficult for the Moneyglass attack but it was that man Duffin who breeched the defensive wall to fire over the first point of the half from play in the 47^th minute.

The same player added his fourth point of the half and his fifth in total to move his side five in front with five minutes remaining and it looked all over at this stage but Rasharkin refused to through in the towel and finished strongly.

It seemed irrelevant when keeper Tiernan O’Boyle fired over his second free of the game in the 59^th minute to open the visitors second half account but when Emmet McFerran finished to the net in their next attack the situation had taken a dramatic turn.

With both sets of managers looking anxiously at their watches and Rasharkin attempting to complete the come-back of all come-backs Eamon McAuley’s full time whistle came as something of a relief to the home side.

Moneyglass: will be happy with the result but will surely reflect on the fact that they nearly let it slip at the death but they now sit at the top of the table, the only side in the division with full points from 4 starts and look capable of maintaining that position as the season progresses.

Moneyglass: 1 Danny McErlain, 2 Lukie O’Donnell, 3 Peter McCormick, Callum McStocker, 5 Patrick McCormick, 6 Fearghal Duffin, 7 Jack McCoy, 8 Colum Duffin, 9 Niall Boyd, 10 Seanchann Duffin, 11 Dermot McErlain, 12 Miran Neeson, 13 Connor O’Kane, 14 Conaill Prenter, 15 Tyler Cassidy

Rasharkin: 1 Tiernan O’Boyle, 2 Conor Doherty, 3 Daniel Doherty, 4 Pearce Kelly, 5 Conor Hasson, 6 Emmet McFerran, 7 Colm Kennedy, 8 Thomas McMullan, 9 Ruairi O’Boyle, 10 Thomas Doherty, 11 Shane Hasson, 12 Conor McKeever, 13 Ryan Lynch, 14 Conor McFerran, 15 Andrew Hasson,

Referee: Eamon McAuley (Cargin)