Report and Photographs: Brian McKee

ACFL Division 3

Ardoyne 1-10 O’Donnell’s 2-13

On a glorious sunny evening, the men from the Whiterock travelled across to North Belfast and brought home two well-deserved points.

The opening 15 minutes of the game did not augur well for O’Donnells. Ardoyne’s Oisin Maskey caught a ball on the edge of the O’Donnells square, passed it to Cahal Keown, who rifled it into the back of the O’D’s net. Cormac Mullan followed up with a lovely score off a free for his first of 9 points on the evening. O’D’s lacked cohesion and were running up against a strong Ardoyne defence.

The tide turned in the middle of the opening half and O’D’s eventually found their rhythm and the home side struggled to keep a fast moving O’D’s attack at bay. Fionnbar McKernan opened the scoring for the visitors with a pointed free. This was followed by seven different players getting their names on the scoreboard for the Whiterock side, including a Rory Beggan impersonation for goalkeeper, Conor Murphy, as he sent over the first of two 60s for scores.

Ardoyne struggled to respond with their only further point in the first half coming from a beautiful two pointer from Cormac Mullan.

Half-Time: Ardoyne 1-03 Cardinal O’Donnells 1-08

As in the opening half, Ardoyne opened the second half scoring with a point from Oisin Maskey. While the scoring was more evenly matched in the second half, O’Ds were very much in control of the pace of the game. Cormac Mullan produced a great display of free taking but Ardoyne were increasingly frustrated at the inability to thwart the O’Donnell’s game plan and claw back their lead.

The visitors kept their composure and slowed the game down, but with 10 minutes remaining, they raced through the Ardoyne defence. Hughes produced a save taken from his top drawer, only to see Paul Moore put the ball in the back of the net from the rebound. At this stage of the game, Ardoyne were finding it difficult to break out of their own half and the O’Ds left with the spoils. O’Donnerll’s will be particularly happy with 9 different players getting scores, while Ardoyne will be frustrated at not being able to adapt to the visitor’s game plan.

Ciceam Ard Eoin: 1. Tiernan Hughes 2. Cormac Curran 3. Micheál McGreevy 4. Conor Magee 5. Joe Gibson, 6. Pearse Marley 7. James Og McAuley 8. Gary McKernan 9. Oisin Maskey (0-01) 10. Odhran McKee 11. Daniel Moore 12. Cormac Mullan(0-09, 3f) 13. Oisin Copeland 14. Cahal Keown (1-0) 15. Eoghan Craig, Padraig McGreevy, Odhran Mullan, Aidan McConnell, Eoin Fennell, Fiontain Lagan, Ciarán Lopes, Ruairi Teague, Caolan Hardy

CLG Uí Dhonaill: 1. Conor Murphy (0-02) 2. Sean Lavery(0-01) 3. Sean Smylie 4. Jonathan McKenna (0-02) 5. Kevin Kennedy 7. Scott Thompson 8. John Rafferty 9. Paddy Matthews (0-01)10. Joseph Wilson (0-01) 12. Paul Moore (2-01) 13. Ciaran McKissock(0-01) 15. Fionnbar McKernan0-03, 3f) 34. Cailean Walsh (0-01) 35. Fergal McNerney 36. Connor Walsh

Referee: Eamonn Hamill

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ACFL Division 3

St. Brigid’s Cloughmills 0-5 St. Marys Rasharkin 3-13

St Brigid’s Cloughmills welcomed St Mary’s Rasharkin to Fr Leonard Park on Wednesday evening for the first time for a Senior Football League game with the Dreen men taking the two points and following up on their win against league leaders Eire Og last time out.

The away side started fast with Fearghal Kennedy pointing after winning the break ball from the throw in and missed a couple of opportunities before two quick goals from Colm Kennedy and Andrew Hasson put them in control.

Points from Killian O’Boyle and Caolan McGarrell kept up the great start for Rasharkin before Aidan McNeill pointed a free and then a 2-point free for the home side.

The away team wasted several good opportunities against some fine defensive effort by Cloughmills before Andrew Hasson pointed from play to leave the score 2-05 to 0-03 at half time.

The second half started with a Killian O’Boyle point followed by an Oran McMullan goal to keep the pressure on for Rasharkin before Eoin Dobbin fired over the bar in reply.

Points from Conor Higgins, Andrew Hasson (Free) and Cormac McMullan put the Dreen men further in front and they really should have had more but some great shot stopping kept them at bay.

Points from substitute James Higgins, Cormac McMullan, Ruairi O’Boyle and an excellent 2-pointer from Killian O’Boyle rounded up the scoring for St Mary’s with Reece Watt replying for the Biddies to end the game 3-14 to 0-5 in favour of the visitors.

 A strong performance from Rasharkin but they will know there is plenty to improve on and St Brigid’s have a lot to build on for the rest of the league.

Featured Image: Andrew Hasson who top scored for St. Mary’s in their win over Eire Og

ACFL Division 3

Rasharkin 0-17 Eire Og 1-7

Unbeaten Eire Og travelled to Rasharkin on Wednesday night to take on a Rasharkin team who have had an indifferent start to the season but who came ‘good’ on the night to defeat their visitors fairly convincingly in the end.

The early exchanges showed us just why the Derriaghy side had played themselves into this lofty position and a flowing move in the 6^th minute saw Conall Smith fire an unstoppable shot to Ryan Doherty’s net to move them two ahead.

Andrew Hasson had opened the scoring for the Dreen side with a pointed free and the Rasharkin number 14 would have an increasing influence as the game progressed with his accuracy from the placed ball.

It was Eire Og who continued to enjoy the better of the wind assisted opening quarter as Conor Dixon punched over and Lorcan McIlroy converted a free to move them four ahead by the 12^th minute.

Andrew Hasson’s second conversion of the evening closed the gap to three but the visitors were winning a lot of breaking ball from the kick-outs but were guilty of a series of bad wides as they tried to add to their early lead.

They were made to pay for their wastefulness as Andrew Hasson struck an excellent point at the other end from play and Thomas Hasson followed with another to leave just one between the sides approaching half time.

The visitors replied as Conor Dixon fisted over with Andrew Hasson kicking the final point of the half from a free and a one point lead for the Derriaghy side looked precarious as the sides headed for the dressing rooms, given the strength of the breeze.

And so it proved to be as Andrew Hasson struck from distance to raise an Orange flag on the restart and Eamonn McNeill followed with a point from play to move St. Mary’s two ahead.

Lorcan McIlroy replied with a point for Eire Og, who were still enjoying plenty of possession but were finding it hard to turn that possession into scores with Fergus Quigg superb at full-back for the hosts.

A 2 pointer from Eamon McNeill moved the home side further ahead and the visitor’s troubles grew when Eoin Dixon was shown Black and Rasharkin began to take control.

A Tiernan O’Boyle point moved the home side four ahead after 17 minutes but Eire Og did respond and a point from Conor McKenna, and two from Conor Dixon by the 23d minute reduced the gap to the minimum and we looked set for a grandstand finish.

It failed to materialise with Thomas Hasson replying at the other end as Eoin Dixon returned from the sin bin and Andrew Hasson, Substitute, Brian Og O’Neill and a great 2 pointer from Eamonn McNeill put it out of reach of the opposition.

Team captain, Cormac McMullan concluded the scoring with a late point for the Dreen side who were worthy winners in the end and this win should give them confidence for the campaign ahead.

Andrew Hasson gave an exhibition of point taking and would finish with 0-7 for the evening but this was an excellent team performance and team mangers, Cathal McMullan and Paddy Kelly will be happy with what they saw on the evening.

Eire Og showed in spells just why they had started the season so well and some of their approach play and movement was top drawer but too often their shooting let them down.

I would expect them to return from this setback and they look like a side who could be challenging for honours come season’s end.

St. Mary’s Rasharkin: 1 Ryan Doherty, 3 Fergus Quigg, 4 Pearce Kelly, 5 Connor Higgins, 6 Pearse McTeague, 7 Colm Kennedy, 8 Tiernan O’Boyle, 9 Ruairi O’Boyle, 22 Thomas Hasson, 11, Cormac McMullan, 13 Eamonn McNeill, 14 Andrew Hasson, 15 Killian O’Boyle, 16 Oran McMullan

Eire Og: 1 Jamie King, 2 Barry McDaid, 3 Brian O’Malley, 4 Kayvan Vesali, 5 Luca Mulholland, 6 Stephen Erskine, 7 Mark O’Hanlon, 8 Patrick Maxwell, 9 Eoin Dixon, 10 Gavin Donnelly, 11 Conor McKenna, 12 Ciaran Rice, 13 Conall Smith, 20 Conor Dixon, 15 Lorcan McIlroy

Referee: Gerard Dougan (Creggan)

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ACFL Division 3

Eire Og 0-18 St Brigid’s Cloughmills0-5

Eire Óg made it three wins from three in Division 3 with a controlled and at times impressive performance against The Biddies at Woodlands, although a wasteful opening half meant the margin could have been even more emphatic.

The home side made the ideal start when Eoin Dixon split the posts inside the opening minute after a sharp attacking move. That early score set the tone for much of the first half as Eire Óg dominated possession and territory but struggled to fully capitalise.

Despite a series of missed opportunities—including a gilt-edged goal chance that went a begging—the Ogs kept the scoreboard ticking over thanks largely to the accuracy of Conor McKenna, who landed three fine points from play. Gavin Donnelly also contributed with a well-taken effort after good approach work, while Lorcan McIlroy proved a constant outlet inside, winning primary possession and linking play effectively.

St Brigid’s, who had caused a real shock when beat Ardoyne last time out, found scores hard to come by this time around against a compact and disciplined Eire Óg defence, with their only real opportunity of note in the half—a free around the 20-minute mark—going astray. At the other end, the hosts continued to create chances but again failed to convert a clear-cut goal opportunity into an open net.

An enforced early change saw Kayvan Vesali introduced for the injured Adam McKenna, and while his first involvement led to a foul that Naomh Bríd converted for a two-pointer, Eire Óg finished the half strongly. Points from Dixon and Conal Smyth ensured the home side carried a commanding 0-09 to 0-02 lead into the break.

The second half began in blistering fashion with Smyth raising a white flag inside 15 seconds. Although St Brigid’s responded through their midfield, Eire Óg remained in control. McIlroy added a free, and further scores from McKenna and Smyth underlined the growing dominance of the Woodlands men.

A moment of indiscipline saw Cloughgmills awarded a 13-metre free, which they converted, but it did little to shift the momentum. Smyth, in particular, was in outstanding form, repeatedly finding space and finishing clinically, including several well-worked scores from sweeping team moves.

Defensively, Eire Óg were equally impressive. Barry McDaid and Brian O’Malley marshalled the backline superbly, mopping up loose ball and snuffing out any sustained threat. While a couple of late frees—one again brought forward for dissent—offered Naomh Bríd some respite, the result was never in doubt.

Further points from Dixon and Smyth, including a brace late on following incisive attacking play, rounded off a comfortable victory for the hosts.

With three wins from three now secured, Eire Óg’s strong start to the campaign continues, and they will look to carry that momentum into their next outing—a tricky away trip to Rasharkin.

Eire Óg: J King; B O’Malley, B McDaid, C Rice; S Erskine, C McKenna (0-05), L Mulholland; P Maxwell, E Dixon (0-03); A McKenna, M O’Hanlon, G Donnelly (0-01); L McIlroy (0-02); J Erskine, C Smyth (0-07). Subs: K Vesali for A McKenna, M Hanna, R Clarke, A Thompson.