ACFL Division 3

St, Brigid’s Cloughmills 1-9 Kickham’s Ardoyne 0-11

Naomh Brid, Cloughmills wrote their own bit of history on Wednesday night when they recorded their first ever football win in only their second appearance in division 3 of the ACFL.

Ardoyne Kickham’s were their opponents and made life extremely difficult for a St. Brigid’s side who were forced to play with their jerseys inside out following a clash of colours.

A big crowd had turned out to witness this occasion as Naomh Brid, a club renowned for its hurling prowess, turned to the big ball game for only their second game and their first on home soil.

And the home support certainly weren’t to be disappointed as both sides served up an entertaining game of football with Naomh Brid taking the game to the opposition early on and moving into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes.

Eoin Dobbin, Aidan McNeill and Ryan Mark were their marksmen with Odhran McKee replying for the Kickham’s who were finding it difficult to contain a lively home attack.

Dobbin added his second of the evening before the visitors replied through Brendan Hamilton from a well struck free but Naomh Brid were still edging the exchanges and Dobbin fired to the net to move them five ahead by the 22^nd minute.

The visitors finished the half strongly as they began to find their rhythm with Odhran McKee, Patrick McGreevey and Brendan Hamilton all on target in response to a pointed free from Aidan McNeill following a breach.

Trailing by a goal at the halfway stage, it was visitors Ardoyne who made the early second half running but found scores hard to come bye as the Home side put their bodies on the line to prevent them scoring, executing some excellent blocks.

Ace marksman, Brendan Hamilton finally got the North Belfast side up and running as he converted a 10^th minute free and then Cloughmills lost a player to a second yellow card as the game turned into a war of attrition.

Two more conversions from the excellent Hamilton had it back to one at the end of the third quarter and it looked like Ardoyne were taking over but the ‘Biddies’ quite simply refused to throw in the towel.

They edged ahead again when Eoin Magee fired over their first point of the half with 10 minutes remaining but it looked to be of no avail when Hamilton converted a ‘45’ and another from closer to goal to leave it all square with only two minutes remaining.

Back came St. Brigid’s and Dobbin edged them ahead before Aidan McNeill struck an excellent free from a difficult angle to secure the points despite a later point from Joseph Gibson for an Ardoyne side who will feel they might have taken something from the game.

Last week Cloughmills lost their opening game to St. Malachy’s but on the evidence of what we saw tonight they are more than capable of holding their own in the division and should get better and better as the season progresses.

The celebrations after suggested that they certainly enjoyed the occasion and the future looks bright for the boys from the village.

Naomh Brid: 1 Cathaoir McFerran, 2 Rian Dobbin, 3 Sean McKendry, 4 Jack McDowall, 5 Johnny Duffin, 6 Gerard O’Mullan, 7 Kevin O’Boyle, 8 Ryan Mark, 9 PJ McBride, 10 Eoin Magee, 11 Aidan McNeill, 12 Dara Watterson, 13 Dara McGivern, 14 Niall McFadden, 15 Eoin Dobbin

Subs: 18 Stephen Smith,

Ardoyne: 1 Tiernan Hughes, 2 Cormac Curran, 24 Michael McGreevey, 19 Odhran Mullan, 20 Ciaran Lopes, 5 Joseph Gibson, 6 Pearse Marley, 7 Finnen Wall O’Brien, 8 Oisin Maskey, 9 Gary McKiernan, 10 Odhran McKee, 11 Daniel Moore, 12 Oisin Coulard, 13 Patric McGreevey, 14 Fiontan Lagan, 15 Brendan Hamilton

Referee: Joe McCavana (Naomh Comhghall)

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ACFL Division 3

St. Agnes 0-18 Laochra Loch Lao 1-11

St. Agnes claimed the ACFL Division 3 league title when they overcame the challenge of nearest rivals, Laochra Loch Lao at Pairc Naomh Una on Wednesday night.

With two games remaining going into Wednesday’s fixture the Aggies were in a strong position. Win and the title was theirs. Lose and they still had another bite at the cherry against Pearses in their final game.

They certainly didn’t get it all their own way against a robust and talented, Laochra Loch Lao who were determined to take the race for the title to the final day of the season.

The Irish language side got themselves off to the best possible start when PJ O’Prey cut in from the right and fired past Collum Carroll in the opening minute to serve notice of their intentions.

Conall Turley replied from two pointed frees for St. Agnes but a well struck 2 pointer free from Jack Mac Liomhair put the visitors three ahead again by the 12^th minute.

Once again the sweet striking Turley converted a free to take his total for the evening to three and then Ronan Carroll took advantage of a bad kick out to leave just one between the sides.

Both sides wasted opportunities as the intensity of the game increased and two converted frees from Caoilte MacGiolla Fhiondain for the Falls Road side and a late pointed reply by Mark Boyle for the Aggies left it 1-4 to 0-5 at half time in favour of the visitors.

Laochra Loch Lao were good value for that lead as they dominated the closing stages and could have been further ahead but it was a different story when both sides made the long trip back from the changing rooms after the half time break.

A fisted point from Shay Madden and another from play from Mark Boyle had the side’s level within three minutes before Rian McShane edged he visitors back ahead from a free in the 4^th minute.

It was nip and tuck for a spell after this with scores at one end finding a response at the other and for a spell these two well matched sides couldn’t be separated.

Points from Madden and Carroll for St. Agnes and a Jack MacLomhair respose for laochra had it all square again at the end of the 9^th minute before a superb Ryan Reilly point, another from Cormac McBride and one from Daithi McGaharan moved St. Agnes three ahead and for the first time they seemed to be gaining control.

The excellent Ryan Reilly came forward to fist another and the gap was out to four but Laochra Loch Lao replied through Tomas Tolan and Jack MacLomhair to leave just two in it with 11 minutes still remaining.

St. Agnes had the scent of victory and a first league title for quite a number of years in their sights and they were not going to give up that hard earned lead easily and again the responded.

Daithi MacGaharan, Mark Boyle, Ronan Carroll and Ronan Gilligan all added to their total going down the home straight with Laochra Loch Lao replying through Rian McShane and a late free from Caolan MacFhiondain.

There were scenes of celebration at the end as the faithful St. Aggies supporters joined their team at the end to congratulate their heroes and join in the victory photograph.

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ACFL Division 1

                                  Erin’s Own Cargin 4-19 St Galls 3-12

A towering performance from mid-fielder Odhran Molloy assisted by the scoring power of John McNabb ensured victory for Cargin to draw within a point of their opposition St Gall’s who arrived with a three point advantage over their hosts on Friday evening.

Senior keeper McNabb excelled in his full-forward birth for Cargin’s second string and contributed  a personal haul of 2-12 over the hour, including four two pointers.

St Gall’s were quick into their stride but the visitors missed early opportunities and it was Cargin mid fielder Odhran Molloy who opened their account with a 3^rd minute point but the visitors were soon to nip ahead as Liam Lynn raised white before Paddy Murray despatched a 30 metre free on the same path.

A lively opening as corner forward Liam Lynn quickly added a goal but the home side were quick to reply as Paul McCann and Odhran Molloy opened the way for the lively P J Quinn to reply in kind at the other end.

The visitors aided by a lively easterly breeze, took advantage of the elements as Daniel Murray and Patrick Og Murray despatched 55 metre frees between the posts, and when the latter added a goal to open up a healthy lead the Milltown Blues looked on their way at the end of the opening quarter.

John McNabb sent a ‘45’ metre free between the posts to reduce the deficit and when he followed with a 60 metre ‘two pointer’ from an Enda McGrogan pass the deficit was reduced to a single score.

The visitors finished the half on top and late points from Jarlath Mervyn and Patrick Og Murray ensured a 2-09 to 2-06 lead at the short whistle.

The Toome men were to enjoy the favours of the breeze in the second half and they were quickly in to their stride as an Odhran Molloy fetch opened the way for Diarmuid Quinn to fire over the bar with a John McNabb ’45’ despatched between the posts providing addition a minute later.

A Paddy Murray point saw the visitors open their second half account but the home side were quick to reply with Odhran Molloy dominating in the central zone and a John Mc Nabb ‘two’ pointer saw the Toome men take the lead.

 McNabb added another shortly after Diarmuid Quinn had added a point and the home side had gone three points ahead 2-13 to 2-11.

Daniel McCann announced his presence with a point but the visitors were quick to make reply and a Patrick Murray goal brought them back on level terms before an Odhran Molloy fetch and point from the resultant kick out ensured his side had regained the lead.

Cargin dominated the closing stages and Diarmuid Quinn added a goal and McNabb followed with a further ‘2’ pointer before Molloy opened the way for a goal for the rampant Mc Nabb and the home side had gained a 4-17 to 3-12 advantage as the long blast approached.

Odhran Molloy had the last say on matters, grabbing back to back points in the last minutes to see his side breast the winning line at 4-19 to 3-12 to get within a point of the division one leaders.

Cargin: Shea Laverty, Jack Harney, Gerard Mc Corley, Sean og Quinn, Ben Mc Larnon, Marty Kane, Ronan Devlin, Darren Mc Daid (0-01), Odhran Molloy (0-03), PJ Quinn(1-01), Paul Mc Cann, Cian Scullion, Diarmuid Quinn (1-02), John Mc Nabb( 2-12), Enda McGrogan

Subs

Daniel McCann (0-01)

Michael Laverty

Tom McCann

St Galls: Niall McCurdy, Oisin O’Callaghan, Tiarnan Keenan, Christopher Hale, Eathan Mc Cabe, Gareth Adams, Mark Kelly, Jarleth Mervyn, Michael Hopkins(0-02),Conall Murray, Liam Lynn, Mark Kelly, Nial Fallon (Paddy Murray (1-04)Sean Burke (0-02)

Referee: John Hasson (All Saint’s)

ACFL Division 3

St Agnes 3-15 St Malachys 0-5

Division 3 league leaders, St. Agnes recovered well from last week’s defeat to Ardoyne as they proved too good for St. Malachy’s. They dominated from start to finish scoring 3-7 to the Mals solitary point in the first half with Dee McGrahaghan hitting the net twice and Ronan Carroll getting the Aggies other goal. Determined to put last week’s defeat behind them, they weren’t just as dominant in the second half but still outscored the home team eight points to four. The Aggies remain on course for the league title with two wins from their remaining four games required and barring mishaps look certain to be playing their football in division 2 next season.

ACFL Division 3

St. Agnes 2-12 Wolfe Tones 0-6

The Aggies comfortably maintained their unbeaten run with a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-6 at a sun kissed Pairc Naomh Una on Wednesday evening. They led the Tones at half time 1-8 to 0-3., and added a further 1-4 with Wolfe Tones posting 0-3 in reply.

Ronan Carroll led the way for the league leaders and finished the day with 2-5 to his credit in a man of the match performance while Kevin Floyd 0-2, James Campbell 0-2, Colin Clarke, Dee McGranahan and David Quigley were the other St. Agnes scorers.

Much sterner tests surely lie ahead but confidence is running high in the PNU camp with a three point lead and a match in hand.

Next up Cardinal O’Donnell’s on Saturday evening.