OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship (semi final)

Con Magee’s Glenravel 0-14 Patrick Sarsfield’s 0-10

Con Magees Glenravel qualified  for the intermediate football championship final for the second year in succession, where they will meet near neighbours All Saint’s in two weeks’ time. Although there is no disputing the fact that they fully deserved their semi-final success over Patrick Sarsfield’s at the Toome venue on Saturday, they depended on their defensive qualities to get them over the line on a sodden Toome sod.

Joe Cassidy’s men appeared to be home and hosed as the match clock ticked close to conclusion with a three point cushion, but a Garry Lennon inspired Paddies were not about to settle for second best.

Lennon, who had impressed throughout, appeared to be in for a goal in the 54^th minute only to be denied by the Glenravel net minder Jonathan Fyfe who came out to make a smashing intervention, and when the ‘Bear Pit’ residents were back on the goal trail a few minutes later it was the turn of centre back Sean Higgins to make a superb blocking tackle to deny replacement Daniel Smith.

Both sides had impressed in their respective trips to the last four of the competition and when they crossed swords in Toome on Saturday last a good crowd gathered in anticipation. Despite the gloomy forecast.

the Sarsfield’s men had the favours of the stiff southerly based breeze for the first period but despite the strong elements in their favour they were on par at 0-02 apiece at the end of the opening ten minutes.

Glenravel opened their account in the second minute via a point from corner forward Eamon Fyfe, who was to impress throughout, while back to back white flags raised by Kevin McKernan, who also impressed in the green and black and an Eoinn Hynds point for the Glensmen, ensure level parity 0-02 apiece after ten minutes.

Despite the strength of the elements little was to separate the sides in the early stages, but as the Glensmen were on top in the central zone where Cathal Higgins was dominant with Rian Lennon ever ready to nip forward, back to back points from Eamon Fyfe ensured a 0-04 to 0-02 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.

The Sarsfields men came back as the short blast approached and it was to be the city lads who were to finish the stronger with their ‘go to’ receiver Kevin Mc Kernan busy in providing openings.

A few exellent points fom the Con Magees saw them open a gap, but Brian Healey and Niall McKenna hit points apiece to cut the gap to the minimum at the end of the first period, and after having faced the stiff breeze the Glenravel men went in at the break with a 0-07 to 0-06 lead.

With the breeze at their backs Glenravel nipped quickly out of the starting blocks in the second half as Daniel McQuillan, David Higgins and Cormac McKeown extended their advantage to four points. When that gap was stretched to five the Con Magees fans in the good sized attendance must have felt they were well on track for a final spot. However the Paddies came back with three unanswered points via the excellent Garry Lennon, and just two points separated the sides with less than ten minutes on the clock.

The free flowing moves of the early part of the half were now gone for the Glenravel men and the Paddies upped the ante as they went in search of the scores that would bring them right back into contention. When they cut the gap back to just two it looked like anyone’s game and when corner forward Brian Healy got in on goal the Glenravel fans held their breath. Any connection seemed certain to finish in the net, but Healy’s shot was blocked by the knee of the Con Magees custodian Johnny Fyfe who turned the ball around the post for a 45.  

Still the pressure was on the Glenravel men as they struggled to end a long scoreless spell, but the impressive Eamon Fyfe settled the nerves with a well taken point from a 45 and they added the insurance point in added time to set up a final meeting with Ballymena in two weeks’ time.

CON MAGEES

Jonathan Fyfe, Charlie, Henry, Sean Higgins, Conor Carey, Rian Lennon (0-01), Niall Swann, Declan Traynor, Cathal Hynds, Callum Higgins (0-01), Cormac Mc Keown, Eoin Hynds (0-02), Daniel Mc Quillan, Aidan O’ Donnell (0-01), David Higgins (0-01), Eamon Fyfe (0-06)

Subs – Conleth O’ Loan, Senan Black, Eamon Ward, Conor McNeill, Eoin Mc Cusker

SARSFIELDS

Michael Brady, Caolan Mc Donnell, Joe Mc Nally, Martin Mc Polin, Philip McPeake, Daniel Mc Kernan, Liam Mitchell, Caolan Mc Kernan, Cormac Murray, Sam Walsh (0-01), Niall Mc Kenna (0-01), Conor Glenholmes, Kevin Mc Kernan, Garry Lennon (0-08), Brian Healey

Referee – Sean Laverty (Moneyglass)

OB Construction Antrim IFC, semi-final

All Saints, Ballymena 3-10 St Teresa’s 2-7

All Saints went into this semi-final against St. Teresa’s at Hightown as favourites and eventually proved the pundits right but will need to show vast improvement if they are to overcome the challenge of Con Magee’s, Glenravel in the final in two weeks-time.

The Ballymena men played with a fairly strong wind on their back in the opening half but looked nervous in the early stages with far too many passes going astray as they kicked half a dozen wides in the opening quarter.

It was the Glen Road side who adapted much better to the conditions during the opening period as they raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 19 minutes.

John Mallon kicked St Teresa’s into an early lead from a free, but it was All Saints who were enjoying the better of the possession in the opening quarter.

However their possession was not manifesting itself in scores as they hit 6 early wides and dropped another into the keeper’s hands before they finally got off the mark in the 17th minute through Ronan McKillop.

By this time, St Teresa’s had a second on the board through Paul McGoldrick as they were making more of their attacking efforts. The West Belfast men stretched their lead as Sean Maguire found Anton Taylor to turn and curl over, while Niall McCann kicked a free to extend the gap to three.

All Saints were beginning to settle after an untidy opening 20 minutes and Ronan McKillop pointed from a free with their second and they had drawn level by half-time at 0-4 each as Connell Lemon split the posts and McKillop landed his third of the day with the final act of the opening period.

After a fairly forgettable opening 30 minutes, the second half came to life with the Slemish Park side finding their fluency despite playing into the breeze and Patrick Ferris put them ahead for the first time as he soloed through for an early point.

Two minutes later came their opening goal as a long ball broke and it was Kavan Keenan who fired high into the top corner. To make matters worse for the Glen Road side they had Anthony Varndell red carded for what appeared to be dissent.

All Saints Ciaran McGarry followed him shortly after as parity on the field was restored and St. Teresa’s came back strongly as Anton Taylor set up Paul McGoldrick who finished to the net from close range to close the gap to two points.

That was as close as they would get however as Ronan McKillop and Cal O’Brien replied with points before Luke Cassin responded to leave three in it after 17 minutes of the second half.

St Teresa’s looked to be in for an equaliser as Taylor broke along the end line but the All Saints defence got in to smother his effort before clearing their lines.

All Saints responded decisively and Mc|Killop kicked another free before a well-executed attack saw Sean O’Callaghan felled as he broke through with referee, Brendan Toland pointing to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Kavan Keenan to send Murtagh the wrong way as he placed his spot Kick in the corner of the net and the South West side looked in for a third major as a stray kick-out was collected by Shea O’Brien but the All Saints man fluffed his lines.

The third goal was not long in coming however as the All Saints pressure began to tell and substitute Ciaran Campbell put McKillop in to finish to the net with four minutes remaining.

Kavan Keenan got his marching orders in a confrontation that followed immediately after and it will rule him out of the final and with time almost up Robbie Gallagher took advantage of a slack pass as the Ballymena side ran down the clock to slot home a consolation goal.

A good win for Liam Bradley’s side but there will be aspects of his side’s performance that are unlikely to please the former Antrim supremo and he will feel that there is much work to be done before they face Glenravel in the final.

St. Teresa’s: C Murtagh; A Dugan, P Johnston, R Mallon; C O’Rawe, E Gault, S Maguire; L Cassin (0-1), A Varndell; J Mallon (0-1 free), N McCann (0-2, 1 free), P Maguire; M Small, A Taylor (0-1), P McGoldrick (1-2).

Subs: D McCann for E Gault (33), R Gallagher (1-0) for M Small (38), R Hamill for R Mallon (58), C McGoldrick for L Cassin (58)

All Saints: R Stewart; E Walsh, J McDonnell, C O’Brien (0-1); P Ferris, S O’Callaghan, J Rafferty; S McVeigh, E KIllough; S O’Brien, R McKillop (1-5, 0-2 frees), C Lemon (0-1); B McDonnell (0-1), K Keenan (2-1), C McGarry.

Subs: M Read for E Walsh (20), L O’Rawe for E Killough (49), C Campbell for C lemon (51), M McGreevey for B McDonnell (58), M Downey for R McKIllop (60)

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)

OB Construction Antrim IFC quarter-final

Sarsfield’s 1-13 St Paul’s 1-8

Sarsfields produced a strong closing quarter to overcome the challenge of neighbours, St. Paul’s in a very competitive OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship at the Bear Pit on Saturday evening.

The home side kicked six of the final seven points of the game with ace marksman, Kevin McKernan leading the way to earn themselves a place in the semi-final where they will meet Con Magee’s for the second year in succession.

This game was played with real championship intensity and was not for the faint hearted as every ball was contested as if their lives depended on it and it was St. Paul’s Liam McLarnon who put his side ahead with a point in the second minute.

Sarsfield’s wasted a chance to get back on level terms as Phillip McPeake shot wide when well-placed and the home side were guilty of a number of misses at this early stage while Jack McAufield in the visitors goals was dealing with everything that came his way.

The Sarsfield’s pressure was starting to tell however and McAufield was finally beaten in the 8^th minute as Conor Glenholmes sent Daniel McKernan through for the game’s opening goal.

Garry Lennon followed from a pointed free and then Caolan McDonnell came forward from defence to add another from play before St Paul’s kicked St. Paul’s first point for 13 minutes to leave a goal between the sides.

Mark Munce then collected a long pass out of defence before laying the ball off to the overlapping Lorcan Phillips and Phillips made no mistake as he applied a cool finish.

The home side responded with Niall McKenna and Gary Lennon bisecting the St. Paul’s posts and another from a Phillips free had the hosts 1-4 to 1-3 ahead as Ray Matthews sounded his half time whistle.

There had been little to separate these two neighbours and deadly rivals during the opening half and that theme continued on the restart as Cormac Murray extended the Sarsfield’s lead with Liam McLarnon and Phillips from another free bringing the sides level.

The same player edged the visitors in front from another free but Sarsfield’s came back strongly as Kevin McKernan equalised before edging the ‘Paddies’ in front again from a free.

It still looked anybody’s game as Lorcan Phillips continued to display his free taking ability from another free to bring the Hoops level once more and a further exchange from McKernan and Phillips left it on a knife edge going into the final quarter.

A Phillips free briefly put St Paul’s ahead, but Kevin McKernan came more into the game, opening his account from play and then a free nudged Satsfield’s back in front before Phillips tied it up once more as the game entered the final quarter.

The home side seemed to find another game going down the home straight however with Cormac Murray converting after a mark and substitute, Conor Moley added another from play.

Kevin McKernan added another from a free and McPeake followed with another before Jack McAufield brought off a good save as Sarsfield’s threatened again.

A free from Patrick Doyle kept St. Paul’s in touch and they might have had the goal they needed when Liam McGoldrick climbed above the pack to get his fist to a dropping ball but his effort rebounded of an upright and was cleared to safety.

Daniel McKernan was then show ‘Black’ but Sarsfields were in no mood to relinquish their hard earned advantage as they stood strong in defence and Caoimhin McDonnell made victory secure from a break away as he fisted over.

Sarsfields will now meet Glenravel in a repeat of last year’s semi-final which the Con Magee’s won while All Saints face a St. Teresa’s side who made a few sit up and take notice with their win over Aldergrove on Saturday in the other quarter-final.

Sarsfield’s: M Brady; C McDonnell (0-2), J McNally, M McPolin; P McPeake (0-1), D McKernan (1-0), L Mitchell; C McKernan, C Murray (0-2, 1 mark); E Marvyn, N McKenna (0-1), C Glenholmes; N McAlea, G Lennon (0-2 frees), K McKernan (0-4, 2 frees).

Subs: S Walsh for N McAlea (40), C Moley (0-1) for E Mervyn (43), K Floyd for C Glenholmes (50)

ST Paul’s: J McAufield; A Kavanagh, S Rooney, Conall Duffy; M Duffy, J Farrell, N Ward; C Hughes, C McLarnon (0-1); D Quinn, M Munce, L Phillips (1-4, 0-4 frees); S Mac Corraidh, L McLarnon (0-2), P Doyle (0-1 free).

Subs: Caoimhin Duffy for D Quinn (HT), D O’Sullivan for M Duffy (39), N McStravick for C Hughes (44), B Burns for S Mac Corraidh (44), A Finnegan for L Phillips (55)

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final

Saturday 9^th September

Report by Niall Kelly 

St Teresa’s 2-12   Aldergrove 1-13

A hot and humid Pairc Úi Dhoctairtigh played host to a pulsating encounter in which the hosts ripped up the script to secure a meeting with Ballymena in the Semi Finals in a fortnight’s time. Few would’ve honestly given the Glen Road side much of a chance with eight positions separating them in the league and the fact that Aldergrove with so much firepower in their arsenal, harboured serious Championship hopes. Nevertheless, the quiet optimism from the home dugout and inspired performances across the pitch for the men in blue and yellow helped them over the line to clinch a memorable win.

Proceedings were mirroring predictions in the early stages and with barely five minutes on the clock, Aldergrove had already mounted a four-point lead and were playing with a vigour and swagger that matched their Championship credentials. However, fast forward 50 minutes later and roles were reversed as Robbie Gallagher’s emphatic finish to the net bolstered the host’s lead to five points with the same number remaining on the clock. Despite a dogged resurgence from the men in red, Naomh Teresa held out to send the raucous home crowd into raptures at Fiontann McCotter’s final whistle.

Aldergrove enjoyed the lion’s share of the early stages and it was a likely source who opened the scoring in ex county ace, Seamus McGarry. The visitors then dealt the home side a hammer blow on the fifth minute. A delicious diagonal ball from Gerald Mallon was fetched superbly on the edge of the square by Ronan Hanna who nonchalantly rounded the keeper before firing in from close range.

St Teresa’s responded through the trusty left boot of Jay Mallon but the men from Crumlin continued to launch marauding attacks from deep with Declan Gough putting the finishing touches on two of these before Hanna struck again. This seemed to stir the hosts from their slumber as they kicked into gear with their formidable half-forward line doing most of the damage. Jay Mallon doubled his tally before Niall McCann curled over the first of five for the afternoon.

The hosts were doing their utmost to nullify the threat of McGarry from play but were powerless to stop his pinpoint accuracy from the dead ball. The Aldergrove number fourteen increased his side’s lead to six with five minutes of the half left and again it was looking ominous for the hosts.

With the short whistle fast approaching, the game took a dramatic turn as St Teresa’s were handed a lifeline with a penalty for a foul on Anton Taylor. Hearts were in mouths as Shane O’Neill pulled off a superb save in goal, only for Jay Mallon to make amends, courageously diving in to fist the ball to the net on the rebound. Game on.

Ronan Hanna responded once more for the visitors but now it seemed the pendulum of momentum was swinging favourably for the hosts as Mallon struck once more before Conor O’Rawe put the gloss on a flowing, intricate move just before the interval to leave the scores 1-05 to 1-07 in favour of the visitors.

The end of the first half served as a warning to Aldergrove as to what would come in the second as Niall McCann opened the scoring on the 32^nd minute before man of the match, Philip Maguire levelled proceedings minutes later. Inspired and spearheaded by Maguire, St Teresa’s were now clicking seamlessly across the pitch with much more impetus and purpose to their passing.

The trusty right boot of McCann was to come to the fore again as he twice judged the ever-increasing breeze to curl over perfectly from range to give his side a lead that they would refuse to relinquish for the remainder.

Aldergrove seemed somewhat shellshocked at the bombardment their defence was under as they couldn’t seem to gain yards. They did however get some reprieve when Declan Gough fired over to finish a blistering counter, illustrating the attacking potential present within their armoury. Buoyed by this, they began to pepper the St Teresa’s box and Ryan McCarthy was desperately unlucky not to find his side’s second major after being denied by a superb save from St Teresa’s net-minder, Ciaran Murtaugh.

As the game continued to sway to and fro, Maguire’s influence on proceedings was growing in prominence and his lung-busting, driving run paved the way for Conor O’Rawe to double his tally. The St Teresa’s number 12 then turned provider for Anton Taylor who fisted over the bar from close range on the 50^th minute to increase the lead to four.

The game was being played at a frantic pace as Aldergrove continued to probe for avenues to claw back the lead. Step forward McGarry once again, who unleashed a monstrous effort from distance before substitute Cormac McCarthy emulated his captain with another pearler of a point.

Five minutes now remained with the game tantalisingly in the balance. Aldergrove seemingly were now in the ascendancy but St Teresa’s substitute Robbie Gallagher had other ideas. The number 19 negotiated himself just the right amount of space on the 21-yard line to latch on to another Maguire pass. With a flurry of red defenders baring down on him, Gallagher let fly with an audacious effort which nestled perfectly in the bottom right of the despairing O’Neill in goal, triggering an almighty roar from the unwavering home support.

To their credit, as they had done all game, Aldergrove refused to lie down and straight away sought about launching a revival. Red shirts were now camped in the St Teresa’s half as the onslaught began. Conor Morris pointed for the visitors before McGarry despatched from a free as the game approached injury time. With just a kick of the ball in it, the visitors continued to search for that all-elusive goal which just wouldn’t come. McGarry split the posts once more from range but it wouldn’t be enough as St Teresa’s held firm to cling on for victory.

Teams:

St Teresa’s:

C Murtaugh; A Dougan, P Johnston, R Mallon; C O’Rawe (0-02,) E Gault, S Maguire; L Cassin, A Vardell; J Mallon (1-03,) N McCann (0-05,) P Maguire (0-01;) M Small, A Taylor (0-01,) P McGoldrick

Substitute Scorer:

R Gallagher (1-00)

Aldergrove:

S O’Neill; E Gough, C McVeigh, A Irvine; C Browning, A Flood, E Hamill; R Owens, B McQuillan; D Gough (0-03,) J Trowlan, G Mallon; O Graham, S McGarry (0-06,) R Hanna (1-02)

Substitute scorers:

C McCarthy (0-01) C Morris (0-01)