Featured image: Connell Lemon (7) turns away in celebration after scoring his second goal for All Saints

OB CONSTRUCTION

Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final

All Saints 3-13 Ardoyne 2-10

Two excellent second half goals from the superb Connell Lemon proved the difference in the end as All Saints recovered from a slow start to overcome the challenge of Kickham’s Ardoyne in this OB Construction IFC quarter-final at Quinn Park on Friday night.

All Saints had six points to spare in the end but it doesn’t tell the whole story and Ardoyne will regret two gilt edged goal chances early in the game that would surely have made a difference in the end.

They finally found a way past Ryan Stewart in the All Saints goals when Ciaran McNeill fired home from close range in the 14^th minute to put them 1-3 to 0-2 ahead and at this stage they were dominating proceedings.

The home side started to get it together however and significantly hit 1-5 without reply to lead 1-7 to 1-4 at half time and Lemon’s second half double and some excellent free taking by Ronan McKillop enabled them to keep their noses in front.

Two early points from Aidan McNeill and one each in reply from Ronan McKillop and Emmet Killough had it all square by the 9^th minute but the visitors could have been well ahead at this stage but were guilty of a couple of glaring misses.

Declan McCormack kicked a fine point from a 40 meter free after the ball had been moved forward for dissent and Ciaran McNeill finally found a way past Ryan Stewart and a porous All Saints defence to put the visitors four in front.

Aidan McNeill then dragged his shot wide of an empty goal as Stewart and his defence went walkabouts and it seemed to act as a wakeup call for Baker Bradley’s side.

They would hit 1-5 on the bounce with Benny McDonnell, Matty Downey, Ronan McKillop (f), Ciaran McGarry and Sean O’Callaghan splitting the posts and then a swift counter attack saw McGarry fire to the net.

The visitors looked shocked but they steadied to kick the last point of the half with Declan McCormack converting a free in injury time to leave just three in it at the break.

All Saints looked to be in for a second goal on the restart but a lose hand pass let Ardoyne off the hook but Ronan McKillop converted his third free of the evening and Sean McVeigh hit a fine point from play to move the Ballymena side five in front after only nine minutes.

The visitors replied through another McCormack free and a good point from play by Conor Mclaughlin and they were handed another boost when All Saints lost Joe Rafferty to a ‘Black’ card in the 12^th minute.

The home side introduced Kavan Keenan and Patrick Ferris at this stage for Matthew Downey and James Gillan and two minutes later, Connell Lemon raced clear of the pack to fire past Tiernan Hughes in the Ardoyne goals.

Joe McNeill pulled one back for the Kickham’s from a good long range point but Lemon punished a visitors defence, who had been giving him a hard time, when his pace and finishing power moved his side eight in front by the 19^th minute.

Ardoyne were not about to give up the chase however as they started to play their way back into the game with an Oisin McVicker shot coming back of an upright as they went looking for the goal they needed to get them back into contention.

They goal was not long in arriving however as a fluent build up saw Aidan McNeill’s shot deflect off the hands of a defender and into the net in the 20^th minute and the same player added a point a minute later to close the gap to four.

Ronan McKillop eased the pressure as he pointed another free as Joe Rafferty returned from the sin bin to bolster the All Saints cause and another from Emmet Killough put further daylight between the sides.

The visitors kept fighting to the end however with Keelan McCallan and Aidan McNeill added late points in response to McKillop’s sixth of the evening to ease the Quinn Park side over the line and into the semi-finals.

All Saints: Ryan Stewart, Eoin Walsh, James McDonnell, Cal O’Brien, James Gillan, Sean O’Callaghan, Connell Lemon, Sean McVeigh, Emmet Killough, Matthew Downey, Ronan McKillop, Joe Rafferty, Brendan McDonnell, Luke O’Rawe, Ciaran McGarry.

Ardoyne: 1 Tiernan Hughes, 2 Kevin Lynch, 3 Joe McNeill, 4 Eoghan Corrigan, 5 Conor McLaughlin, 6 Oisin McVicker, 7 Cahal Keown, 8 Declan McCormack, 9 Cormac Mullan, 10 Aidan McNeill, 11 Kevin McLaughlin, 12 Cormac Mullan, 13 Michael McGreevey, 14 Ciaran McNeill, 15 Pearse Marley, 20 Keelan McCallan

Referee: Sean Laverty (Moneyglass)

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship – Group  

Con Magees 5-23 Pearses 1-2 

Con Magees Glenravel finished their Group 1 campaign with a big win over last years’ Junior Champions Pearses at the Crikey on Sunday afternoon. The Glenravel men had the upper hand in the first half and led by 2-10 to 1-0 at half time, their goals coming from Aidan O’Donnell on six minutes and Eamon Ward.In the second half Glenravel pushed on and added goals from Sean McKay, Rian Lennon, plus one from a penalty by Eamon Ward, whose grandfather Jimmy Ward was a member of the Sarsfields team who beat Pearses in the 1967 Antrim Senior final.

Pearses goalkeeper Eamonn McKenna comes within a fraction of an inch of saving Eamonn Ward’s late penalty

Glenravel now face Gort na Móna in the quarter final in two weeks time.  

CON MAGEES Johnny Fyfe, Sean Paul McKenna, Eoin McCusker, Charlie Henry, Rian Lennon, David Higgins, Daniel McQuillan, Calum Higgins, Martin McCarry, Cormac McKeown, Eoin Hynds, Conor McNeill, Eamon Ward, Aidan O’Donnell, Sean McKay. 

PEARSES Eamonn McKenna, Ciaran McCavana, Thomas McFarlane, Aidan Bannon, Jay Collins, Nathan Gorman, Gerard Campbell, Piaras Donaghy, Cormac O’Neill, Phil Murray, John Hale, Sean Moreland, Brendan Devine, Barry Harper, Aodhan McCavana.  

Referee – Fiontann McCotter

OB Construction IFC Group 1

Davitt’s 2 -11  St. Paul’s 3-9

A pointed free from Lorcan Phillips in the third minute of injury time earned visitors St. Pauls victory over Davitt’s at Davitt’s Park on Sunday and secured the Shaw’s Road side a place in the knockout stages of the IFC

It was tough on a Davitt’s side who matched the visitors all the way and were denied a couple of goal chances over the hour by some resolute defending by the St. Paul’s defence.

It was obvious from the throw in that both side were up for this winner takes all encounter with a player from each side receiving Yellow early in the game and with both defences on top it was 15 minute before McParland pointed Davitt’s ahead with the game’s opening score.

Liam McLarnon levelled the contest two minutes later before Lorcan Phillips gave St. Paul’s the lead from a pointed free with 19 minutes on the clock.

That lead was short lived as substitute Stephen O’Neill rattled the visitors net, a minute later to bring the home crowd to their feet and a couple of pointed frees from keeper, Aaron Slane had the home side four in front with seven minutes remaining to the break.

St. Paul’s replied and Lorcan Phillips and Marcus Munce from a great long range effort had it back to two by the 29^th minute but the final score of the half would fall to ace free taker, Aaron Slane to give Davitt’s a 1-4 to 0-4 half time lead.

There had been little between the sides during the opening half with both defences on top and O’Neill’s goal for Davitt’s the highlight but when Gerard Slane pointed an early second half free for the home side they looked to be in a strong position.

Liam McLarnon replied for the Shaw’s Road side but this time it was keeper, Aaron Slane who responded with a pointed free for Davitt’s to restore their four point advantage with six minutes gone.

St. Paul’s were starting to find a bit of space and moving the ball around with confidence and they struck with two goals within a minute to turn the contest on its head.

Lorcan Phillips got them going from a 9^th minute free before wing half Miceal Duffy got through for an excellent goal in the 11^th minute.

Before Davitt’s could recover corner back, Aodhan McKavanagh sent a screamer right into the top corner of Aaron Slane’s net and St. Paul’s were ahead for the first time.

Things were certainly livening up and McParland replied with a point for the home side and they might well have had a goal but a great block from Aodhan McKavanagh rescued the Shaw’s Road men and Jack McAufield brought off a good save from the follow up.

Points from O’Neill and Gerard Slane kept the Falls Road side very much in contention with Lorcan Phillips keeping the St. Paul’s noses ahead from a 21^st minute free.

Gerard Slane had been excellent for Davitt’s and he pulled one back from a 23d minute free before getting through for a goal in the 25^th minute to level the contest.

The home side looked to have gained the points and a place in the play-offs when O’Neill from long range and Man of the Match Slane pointed them three ahead with time almost up.

There was still a few minutes of injury time left however and St. Paul’s responded with a goal from Aidan McKavanagh and after Davitt’s went close at the other end it was Lorcan Phillips who sealed it for the visitors from a pointed free in the 33d minute.

An excellent game of championship football and it was a pity there had to be a loser with Davitt’s unfortunate not to not take something from the contest.

St. Paul’s now go forward to the quarter-finals and will make the short journey to Sarsfield’s for what will be an eagerly awaited contest in two weeks-time while their opponents on the day, Davitt’s will reflect on what might have been.

Davitt’s: 1 Aaron Slane, 2 C Rainey, 3 P McKinney, 4 C Toner, 5 J Scally, 6 A Hargan, 7 D Mooney, 8 A Rowntree, 9 N McParland, 10 M Connolly, 11 G Slane, 12 N Maginn, 13 C Sullivan, 14 M Toner, 15 P McParland Subs: Stephen O’Neill, Stephen Maguire

St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Aodhan Kavanagh, 3 Stephen Rooney, 4 Niall Ward, 5 Miceal Duffy, 6 James Farrell, 7 Marcas Munce, 8 Conor Hughes, 9 Colm McLarnon, 10 Lorcan Phillips, 11 Liam McLarnon, 12 Conall Finnegan, 13 Caoimhin Duffy, 14 Sean McCrory, 15 Aidan Finnegan. Subs: Conall Duffy for Conall Finnegan.

Referee: Sean Laverty (Moneyglass)

Paul Toner Treasurer of Davitt’s presents a sposorship cheque to Bert Trowlen who receives it on behalf of the Saffron Gael

OB Construction IFC Group 3

All Saints 9-17 Naomh Comhghall 0-9

Going into this final game in Group 3 of the IFC the permutations were simple. A win or even a draw would be enough to send All Saints through to the quarter-finals. Defeat would mean that Naomh Comhghall Antrim would join St. James Aldergrove in the play-offs.

There was a further matter that was obviously on the Ballymena men’s minds. Win by more than 16 points and they would top Group 3, a result that would give them a home venue in the quarter-final.

It looked a big ask but right from throw in it was obvious that there was only going to be one winner as All Saints opened at breakneck speed and goals from Connell Lemon (2-0), Brendan McDonnell and corner-back, Cal O’Brien had them 4-3 to 0-0 up after 11 minutes and the game was virtually over, even at this early stage.

The Antrim town side were giving it everything and finally got themselves on the score card when youngster, Ryan Clarke pointed from a free and Diarmuid Hanna followed with another from play.

It brought an immediate response from the home side with Patrick Ferris sending a gem of a lob to the net after spotting Caolan McKeown off his line and the 17 point margin of victory required had already been reached with only 17 minutes gone.

The Antrim side were doing all in their power to get themselves going with Dylan Murdock, Patrick O’Connor, Miles Devine and Tom Patchett driving them forward and two points from the impressive Patchett brought their total to 0-4 by the 22^nd minute.

The All Saints pressure and the intensity of their play was relentless however with Ronan McKillop kicking three late points and Conor Lemon and Sean O’Callaghan completing the first half scoring to leave it 5-9 to 0-5 at the interval, the ‘Town’s’ late point coming from Dylan Murdock.

It didn’t get any better for the visitors after the break as Matty Downey fired home goal number six after being placed by Benny McDonnell and Emmet Killough brought the total to seven as Naomh Comhghall began to tire under the constant pressure.

Substitute Michael McCarry, who has missed most of the season through injury, announced his return with a point with virtually his first touch before the excellent Tom Patchett brought a bit of respite to his colleagues as he pointed a ‘45’ and followed with a great effort from play for the visitors.

The Ballymena side quite simply refused to take their foot of the pedal however as Brendan McDonnell and substitute, Darragh Bradley brought their goal tally to nine as Liam Bradley emptied his bench in the closing stages.

Michael McCarry, Ciaran Campbell, Darragh Bradley, Michael Read and Charlie Metrustry all saw game time but the home side still have an extensive injury list with Conor Stewart, Paddy McAleer, Peter McReynolds and Ciaran McGarry all missing from the action.

The manager will have been pleased by the contribution of the returning McCarry who would finish the game with a personal tally of 0-6 as Naomh Comhghall finished with three points from Ryan Clarke to bring their total for the day to 0-9.

A job well done for the home side but much stiffer challenges lie ahead and the Ballymena side will now entertain Kickham’s Ardoyne in the quarter final in a couple of weeks-time.

Their opponents today, Naomh Comhghall were without a handful of regulars and will return to Junior Championship next season after two tuff seasons in the Intermediate grade where they can once again be a threat as they were when winning the Junior Championship back in 2021.

Referee: Gregory Walsh (Aghagallon)

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship – Group 4

Gort na Móna 1-8 Glenavy 0-11

At Páirc Mhic Ionnrachtaigh

A point from a free in injury time by Gort na Mona full forward Padraig McHugh booked his team’s passage to the quarter finals of the Intermediate Football Championship and ended Glenavy’s interest in the competition. Five minutes earlier it had all looked so promising for the Glenavy men when they held a four point lead, after apparently weathering the storm as they played up the slope and into a strong wind.

However a moment of genius by Gorts midfielder Dessie McClean created a goal out of nothing and from then on the visitors were treading water. That goal cut the deficit back to just a point, and the Turf Lodge men had chances from to level but corner forward Darron Boyd and goalkeeper Thomas McCaffrey were off target from difficult frees and it appeared Glenavy would hold on. However with the game in injury time a good move saw centre forward Christopher Carson cut in from the left, where he was fouled by the visitors defence and McHugh stepped up to deliver the killer blow from the resultant free.

Glenavy had started like a house on fire and appeared to have adjusted right away to the difficult conditions, playing down the slope with a strong diagonal wind blowing down into the bottom left hand corner. Three points in the first four minutes from Ciaran Loney, Fergal Henry and Darragh Armstrong, each one taken with aplomb, appeared have given them the perfect platform, but the Gorts were level five minutes later as McHugh, Aidan McDonagh and McHugh again found the target at the other end.

However McHugh’s point would not be added to until the full forward found the target again eighteen minutes later, while in the meantime Glenavy got to grips with the conditions and added another five points through Darragh Armstrong, Fergan Henry (2), Patrick Gallagher and Niall McCann to stretch their lead to 0-8 to 0-3, before McHugh closed the gap to four a minute before the break.

The visitors’ half time lead looked far from convincing, considering the conditions, but when they held that lead during the opening eight minutes of the new half things looked a little brighter. However when the Gorts got going they hit three points in as many minutes with Darron Boyd starting the comeback with a pointed free from 40 meters. Goalkeeper Thomas McCaffrey added one from a 45 a minute later and Boyd grabbed one from play and suddenly the gap was back to a single point.

To their credit Glenavy never panicked and slowly but surely they regained control of the game and they restored their half time advantage of four points as Patrick Gallagher, Liam Henry and Darragh Armstrong all sent over points.

The Gorts were now rushing the chances and as the clock ticked past the 55 minute mark it appeared their opportunity had gone. That was until Dessie McLean turned the game on its head by steering a shot through a packed goalmouth and into the net to leave just a point between the sides. With normal time up, and a couple of good chances of the equaliser missed, it looked Glenavy might hold on, but one final Gorts attack brought a free and McHugh took the chance that was presented to send his team through to the knock out stages along with group winners Sarsfields, by virtue of a better score difference than Saturday’s opponents

GORT NA MÓNA

Thomas McCaffrey, Darren Cahill, Conor Conneely, Ciaran Donnelly, Brendan Burns, Michael Savage, Sean Campbell, Tiernan Morton, Dessie McClean, Aidan McDonagh, Christopher Carson, Caoimhinn Beck, Darron Boyd, Padraigh McHugh, Gavin McKenna.

GLENAVY

Fergal Greene, Timmy Honeyford, Conor Hamill, Matthew Hamill, Liam Henry, Charles Gallagher, Ruairi Forrester, Michael Johnston, Ryan Malley, Patrick Gallagher, Niall McCann, Ciaran Loney, Fergal Henry, Thomas Gallagher, Darragh Armstrong.

REFEREE – Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)