OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship

Group One

St Paul’s 3-11 Pearse’s 0-5


Seasoned campaigners St Paul’s welcomed last season’s Junior champions Pearse’s to the Shaw’s Road hoping not to slip up against a side making their championship debut at this level.
 
Pearse’s began the game the stronger and looked set to cause an upset with their fast attacking football early on and the 2022 Junior Champions struck a fantastic early score when Daniel Magee pointed after taking a Mark.
 
It took St Paul’s some time to get going as they missed a number of early chances and it was 10 minutes before they registered their opening score. Pearse’s failed to clear their lines after a free fell short and the ball broke to Aidan Finnegan whose first time effort rattled the back of the net.

The goal swung the momentum in favour of the home side and they quickly followed with a second as Séan McCrory climbed above the Pearses defence to punch to the net and put the Hoops in control.

Last year’s Junior Champions looked rattled as Colm McLarnon found Mark Munce who side-footed an effort between the posts in the 13th minute to put home-side were 2-1 to 0-1 in front at the end of the opening quarter.

 The North Belfast side were giving away soft frees and St. Paul’s took advantage and slowly began to build up a substantial lead. The home-side cut through the Pearses defence and Liam McLarnon finished to the net from close range.

By half time St Paul’s had built up a substantial 3-5 to 0-1 lead and it was hard to see a way back for the division 3 side in the second half. 

Despite facing almost impossible odds in the second half Pearses made a bright start and kicked the first two points as Daniel Magee converted a free and the same player got his fist to a dropping ball to give his side a small glimmer of hope. 

Magee was again to the fore when the fielded the ball behind his marker Conall Finnegan and he placed Niall Devine who had only the ‘keeper to beat. Devine kept his shot low and powerful, but Jack McCaulfield made a great save to deny the Pearse’s man.
 
St Paul’s responded again with Mark Munce on target and further points from both Colm and Liam McLarnon saw them move further ahead.
 
The home side continued to pull away with the final score coming from substitute Conaill Duffy who converted a free late on to seal his side’s victory.
 
St Paul’s now sit top of Group One after day one on score difference, after Con Magee’s, Glenravel convincingly beat Davitt’s by a 13 point margin in the other fixture.
 
St Paul’s meet the Glens men on Friday the 11^th of August at Fr. Maginn Park and will face a much stiffer test than they did on Friday night but they will take a lot of confidence from this performance as they travel to take on the division 2 champions.

For Pearse’s it was a serious learning curve but they can take lessons from this defeat and they will have two weeks now to prepare before they take on Davitt’s at the Bear Pit in a game that is a must win for both sides if they are to retain any ambitions of a quarter-final place.
 
St. Paul’s: J McCaulfield, A Kavanagh, C Finnegan, S Rooney, M Duffy, J Farrell, N Ward, C McLarnon (0-2, both frees), S McCrory (1-0), M Munce (0-2), C Hughes (0-1), B Burns, A Finnegan (1-2), Conaill Duffy (0-1), L McLarnon (1-2, 0-1 free)

Subs: P Lowe for B Burns (50), Caoimhin Duffy (0-1 free) for Conaill Duffy (50), D Quinn for C Hughes (55), D O’Sullivan for A Finnegan (55)
 
Pearse’s: E McKenna, D O’Neill, A Bannon, T McFarlane, T Collins, N Gorman, P Murray, N Devine (0-1), J Smyth, P Donaghy, S Fitzsimons (0-1), C Gillespie, D Magee (0-2, 1 free), A McCavana (0-1)

Referee: Conall Roberts (St John’s) 

IFC Group 1

Glenravel 2-14  Davitts 1-04

Glenravel dominated this game from start to finish and whilst being wasteful in the opening half they never looked to be in any real trouble. Ahead by six points at the break the Con Magees lads were a lot more clinical in the second half and went on to win by a comfortable margin which would have been even better if Michael Connelly’s long range effort hadn’t found the roof of the Glenravel net in injury time at the end of the game for Davitts’ only goal.

Aiden O’Donnell opened for the home side after good work by Declan Traynor set him up and that was followed by three superb scores from play, two from the trusty left boot of Eoin Hynds and a fine score from Eamon Fyfe who found space on the twenty metre line and wasn’t going to miss from there. It took Davitts ten minutes to get on the scoresheet but it was worth waiting for as Anthony Hargan collected the ball around midfield, soloed forward and slotted over from distance with the outside of his right boot. Glenravel would continue to dominate possession but some wasted opportunities kept their opponents in the game. Eoin Hynds did manage a couple of points and Daniel McQuillan got on the scoresheet but Davitts couldn’t capitalise and would retire to the changing rooms at half time with Hargan’s point their only score of the first half. In that period Glenravel had slotted over seven points.

Playing with a fairly strong wind, the Belfast men would have wanted a positive start to the second half but the local lads had put over two points in the opening two minutes from Eamon Fyfe and Daniel McQuillan and the skies grew darker (literally) for Davitts. However with four minutes gone Davitts’ keeper was called into free taking duty and he slotted over from about fifty metres out aka Seanie O’Shea, and that was followed quickly after by a Padraig McParland point giving the visitors a glimmer of hope.

But one minute later Eamon Fyfe was upended in the square and Davitts’ heads dropped as referee Ray Matthew’s outstretched arms indicated a penalty which Fyfe cooly dispatched to the net to leave Glenravel ahead by 1-09 to 0-03 and surely home and hosed at that point. Fyfe would score two more points before keeper Hargan was once again called forward for free taking and slotted over a forty five but it was too little too late. Three minutes later, Glenravel went route one with a kick out that David Higgins collected in the middle of the field and dispatched a long range effort to Eamon Fyfe who rounded his marker before off loading to Declan Traynor who’s pile drive left Hargan no chance in the Davitts’ net. Game, set and match Glenravel! In the closing minutes Eamon Fyfe, Conleth O’Loan and Callum Higgins stretched the home side even further ahead. Davitts did eventually find the net at the end of the first of two minutes added time; a superb effort by midfielder Michael Connelly from twenty metres found the roof of the Glenravel net to add some gloss to the scoreline for the visitors. Ray Matthews called time and the grey overhead skies opened as both teams sought the shelter of the changing rooms to avoid the torrential rain. Game finished Glenravel 2-14  Davitts 1-04. 

OB Construction IFC Round One (group 3)

St Comgall’s Antrim 0-11 St Mary’s Aldergrove 3-17

A Ryan McCarthy double in the opening game in group one of the Intermediate Football Championship clash between Naomh Comhghall and St. James Aldergrove in Antrim on Friday night paved the way to a convincing victory.

Both goals came in the second period from the impressive full forward to ensure Aldergrove finished as winners over their hosts who had battled hard up to this point.

St Comgall’s played their league football a division below their visitors and started as rank outsiders but they did remain in touch for the opening period and were only five points in arrears at the short whistle.

Aldergrove introduced James Trowlan early in proceedings and went on to dominate. Trowlan was to prove pivotal in the central zone and it was his fetch and combination with the strong running Gerard Mallon which opened to way for Seamus Mc Garry to find the net in the 26^th minute.

Prior to that major score the home side had stayed close to their visitors and late points from Paddy Quinn ensured they were still in with a chance as Aldergrove led 1-09 to 0-07 at the break.

St Comgall’s remained in touch during the opening phase of the second half with Myles Devine adding a point in the opening minutes.

Aldergrove continued to dominate at mid-field with Ryan Owens and James Trowlan on top but they were finding trouble turning that dominance into scores with passes going astray while they were denied by the home side’s net minder Caolan Mc Keown on a number of occasions.

The St Comgall’s keeper made a good interception to deny Seamus Mc Garry but he was powerless to prevent Ryan McCarthy finding the net shortly after.

Oisin Graham, James Trowlan and Seamus McGarry combined to open the way for the full forward and the Crumlin side were 2-10 to 0-08 ahead.

The home side were still battling hard with centre back Dylan Murdock busting a gut to contain the visitors attack but Aldergrove were on the way to victory as corner back Malachy Burns came forward to add a point and full forward McCarthy helped himself to another.

Despite the home side sending reinforcements into the fray in the last quarter St. James’ had a firm grip on proceedings with the talented Seamus McGarry adding points before Oisin Graham sent full forward Ryan McCarthy in to claim his second goal and that was that.

Naomh Comhghall added a couple of points in the latter stages but the die had long since been cast and it is Aldergrove who have put themselves in pole position with the other team in the group, All Saints set to visit Crumlin on the 12^th August.

St James Aldergrove: Shane O’ Neill, Aiden Irvine, Chris Mc Veigh, Malachy Burns (0-01), Conor Browning, Eoin Gough, Gerard Mallon, Ryan Owens, Andrew Flood (0-01), Declan Gough (0-02), Fearghal Burke, Cormac Mc Garry (0-02), Seamus Mc Garry (1-07), Ryan Mc Carthy (2-02), Oisin Graham

Subs

James Trowlan

Eoin Hamill

Brian Mc Quillan

Fearghal Hanna

St Comgall’s: Caolan Mc Keown, Sean Hinfey, Cahir Donnelly, Jarlath Mc Kettin, Michael Mc Cabe, Dylan Murdock, Kain Walker, Louis Higgins, Dermot Hanna, Rory Griffin (0-03), Patrick O’ Connor, Myles Devine (0-03), Ryan Clarke (0-02), Patrick Quinn (0-03), Niall Taggart

Subs

John Brady

Donal Clarke

Eoin Lynlot

Stewart Wilson

Caolan Loughran

Aaron McGaw

Referee: Martin Quinn

 Intermediate Football Championship Group 4

Glenavy 0-8 Sarsfields 2-13

A goal from Brian Lennon in the 23d minute of the second half and a cheeky chip from Gary Lennon from the penalty spot with time almost up, ensured Sarsfield’s victory over Glenavy in the opening game in Group 1 of the Intermediate Football Championship at Chapel Hill on Friday night.

Sarsfield’s were the side who looked most up for this game and raced into an early lead through Gary Lennon 0-2 and Brian Healey before Fergal Henry got St. Joseph’s off the mark with a point in the 12^th minute.

Healey and Lennon would play a prominent role in attack for the men from the Bear Pit and they added further points to move the visitors 0-6 to 0-1 ahead by the 19^th minute before Finn Shannon and Fergal Henry replied for Glenavy to close the gap to three.

Gary Lennon extended that lead to four in the 24^th minute but points from Ciaran Loney and Finn Shannon in the closing stage brought the Chapel Hill side right back into contention as they closed the gap to two at the short whistle.

The sides exchanged points on the restart with Brian Healey on target in the opening minute for Sarsfields and Michael Morgan getting his name on the Glenavy scorecard.

There was nothing between the sides at this stage with the excellent Healey pointing from a 4^th minute free but Glenavy seemed to be getting to grips as they replied through Fergal Henry and Michael Morgan to close the gap to three at the end of the third quarter.

It would be as close as they would get however as Sarsfield’s found another gear going down the home straight with Caolan McKernan pointing and Brian Healey firing home the game’s opening goal in the 23d minute to put a bit of daylight between the sides.

The visitors turned the screw in the closing minutes as they added a couple of points, the best of these coming from Dan Smith and Gary Lennon rubbed salt in the wounds when he chipped the keeper from the penalty spot in what was virtually the last action of the game.

Next up for Sarsfields is a home game with Gort na Mona on the 12^th August and anything from that game would ensure them a quarter final place while Glenavy travel to Enright Park for the final game in their group on 26^th August.