OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, Group Four

St Paul’s 2-12 Aldergrove 1-12

St Paul’s secured their place in the quarter finals of the Intermediate Championship when they produced their best display of the campaign to beat Aldergrove in the final group game at Shaw’s Road on Saturday. Having lost to west Belfast neighbours St Teresa’s in their opening game things looked ominous for St Paul’s but when the pressure was on they upped their game to record a win that got them through on scoring difference.

For long periods of Saturday’s game things looked bleak for St Paul’s but when the chips were down they found the bit of form they need to get over the line

Despite having the lion’s share of possession in the opening quarter poor finishing let the home side down and all they had to show for their efforts was points from Liam McLarnon and Paddy Doyle. They were made to pay for their wastefulness as Aldergrove hit back strongly, and with Anthony Kidney in fine form they pressed ahead, and when Ronan Hanna broke through to finish to the net, things did not look good for the home side.

When full forward Liam McLarnon pulled a point back from a free there was a spark of hope for the home side, but even though Morris cancelled that out for the Crumlin men, when Conal Duffy found the net soon afterwards it was game on again and by half time the deficit was back to just two points.

A fantastic strike from Colm McLarnon just after the restart was the score that really began to turn the game in St Paul’s favour. Points from Conal Duffy and Stephen O’Brien were followed by one from Cormac O’Hanlon, and by midway through the second half they were on top.

Things turned back in the visitors favour when Ryan Owens fired one over from play and Seamus McGarry tagged on two from frees but Stephen O’Brien hit back for St Paul’s with a point and it took a great save by goalkeeper Jack McAulfield to turn a goalbound shot from Ronan Hanna around the post for a 45. Kidney sent the 45 over the bar to cut the deficit back to two as the game entered injury time, but substitute Ruairi Hamill pointed for the Shaw’s Road men to secure a quarter final spot against their neighbours, down in the Bear Pit in two weeks’ time.

Aldergrove are still in the contest but they face a tough quarter final at home to Dunloy

.ST PAUL’S: J McAufield; N Ward, C McGroarty, M Duffy; C Killyleagh, D Burns, A Kavanagh; S O’Brien (0-2, 1f), J Farrell; C O’Hanlon (0-2), C McLarnon (1-0), P O’Hanlon; C Duffy (1-1), L McLarnon (0-4, 2f, 1M), P Doyle (0-1, 1f).

Subs: R Hamill (0-1) for P O’Hanlon (45), C Finnegan for S O’Brien (58)

ALDERGROVE: S O’Neill; E Gough, C McVeigh, O Creaney; G Mallon, A Flood, D Gough; R Owens (0-1), F Hanna; S McGarry (0-2f), R Hanna (1-2, 0-1f), G Dunham; C Morris (0-2), A Kidney (0-5, 2f, 1 45), O Graham.

Subs: J Trowlen for F Hanna (HT), A Mulholland for O Creaney (HT), D Aiken for D Gough (37), C Fogarty for G Dunham (44), R McCarthy for C Morris (57)

REFEREE: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)

OB Construction IFC Group 1

Cuchullains 3-17 Naomh Padraig 1-8

Two first half goals from Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning paved the way for a Dunloy victory over visitors Naomh Padraig, Lisburn in the final game in Group 1 of the OB Construction IFC today at Pearse Park to send Cuchullain’s into the quarter-final as runners up in the group.

Coby had the ball in the visitors net before the home crowd had settled on the terrace and was a constant threat until the home management called him ashore late in the game by which time the game was well out of reach of the battling Lisburn men.

Naomh Padraig responded to Cunning’s early strike with three points in reply from Conor Ewing, Marcas Turbitt and Ben McMullan to draw level by the 8^th minute but Cuchullain’s replied through Keelan Molloy, Nigel Elliott and Conal Cunning to re-establish their three point advantage.

The Lisburn side were methodical in their build up play but were too often being turned over by Dunloy’s high press and a second goal from the flying Connon in the 14^th minute put the home side in a commanding position.

By half time the home side led 2-5 to 0-4 with Mark Chernek getting Naomh Padraig’s final point when he wriggled free from several defenders to send over from close range but it looked a long way back for the visitors even at this stage of the contest.

Deaglan Smith, who with Eoin McFerran was giving Dunloy the edge at mid-field sent over his second point of the game on the restart as the home side started to introduce their bench and Eoin Gillan added another before substitute, Tom McFerran split the posts with virtually his first touch of the ball in the 7^th minute.

Dunloy were growing in confidence with the pace of Nigel and Seaan Elliott causing problems for a Naomh Padraig defence who were coming under increasing pressure and Seaan Elliott, Tom McFerran and Elliott again added points by the 10^th minute.

The visitors were unfortunate when the final pass let them down after a good move out of defence split the Cuchullain’s defence open and at the other end Keelan Molloy punished an indiscretion on Conal Cunning before Coby followed with two from play to move his side 13 ahead at the end of the third quarter.

The Lisburn side rang the changes themselves at this stage and came back with a point as Eoin Dixon’s long range effort bounced over but Nigel Elliott replied immediately for the home side with a good point at the other end in the 19^th minute.

Two minutes later it was as good as over when Tom McFerran sent a pin point pass across goal to the unmarked Oran Quinn who gratefully palmed the ball to an empty net with Peadar O’Neill desperately trying to get back but to no avail.

Naomh Padraig kept going right to the end and were rewarded with a goal of their own when a Josh McMullan shot dangled tantalisingly into the danger area and Mark Chernek appeared to get the vital touch as he challenged Chris Brogan for the dropping ball.

Dunloy will now meet St. James’ Aldergrove in the quarter-final with the Crumlin side topping their group on score difference despite losing to a St. Paul’s side today who will join them in the quarter-finals as runners up in Group 4 with St. Teresa’s missing out in a group where all three sides won one game each.

Dunloy: 1 Chris Brogan, 2 Oran Quinn, 3 Aaron Crawford, 4 Cathaoir McCloskey, 5 Conor Kinsella, 6 Kevin McQuillan, 7 Anton McGrath, 8 Eoin McFerran, 9 Deaglan Smith, 10 Nigel Elliott, 11 Eoin Gillan, 12 Christopher McMahon, 13 Conal Cunning, 14 Keelan Molloy, 15 Seaan Elliott. Subs: Tom McFerran, Barry McCloskey, Ciaran McQuillan, Karl O’Kane, Adi Scullion

Naomh Padraig: 1 Peadar O’Neill, 2 Jack McMullan, 3 Thomas Burns, 4 Josh McMullan, 5 Oisin Gorman, 6 Marcas Turbitt, 7 Colm Burns, 24 Aaran Thompson, 8 Che Smith, 9 Adam Patterson, 10 Conor Ewing, 11 Eoin Dixon, 12 Sean Burns, 13 Ben McMullan, 14 Mark Chernek, 17 Rory Kennedy. Subs: Kevin Gallagher, Rory Kennedy, Conor Doran, Conor Dixon, Francis McMeel

Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)

OB CONSTRUCTION IFC Group 2

Naomh Comhghall 0-2 All Saints 4-21

Following defeat to St. Joseph’s Glenavy for both sides, this Group 2, Round 2 meeting of Naomh Comhghall and All Saints in Antrim on Friday evening was a must win for both teams but it the Ballymena men who made no mistake at the second time of asking when the Division 2 runners up proved much too strong for their Division 3 counterparts.

Naomh Comhghall flattered to deceive in the opening exchanges and might have taken the lead but a Dylan Murdock close range free sailed just wide of the upright. It took the visitors a time to adjust their sites but when Ryan Stewart pointed them ahead in the fifth minute they never looked back.

Benny McDonnell, Michael McCarry, Kavan Keenan and Sean McVeigh added points to leave them 0-5 to 0-0 ahead after 15 minutes and had they taken all their chances then the score would have been greater.

Naomh Comhghall then lost a player to a Red card as a bit of frustration began to creep into their play and a task that already looked difficult had suddenly become a lot harder.

The visitors continued to move the ball around with great precision and create space and Emmet Killough looked to be in for the game’s opening goal but his shot came back of the crossbar and was scrambled to safety.

It wasn’t long until the next score came however as Conor Stewart added two more and full-back, James McDonnell got forward for another. Peter McReynolds in his first game of the season, following a long lay-off due to injury, got his name on the score sheet and Conor Stewart and Benny McDonnell moved the Ballymena side 12 ahead by the 28^th minute as they continued to dominate proceedings.

Naomh Comhghall were still battling hard against the odds but nothing seemed to be breaking in their favour but Dannan O’Hara finally got them off the mark when he pointed a 20 meter free in the final minute of the half to leave it 0-13 to 0-1 for the Slemish Park side at half time.

The second half was only seconds old when Peter McReynolds broke clear for All Saints but his shot at goal rebounded of the crossbar to safety and for a time the visitor’s wastefulness reappeared as they kicked several wides.

Naomh Comhghall were still giving it everything but they were dealt another blow when Aaron Murray was forced to retire following a collision with Sean McVeigh with John Brady coming in as his replacement.

It was visitors All Saints who continued to press but with no reward before Peter ‘Pizza’ McReynolds finally opened their second half account from a ‘65’ in the 10^th minute and this score seemed to reignite their scoring.

Sean O’Callaghan got forward to finish to the net following great work from Paddy McAleer and before the home side could recover, Conor Stewart got in for a second with 13 minutes gone. Stewart fired home his second and his side’s third as the flood gates suddenly opened as the visitors began to empty their bench.

Michael McCarry and Kavan Keenan added points and the elusive Stewart completed his hat-trick in the 20^th minute before Louis Higgins finally got some reward for his efforts on the night with a point at the other end.

It was well and truly over at this stage but All Saints finished as they had started, on the front foot and Eoghan Walsh and Michael McCarry added late points.

All Saints now await the outcome of tomorrow’s top of the table clash in Group 3 at Fr. Maginn Park where Glenravel play Davitt’s and the winners of that clash will play hosts to Baker Bradley’s side in the quarter-final of the championship and there is likely to be a few from ‘the town’ in Glenravel to run an eye over both potential opponents.

Naomh Comhghall: 1 Anthony Watson, 2 Dannan O’Hara, 3 Ryan McAuley, 4 Kian Walker, 5 Ruairi Griffin, 6 Dylan Murdock, 8 Oisin Crilly, 9 Michael McCabe, 10 Eoin Lynott, 11 James McCabe, 12 Niall Ward, 13 Aaron Murray, 14 Louis Higgins, 15 Peter McAuley, 17 Kian Devine. Subs: Colm Logue, John Brady

All Saints: 1 Niall Shannon, 2 Shaun O’Callaghan, 3 James McDonnell, 4 James Gillan. 5 Ciaran McGarry, 6 Paddy McAleer, 7 Kavan Gillan, 8 Sean McVeigh, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Conor Stewart, 11, Brendan McDonnell, 12 Michael McCarry, 13 Ciaran Campbell, 14 Peter McReynolds, 15 Shea O’Brien.  Subs used: Ronan McKillop, Owen Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Joe Rafferty

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)

OB Construction IFC Group 2

St.Joseph’s 4.14 v 1.11 St.Comgall’s

St. Joseph’s Glenavy secured their place in the quarter-final of the OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship following this fairly comfortable victory over Naomh Comhghall Antrim at Chapel Hill on Saturday.

This game was played on a hard pitch on a blistering hot day. With a small crowd present the fare on offer didn’t get them too excited. The home side deserved their victory because of their ability to finish when the opportunity arose.

St. Joseph’s were first off the mark with two well taken points from corner forward Charles Gallagher and his brother Patrick got on the score sheet when he split the posts after carrying the ball from the halfway line to put his side three up.

Naomh Comhghall settled and came back strongly with points from We then had a turn around when the visitors landed three unanswered points from Dylan Murdock, Kian Walker and Miles Devine to draw level and it looked like we had a game on our hand.

Glenavy replied immediately and Fergal Green got on the score sheet with a well taken point but with one of the best moves of the game Naomh Comhghall came storming back and Miles Devine gave the home keeper no chance as the ball nestled in the net.

To their credit the orange-men found a response when the ball reached Oisin Hamill who fired to the net at the other end and Malachi Doherty pointed a forty-five to put two between the sides.

Antrim showed they were up for the fight and the impressive Miles Devine fired over a forty-five to leave the minimum between the sides. Unfortunately, this was as good as it got for the Antrim Town side as St. Joseph’s began to get on top.

Fergal Henry, who had an excellent game for the Chapel Hill side swung matters firmly in favour of his team when he added a point and followed with a goal with Devine replying with the last point of the half to leave the halftime score 2.06 v 1.05 in Glenavy’s favour.

The home side increased their lead from the second half throw in as Patrick Gallagher broke through for a point. Antrim’s James McCabe reminded their hosts they hadn’t gone away when he soloed through for an excellent point but the momentum was now very much with the home side.

Ciaran Loney added a point from an acute angle and Fergal Henry added another from play and followed with another from a converted free. Glenavy were now controlling matters and Ciaran Loney added to his points total when extended his sides lead to 2.11 to 1.07

Darragh Doherty, who had just joined the fray raised another white flag before that man Devined pulled a point back for the division 3 side.

The home side were now pressing forward at every opportunity and they were awarded a penalty which was despatched to the visitors net by a very confident Malachi Doherty.

From the kick out the home side gained possession and the ball was quickly returned to the danger area and in the ensuing scramble the visitors conceded another penalty with Malachi Doherty showing how a penalty should be taken to leave the score 4.12 to 1.08.

Once again Fergal Henry was on target as he added another point and Malachi Doherty added another as the Chapel Hill side pressed home their advantage.

The final score of the game fell to Naomh Comhghall’s Niall Ward with a point from play but it was merely consolation at this stage and St. Joseph’s can now start preparing for a quarter-final place while Naomh Comhghall could join them if they win the final game of the Group against All Saints at Dunsilly on Friday 27^th August in what is a must win game for both sides

St.Joseph’s : Lorcan Murphy;Stephen Doone; Liam Henry; Timmy Honeyford; Darragh Doherty; Patrick Gallagher; Malachi Doherty; Michael Johnston (Chris Grant); Fintaoin O’Boyle; Oisin Hamill (David Nelson); Ciaran Loney; Fergal Green; (Mathew Lawlor) Michael McCourt (Darragh Armstrong); Fergal Henry; Charles Gallagher (Anthony Gallagher).   

Subs panel: Darragh Armstrong; David Nelson; Ben Cambridge; Anthony Gallagher; Niall McLaughlin; Michael Fox; Mathew Lawlor; Chris Grant; Eoin Henry; Luke Deveraux   

Naomh Comhghall: 1 Ruairi Griffin, 2 Michael McCabe, 3Ryan McAuley, 4 Eoghan Lynett, 5 Dylan Murdock, 6 Aidan McKeown, 8 James McCabe, 9 Peter McAuley, 10 Aaron Mujrray, 11 Paddy O’Connor, 12 Rory Mclarnon, 13 Miles Devine, 14 Liam McKiernan, 15 Niall Ward, 18 Kian Walker, 19 Colm Logue, 20 Colm Griffin, 21 John Brady    

Referee Fionntan McCotter    (Sarsfields)