OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship  

Rasharkin 1-11  Glenravel 0-17

Glenravel overturned an early March league defeat by the same opponents at the same venue to emerge winners in this tightly contested championship match at Dreen on Saturday. On that occasion, Rasharkin came out tops by a single point but this weekend it was the visitors who proved too strong. Rasharkin’s late goal put a sheen on the result but there was a bigger gap in reality between the teams. 

In glorious sunshine the Dreen pitch was immaculate but the opening seven minutes belonged to the men in green & white who rushed into a three point lead courtesy of some accurate finishing from Callum Higgins, Eamon Fyfe and Ryan McQuillan. The next seven minutes were dominated by Rasharkin who managed to draw one point ahead with four scores on the bounce from sharp shooter Ryan Lynch. Eoin Hynds would level things at the end of the first quarter with a lovely point from along the sideline only to see the home team go ahead again from the ingenuity of Lynch. Con Magees regained control and went on to record the next four scores but Rasharkin finished out the half stronger with three points from Andrew Hasson (02) and Eamonn McNeill and so both teams retired to the shelter of the changing rooms on level terms 0-08 each. 

The visitors’ started the second half stronger with points form Ryan McQuillan and Eamon Fyfe, but again Lynch pegged one back for Rasharkin and the game looked like it would be a carbon copy of the earlier league game with very little separating the teams. But Glenravel had other ideas and they really put the squeeze on in the third quarter with four unanswered points from Fyfe, Hynds and Martin McCarry to put some daylight between the teams. Ryan Lynch once again kept his team in the game with a pointed free but Glenravel were in no mood for a second consecutive defeat and they rallied with three scores in the closing ten minutes to lead 0-17 to 0-10 and put the game to bed. But we hadn’t planned for nine minutes added time during which the home team, went for broke and recorded 1-01 to leave the final score Rasharkin 1-11  Glenravel 0-17

This result now means that Rasharkin will bow out of the OB Construction IFC and Glenravel and Davitts will fight for top spot in Group 3 in two weeks’ time. 

RASHARKIN

Tiernan O’Boyle, Colm Kennedy, Emmet McFerran, Pearce Kennedy, Fearghal Kennedy, Conor Hasson, Oran McMullan, Seamus Ennis, Ruairi O’Boyle, Shane Hasson, Eamon McNeill, Donagh Quigg, Ryan Lynch, Andrew Hasson, Thomas McMullan.

CON MAGEES

James McEvoy, Declan Traynor, Eoin McCusker, Charlie Henry, Rian Lennon, Niall Swann, Daniel McQuillan, David Higgins, Callum Higgins, Aidan O’Donnell, Eoin Hynds, Conor McNeill, Johnny Fyfe, Eamon Fyfe, Ryan McQuillan

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship

St Patrick’s Lisburn 0-5 Sarsfields 0-10

It took him a while to get the radar adjusted but when he did Kevin ‘Kevo’ McKernan gave a great display of point taking to steer his team to a 0-10 to 0-5 victory over St Patricks at Kirwood Park, Lisburn on Saturday.

In baking hot conditions both teams struggled to find the target during the opening half and the amazing stat from that first period is that after 29 minutes play the score was 0-1 to 0-0 in favour of the home team. Mark Chernek had put the Lisburn men in front with a well taken point on six minutes but that was to be their only score of that first half. The home side had plenty of possession but seemed content just to hold the ball, instead of going for scores. They did of course create chances, but just like their opponents the finishing touch was missing. Chernek’s point had come following a long ball into the edge of the square, but with Daniel McKernan falling back as a sweeper he cleaned up any stray balls that came his way. Sarsfields also created plenty of chances, but they shot wide after wide until Kevo broke the duck in the final minute of the half from a free and two minutes later he added another to send his team to the dressing room at half time with a 0-2 to 0-1 lead.

The standard in the second half improved immeasurably and after Kevo added a third two minutes after the restart, but St Patrick’s hit back right away and a well taken point by full forward Chernek and one from the left corner by left half forward Sean Burns brought them level on 0-3 apiece after 37 minutes. Burns and a great chance of putting them back ahead two minutes later when he cut through the middle of the Sarsfields defence, but elected to go for goal when a simple point was on and the Paddies keeper made a comfortable save.

Kevin McKernan edged Sarsfields back in front two minutes later and then good work in the left corner saw Philip McPeake fist the ball across the Lisburn goal to Liam Mitchell on the far post, who somehow managed to palm it back across the goal and wide at the other side.

Conor Dixon brought St Pat’s level again when he swung one over on 44 minutes, but just on the first half water break McKernan gave Sarsfields back the lead they were never to lose. The centre forward added one from play after a good pass from Niall McKenna and another from a free six minutes later to open a three point gap.

A fantastic save from substitute goalkeeper Ruadhan McKenna denied Sarsfields Sam Walsh from what looked to be a certain goal but Sarsfields kept pushing on and Kevo added two more, and Niall McKenna one, as they moved six clear. St Patrick’s needed goals at this stage, but it wasn’t to be their day and a free by centre back Mark Torbitt, which he tried to drop into the ‘square’ went all the way over to leave them five behind a the final whistle

ST PATRICK’S LISBURN

Peter O’Neill, Sean Casey, Josh McMullan, Thomas Burns, Oisin Gorman, Mark Torbitt (0-1), Colm Burns, Che Smyth, Adam Patterson, Conor Ewing, Eoin Dixon, Sean Burns (0-1), Conor Dixon (0-2), Mark Chernek (0-1), Jack McMullan.

SARSFIELDS

Michael Brady, Anthony McGarrigle, Marty McPolin, Michael Johnston, Philip McPeake, Daniel McKernan, Liam Mitchell, Cormac Murray, Niall McKenna (0-1), Caolan McKernan, Kevin McKernan (0-9), Kevin Floyd, Gary Lennon, Sam Walsh, Niall McAlea

Referee – Danny O’Neill (Gort na Mona)

OB Construction IFC Group 4

St. Teresa’s 1-13 St. Paul’s 1-12

Jay Mallon kept his cool to swing over a close range free in the 32 minute and earn St. Teresa’s their first points in Group 4 of the OB Construction Intermediate Championship at MhicDomhicnaill/UiDoctairigh Park today when they overcame the challenge of St. Paul’s in an excellent game of football.

The home side’s ability to soak up pressure, initiate turnover and manage possession better than their opponents proved to be the difference in the end though St. Paul’s will probably feel they should have something from this game.

St. Paul’s kicked three early wides as they dominated possession early in the game before Paddy Doyle pointed them ahead in the 5^th minute but the home side rode the early storm and came back with a vengeance when Anthony Vandell fired to the net with 7 minutes gone when he was quickest to react after the ball had rebounded of the crossbar.

Doyle replied with his second point for the Shaw’s Road side but St. Teresa’s were settling in to the game and Jay Mallon restored their two point advantage when he pointed a close range free in the 9^th minute.

Mallon pointed two more frees from a similar distance and Anton Taylor moved the home side 1-4 to 0-2 ahead by the 15^th minute despite St. Paul’s enjoying plenty of possession but they were running into traffic and being turned over or guilty of some terrible shooting.

Things improved for the visitors after a water break that had been agreed by both sides as they tried to manage the warm afternoon heat and they hit two on the bounce from Colm McGoldrick and Liam McLarnon to close the gap to three by the 17^th minute.

The Shaw’s Road side were dealt a blow when Don Burns was show a black card in the 19^th minute and St. Teresa’s extended their lead from the resulting free through Jay Mallon and further points from Sean Maguire and Liam Gault in response to a Paul O’Hanlon point for St. Paul’s had the Glen Road side 1-7 to 0-7 ahead at the interval.

St. Paul’s made all the running during the opening minutes of the second half with Liam McLarnon kicking three points in quick succession to leave it all square with ten minutes gone and the visitors looked to be taking control but a great long distance point from Liam Gault edged St. Teresa’s ahead once more.

Anton Taylor and Jay Mallon from a free moved the home side three in front once more but just when it looked like St. Teresa’s had weathered the storm disaster struck. They failed to deal with a high ball from distance into the danger area and Paddy Doyle was quickest to react as he fired home from close range.

Again Liam McGoldrick’s side found a response as Jay Mallon pointed another free and Anton Taylor followed with another from play before Paul McGoldrick received a black card in the 23d minute.

St. Paul’s were back on level terms once more by the 30^th minute as Aodhan Canavan came forward from defence to split the posts and when Paddy Doyle followed from a free the visitors looked favourites to take both points.

The resilience that the home side had displayed throughout came to the fore once more however and they forced another turn over deep in their own defence before breaking forward at pace. They were awarded a free about 20 meters from goal and Jay Mallon kept his cool to kick his 5^th point of the afternoon and seal victory for a dogged St. Teresa’s.

St. Paul’s now entertain St. James’ Aldergrove on the 27^th August and only a win will do if they harbour any hopes of a quarter-final place while a win or even a draw for the Crumlin side would see them qualify with St. Teresa’s joining them for a quarter-final place.

St. Teresa’s: 1 Odhran O’Neill, 2 Aidan Dougan, 3 Anthony Varndell, 4 Anton Taylor, 5 Colm McGoldrick, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Darren McCann, 8 Sean Maguire, 13 Jay Mallon, 14 Liam Gault, 15 Luke Cassin, 16 Mark Small, 17 Paul Johnston, 18 Paul McGoldrick, 19 Philip Maguire

St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Aodhan Cavanagh, 3 Niall Ward, 4 Miceal Duffy, 5 Cormac O’Hanlon, 6 Don Burns, 7 Mark Munce, 8 Colm McLarnon, 9 James Farrell, 10 Paul O’Hanlon 11 Paddy Doyle, 12 Padraig Lowe, 13 Conall Duffy, 14 Liam McLarnon, Caoimhin Duffy.

Referee: Karol Doherty (Rasharkin)

OB Construction IFC  – Group 1

Dunloy 8-12 Ardoyne 1-6

Saturday August 13

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Eight goal rout puts Dunloy back in the frame

Dunloy kick started their championship campaign on Saturday afternoon by ruthlessly dismissing the challenge of Ardoyne at Pearse Park.  Scoring eight goals and but for some magic from Ardoyne ‘keeper Tiernan Hughes, it could have been more.  The Cuchullains had three major chances before scoring their first while Hughes made a string of top drawer saves in the second half.

It was the reaction the Cuchullains needed after suffering defeat to Sarsfields on the opening day of this years championship.  Ardoyne came into the contest off the back of a good win over St Pat’s but their Intermediate Championship fate lays in the balance after this game, they will welcome the Paddies to their turf when the group comes to a close.

In the sweltering heat, hydration was the order of the day.  The water-break was back, a welcome addition to this tie but the first half was mainly all one way traffic with the home side squeezing the middle third and leaving Ardoyne camped in their own half.

Dunloy’s first goal came just after the water-break through half back Anton McGrath.  Showing plenty of composure to side step the Ardoyne challenges, McGrath finished well.  The Cuchullains had already held a four point lead by that stage and Ardoyne ‘keeper Hughes was already a busy man to deny, Nigel Elliott, Oran Quinn and Conal Cunning.

The second Dunloy major came in the next attack.  Coby Cunning providing the assist and the returning Keelan Molloy with his first of two goals in the game.

Quinn notched Dunloy’s third, bombing forward and linking well with Cunning.  Quinn’s major epitomised his performance.  Power and pace with a bagful of intensity.  

Ardoyne’s attacks into the Dunloy half were fleeting at best and with two minutes of the half remaining, they only had a Conor McLaughlin point to show for their efforts and trailed by 14 points.  They finished the half with a brace of points however, frees from McLaughlin and Aidan McNeill left the half time score 3-6 to 0-3 to the home side.

The second half was more of the same dominance from the Cuchullains.  Ardoyne did open the scoring with Ciaran McNeill making it three unanswered but Dunloy turned the screw.  Eoin Gillan and Nigel Elliott pointed before Elliott assisted Molloy’s second major in the 35^th minute.

The Dunloy lead stood at 17 points when Caolan Gillan scored their fifth goal.  ‘Booter’ would finish a flowing move that involved Molloy, Cunning and Quinn.

Dunloy began to empty their sub bench but their attack prowess remained.  On the field barely minutes, Tom McFerran scored his first of two goals in a lively cameo performance.  

Ardoyne did have some joy and finally managed to breach the Dunloy rear guard.  The Cuchullains defence were organised and tenacious throughout but Kevin Lynch stole in behind after good work from McNeill to score Ardoyne’s goal in the 58^th minute.

The Dunloy response was epic.  Two further majors from Tom McFerran and Coby Cunning ensured an emphatic win for the home side.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Christopher Brogan; Oran Quinn, Aaron Crawford, Cahir McCloskey; Eoin McFerran, Kevin McQuillan, Anton McGrath; Ryan McGarry, Ryan McFarline; Keelan Molloy, Eoin Gillan, Conal Cunning; Nigel Elliott, Chrissy McMahon, Caolan Gillan

Subs: Tom McFerran for N Elliott (49); Anthony Smith for K Molloy (49); Adrian Smith for A Crawford (49); Ciaran McQuillan for R McGarry (54); Ciaran Doherty for O Quinn (56)

Scorers: K Molloy 2-2 (1f); T McFerran 2-00; C Gillan 1-2 (2 ‘45s); C Cunning 1-2; C McMahon 0-3; O Quinn 1-00; A McGrath 1-00; E Gillan 0-2; N Elliott 0-1

Ardoyne: Tiernan Hughes; Patrick Montgomery, Oisin McVicker, Fiontann Marley; Eoghan Corrigan, Kevin McLaughlin, Gary McKernan; Declan McCormick, Kevin Lynch; Aidan McNeill, Cahal Keown, Conor McLaughlin; Pearse Marley, Ciaran McNeill, Alan Davidson

Subs: Daniel Moore for K McLaughlin (20); Oisin Hickey for G McKernan (38); Conor Magee for A Davidson (41); Odhran Mullan for E Corrigan (51)

Scorers: C McLaughlin 0-3 (2fs); K Lynch 1-00; A McNeill 0-2 (2f); Ciaran McNeill 0-1

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship

Ardoyne Kickham’s 4-9 St Patrick’s, Lisburn 1-5

Ardoyne got their Intermediate Football Championship campaign off to a great start when they beat St Patrick’s Lisburn in Saturday opening round-robin game at the Cricky.

A blistering start to the game by the Ardoyne men saw them take total command and by the end of the opening quarter they were 3-3 to 0-0 to the good, the first two goals coming from Kevin Lynch and the third by Ciaran McNeill, while Fointann Marley, Eoghan Corrigan and Conor McLaughlin got the points.

St Patrick’s were on the ropes but a Conor Dixon point from a free got them on the scoreboard. However it was to be their only score of the half and two more points from the home side had the north Belfast men ahead by 3-5 to 0-1 by the time referee Patrick Tumilty sounded the half time whistle.

Although they never looked like closing the gap St Patrick’s fared better in the second half and added 1-4 to their tally, the same as their hosts. Eoin Dixon got the first score of the new half when again slotted over a free, but Ardoyne soon replied through Conor McLaughlin and they pushed on once again with a Fiontan Marley points and another goal, this time from Declan McCormick.

Josh and Jack McMullan pulled points back for the Lisburn men and things did improve when Paddy Toner got in for a goal and Oisin GOrman added a point, but they were chasing a lost cause as Ross Carr’s impressive side laid down a marker that they will be in mix when this year’s competition reaches the knock out stages.  

ARDOYNE: T Hughes (0-1), C McDowell, O McVicker (0-1), S J Rooney, P Montgomery, F Marley (0-2), G McKernan, K Lynch (2-0), D McCormick (2-1), D Moore, C McLaughlin (0-3), E Corrigan (0-1), P Marley, O Mullan, A Davidson

Subs: C McNeill (0-1) for Odhran Mullan (20 mins), F Marley for C Magee (50 mins)

ST PATRICK’S: P O’Neill, S Casey, T Burns, Jack McMullan (0-1), O Gorman (0-1), S Burns, C Ewing, C Burns, M Torbitt, F McMeel, M Chernek, E Dixon (0-1), Josh McMullan (0-1), R Kennedy, C Dixon (0-1)

Subs: F McMeel for P Toner (1-1) (26 mins), E Fay for M Torbitt (Half-time), S Burns for Jude McMullan (50 mins)

Referee- Paddy Tummilty (Lamh Dhearg)