IFC Group 2

Glenavy 6-12 Davitt’s 1-10

Goals win games and St. Joseph’s Glenavy scored six of them at Chapel Hill on Saturday to maintain their place at the top of Group 2 and earn a spot in the Intermediate Championship semi-final.

James Gallagher led the way with a hat-trick for the men in Orange who had most of the damage done at half time when they led 3-8 to 1-5 despite the best efforts of Gerard Slane for the visitors.

Ciaran Loney got the home side of the mark with a point after 30 seconds and Finn Shannon followed with a well struck 2 pointer as the home side made a brisk start at a sunny Chapel Hill.

Big John O’Neill opened the Davitt’s account directly from a ‘45’ in the 6^th minute with Fergal Henry replying immediately from play to restore St. Joseph’s three point advantage.

Paul McLaughlin for Davitt’s and Fiontan O’Boyle exchanged further minors and a pointed free from Gerard Slane kept the visitors in touch at the end of the opening quarter.

Slowly though Glenavy started to turn the screw with Fergal Henry hitting two points either side of a goal from Pauric McKevitt in the 20^th minute as a fluent move opened up the Davitt’s defence.

Slane was doing all in his power to keep the visitors in touch and he pointed a 22^nd minute free and replied to a Ciaran Loney point before their challenge received a severe setback.

Davitt’s conceded a penalty with three minutes remaining to the break which Fergal Henry confidently tucked away and before the cheering could die down, James Gallagher followed with another from play to leave 9 between the sides as the half time whistle sounded.

Fergal Henry quickly added a point on the restart but Davitt’s were still giving it everything as Conor John Sullivan replied with a 2 pointer to give them a glimmer of hope.

Those hopes were further raised when Anthony Rowntree’s effort sailed all the way to the St. Joseph’s net to reduce the deficit to five with only four minutes of the new half gone but that would be as close as the West Belfast side got.

James Gallagher wiped that score out with his second major of the contest within a minute and after Gerard Slane had replied with a point, Fiontan O’Boyle got in for Glenavy’s fifth goal of the game with 20 minutes still remaining.

The visitors were doing asll in their power to get their own game going and the impressive Slane would add two more points by the 19^th minute but the scoring for the men in Green-White & Gold dried up at this point.

Mid-fielder Loney added to an impressive individual performance with another fine point and James Gallagher added another before completing his hat-trick with five minutes remaining.

With one game to play, Glenavy top Group 2 with 6 points from 3 starts and can’t be caught but Davitt’s can still qualify if they can beat St. Teresa’s in their next game at Davitt’s Park while a win for the Glen Road side would likely earn them qualification.

Glenavy: 1 Matthew Lawlor, 2 Darragh Doherty, 3 Patrick Fox, 4 Ruairi Forester, 5 Pearse O’Neill, 6 Conor Hamill, 7 Pauric McKevitt, 8 Ciaran Loney, 9 Michael Johnston, 10 Dominic Gallagher, 11 Fiontan O’Boyle, 12 Patrick Gallagher, 13 Finn Shannon, 14 James Gallagher, 15 Fergal Henry, 23 Darragh Armstrong

Davitt’s: 1 Ryan McAuley, 2 Conor Toner, 3 Nathan Maginn, 5 Anthony Rowntree, 6 Anthony Gargan, 7 James Lindsay, 8 Niall McParland, 9 Gerard Slane, 10 Paul McLaughlin, 11 Padraig McParland, 12 Conor John Sullivan, 13 Ceavy Slane, 14 John O’Neill, 15 Danny Wallace, 21 Michael Og Rowntree.

Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)

TO VIEW MORE OF BERT TROWLEN’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/VxwVyz2sPMkbaR

OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, Group 1 

Sarsfields 3-18-1-07 Rasharkin 

Kevin Herron reports from the Bearpit 

SARSFIELDS made it back-to-back victories and boosted their chances of advancing to the semi-finals of the OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship with a comfortable 3-18-1-07 win over Rasharkin at the Bear Pit on Thursday evening. 

Having clocked up 8-unanswered scores without reply in the opening half, the hosts hit three goals in a three minute spell to pile more misery on Rasharkin- who showed a glimpse of life in the last quarter but it was far too late to affect the outcome of proceedings. 

The Paddies came into the game off the back of a hard fought victory over one of their rivals for a semi-final berth in the form of Náomh Eanna after defeat to newly installed group favourites Moneyglass in their opener. 

Rasharkin meanwhile made the trip to Stewartstown Avenue looking for some positivity after their late rally against St Patrick’s Lisburn came up short at Kirkwoods. 

Sarsfields were forced into an early change when Sam Walsh went down clutching his ankle and was unable to continue, being replaced by Daniel Smyth. 

It was the hosts who got the scoring under way in the form of a two-pointed Brian Healy free and Healy added a second free, this time only a one-pointed effort when Philip McPeake was hauled down as he was about to get a shot away. 

Se Ferris shot over his sides first from play after combining with Tomas Skillen and Gary Lennon then shot over on the turn to make it five unanswered. 

A sustained rain shower made conditions difficult for the remainder of the half and there was no let up in the Paddies scoring either. 

Ferris was pushed in the back and that allowed Healy to kick his third free of the half, he clipped over his first from play 60-seconds later after Smyth’s quick thinking from a free and then dropped over an angled effort. 

In truth things could have been a lot of worse for Rasharkin- however goalkeeper Tiernan O’Boyle pulled off a string of impressive saves to keep the hosts at bay. 

Talisman Healy should have tapped home the opening goal after Conor Glenholmes slipped him in but O’Boyle parried his attempt. 

He would add a second two-pointer, this time with an excellent angled shot that dropped over. 

O’Boyle was on hand to superbly deny Conor Laverty before the half to a conclusion as Sarsfields held a 0-10-0-00 lead. 

Sarsfields picked up where they left off prior to the interval as Healy converted his fourth free of the contest and Tomas Skillen then joined the scoresheet moments later. 

A fourth Brian Healy score from play followed before the Dreen side finally got off the mark in the 39th minute, Killian O’Boyle popping over from an advanced mark. 

It was brief respite for the visitors as Sarsfields extended their advantage with a quickfire three goal salvo. 

 The first coming in the 41st minute when Glenholmes seized upon O’Boyle’s skewed kickout and he sent Healy in the clear to find the net. 

Less than 60-seconds later their second arrived after a flowing move that saw Gary Lennon thump home and it wasn’t too long before Se Ferris curled the ball home off the post to give his side a 3-13-0-01 lead. 

To their credit, Rasharkin rattled home a goal in reply as Brian Og O’Neill swept the ball high past Michael Brady after Eamonn McNeill had squeezed an angled shot between the posts. 

A further goal may have followed with little under a quarter of an hour remaining- though Philip McPeake opted for a fisted point instead. 

An excellent Conor Glenholmes angled score saw him join the increasing list of scorers, and in the aftermath of that score Eamonn McNeill was black-carded for dissent to referee Paddy Tumelty for a grievance in the build-up. 

Rasharkin added a further score from an Oisin Casey free, with Healy replying a few minutes later from the same scenario in his last act before departing. 

Casey landed a two-pointed free for the visitors, but successive points from Gary Lennon and McPeake cancelled the brief  cut in the deficit. 

Upon his late introduction back to proceedings, Eamonn McNeill struck a fine two-pointer in added time, it proved mere consolation as Sarsfields were long home and hosed and are potentially a victory from securing their place in the semi-final when they make th short trip to Kirkwoods in September. 

SARSFIELDS: M Brady, M McPolin, C Laverty, P Murray, P McPeake (0-2), L Mitchell, C Loughran, C Murray, C McKernan, T Skillen (0-1), S Walsh, S Ferris (1-1), G Lennon (1-2), C Glenholmes (0-1), B Healy (1-11, 1×0-2pt, 0-6f, 1×0-2ptf). SUBS: D Smyth for S Walsh (3), N McAlea for C Glenholmes (490, J McNally for C Laverty (49), J Maguire for B Healy (54). 

RASHARKIN: T O’Boyle, D McGurk, C Higgins, P McTague, C Kennedy, F Quigg, J Higgins, C McMullan, O McMullan, D Quigg, E McNeill (0-3, 1×0-2pt), O Casey (0-3, 1f, 1×0-2ptf), B Og O’Neill (1-0), R Lynch, K O’Boyle (0-1m). 
REFEREE: Patrick Tumelty (LÁMH DHEARG)

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/ikaWZ7YXWmYZr5/?invite=17253675-cf29-4efe-a3f0-ce550f301e89

IFC Group 1 Round 2

Sarsfields 3-8 Naomh Eanna 0-13

Division 2 league champions, Patrick Sarsfield’s withstood a late rally from Naomh Eanna to get their IFC Group campaign back on track following defeat to Moneyglass in their opening game on Wednesday night.

Naomh Eanna had opened with a win over Naomh Padraig Lisburn on the same night so it was important that the men from the Bear Pit win this one but it was the visitors who made much the better start.

The Glengormley side led 0-2 to 0-0 after 8 minutes with Michael McKenna kicking both points, his second an excellent effort. At this point the visitors had kicked three wides and were looking the more likely side to claim the points.

Slowly though Sarsfields settled and they were back on level terms thanks to Conor Glenholmes and a Gary Lennon effort that dropped short but bounced over.

The home side were now beginning to take control and a Brian Healey goal in the 14^th minute put them in a strong position as he drilled his shot low to the corner of Owen Kennedy’s net.

This score seemed to lift the ‘Paddies’ and Glenholmes added a point to move them five ahead with Eoghan O’Hare for the visitors and Christopher Loughran for the home side exchanging further points.

St. Enda’s were enjoying plenty of possession and creating opportunities but the Sarsfield’s defence were giving nothing away as they repelled attack after attack.

Sarsfields led 1-5 to 0-4 at the short whistle but given the strength of the breeze that they were about to face in the second, it didn’t look an insurmountable lead.

Gary Lennon increased that lead to five on the restart as Caolan McKiernan replaced Sam Walsh in the league winner’s mid-field and when Brian Healey drilled his shot to the net in the 8^th minute, the task facing Naomh Eanna suddenly looked a lot more difficult.

A couple of points from Stephen O’Connor and another from Michael McKenna closed the gap to five by the 12^th minute but Sarsfield’s continued to hit on the break and Caolan McKiernan cut in from the left to finish confidently to the net and it looked all over with 9 minutes remaining.

The score stood at 3-8 to 0-7 at this stage but to their credit Naomh Eanna kept plugging away with Zac Kyle and McKenna pointing before Stephen O’Connor raised an orange flag to cut the deficit to seven.

The Sarsfield’s scoring threat had dried up at this stage as St. Enda’s continued to press but they really needed goals at this stage and the opposition defence were forcing them to shoot from distance.

The visitors added three further points through Sean McCullagh, a Stephen O’Connor free and a late strike from James McAuley but it was too little-too late.

Group 1 now has four teams on 2 points from 2 outings with Sarsfields, Naomh Eanna, Naomh Padraig Lisburn and Sarsfields each winning one and losing one while St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass are also on 2 points but have played only 1 game to date while Rasharkin are pointless after one outing.

TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/WoRhcoMbd2czb4

IFC Group 2 Round 2

Glenavy 0-16 St. Teresa’s 1-7

St. Joseph’s Glenavy have one foot in the IFC quarter finals following their second win in 4 days when they overcame the challenge of St. Teresa’s at Chapel Hill on Saturday evening.

On Wednesday night St. Joseph’s travelled to Gort na Mona and recorded a good Group 2 opening day win and they produced some of that good form against the men from the Glen Road.

The home side held the upper hand for most of the hour and raced into an early two point lead through full-forward, James Gallagher who was causing early problems on the edge of the square.

Pierce O’Rawe replied for St. Teresa’s with an excellent point from distance and Fergal Henry and Anto Taylor exchanged further points to leave it 0-3 to 0-2 with8 minutes gone.

Henry extended the St. Joseph’s lead from a free and the number 15 was to have an increasing influence on the game as it proceeded.

John Mallon pulled one back for the Glen Road side as Owen Gallagher limped out of the contest to be replaced by his brother Dominic and the scoring dried up for a spell as the slow build up by the visitors frustrated the home side.

Unfortunately for St. Teresa’s these long periods of possession did not produce the scoring opportunities they were aiming for and it was Glenavy corner-backRuairi Forester who got forward for the next point with 2 minutes remaining.

Those final minutes would prove most beneficial to the home side with the impressive Fergal Henry tagging on two fine points to move his side 0-7 to 0-3 ahead in a low scoring opening half.

It was Henry who once again led the Glenavy charge on the restart as he hit the opening two points of the half to move his side 7 ahead by the 2^nd minute and it was difficult to see where the St. Teresa’s score were going to come from.

Come they did however as they began to enjoy a period of ascendancy with John Mallon punishing the breech of the 3 player rule with a point and Anton Taylor followed with an excellent point from play.

The Glen Road side continued to hold the upper hand at this stage of the game and an excellent build up involving several players saw Eoghan Hamill finish to the net in the 10^th minute and there was now only two between the sides.

They failed to build on this early period of dominance however as Glenavy slowly regained control with Fintan O’Boyle, Finn Shannon and roving corner-back, Ruairi Forester, with his second of the evening, moving the Chapel Hill men five clear again by the 20^th minute.

Both sides rang he changes at this stage as John Mallon responded from a free but it was Glenavy who were calling the shots with |Fergal Henry from a free and James Gallagher putting it out of reach of the opposition whose final point of the game came from Eoghan Hamill.

This win puts Glenavy in a strong position to top the group and an even stronger one to qualify for the quarter-finals while St. Teresa’s might well have to win their remaining two games to ensure qualification.

St. Teresa’s entertain Gort na Mona on Friday 15^th August while Glenavy are at home to Daviit’s the following day.

Glenavy: 1 Matthew Lawlor, 2 Timmy Honeyford, 3 Darragh Doherty, 4 Ruairi Forester, 5 Pearse O’Neill, 6 Conor Hamill, 7 Ryan Phillips, 8 Ciaran Loney, 9 Michael Johnston, 10 Owen Gallagher, 11 Fintan O’Boyle, 12 Patrick Gallagher, 13 Finn Shannon, 14 James Gallagher, 15 Fergal Henry

Subs: Dominic Gallagher for Owen Gallagher, Darragh Armstrong, Michael McCourt, Ben McCambridge

St. Teresa’s: 1 Mark Small, 2 Ryan Mallon, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Aodhan Dougan, 5 Pierce O’Rawe, 6 Eoin Connolly, 7 Conor O’Rawe, 8 Darren McCann, 9 Sean Maguire, 10 John Mallon, 11 Paul McGoldrick, 12 Niall McCann, 13 Eoghan Hamill, 14 Anton Taylor, 15 Colm McGoldrick

Subs: Robbie Gallagher, Philip Maguire, Matthew Mallon

Referee: Seamus Shannon, Rossa

TO VIEW MORE PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/Pd5ea3uCtBNuch