JFC quarter-final

Pearses1-13 Eire Og 2-9

Stephen Fitzsimmons finished with a personal contribution of 0-7 to inspire Pearses to a one point victory over Eire Og in this Junior Football Championship encounter at Fennell Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Derriaghy side looked to have matters sewn up when they led by three with three minutes of normal time remaining when they lost Gavin Donnelly to a Black card.

It was the Antrim Road side who took advantage however with Fitzsimmons converting two late frees and another from play and his last point, four minutes into time added on would prove the winner.

It was Eire Og who made the early running with points from Caomhan Daykin and Conal Smyth with Aidan Bannon replying for Pearses before Kevin Clarke moved Eire Og 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the 10^th minute.

Fitzsimmons responded with his first of the evening but Eire Og were enjoying the better of the exchanges in a typically competitive Junior Football clash with little quarter asked or given.

By half time the Doire Achaidh side had moved 0-6 to 0-4 ahead with Peter James Toal 0-2 and Conor McKenna on target and Fionn Grew and Stephen Fitzsimmons replying for the Antrim Road men.

Fitzsimmons and Grew had Na Piarsaigh back on terms inside four minutes of the second half resuming as Eire Og lost Ryan Clarke to a Black card and the men in Green took advantage as Aidan Bannon pointed them ahead for the first time.

Two more from Stephen Fitzsimmons moved Pearses three ahead by the 12^th minute and they seemed to be taking control but Eire Og came storming back with a goal from the returning Kevin Clarke to draw level at the end of the third quarter.

Clarke’s goal seemed to lift the team in White and red as they added points through Mark Graham and Ronan Donnelly to move two in front with 8 minutes remaining but they were rocked back on their heels when Phil Murray replied with a Pearses goal.

Still the Doire Achaidh side looked to have pulled it out of the fire when substitute Dermot Burns replied with a point before a flowing movement from deep in their own half saw Daykin finish to the net

Daykin’s goal moved Eire Og three in front with three minutes remaining and they looked on their way to the semi-final but Pearses staged a late rally, inspired by Fitzsimmons, to wrestle victory from the jaws of defeat.

Pearses: 1 Eamon McKenna, 2 Darren O’Neill, 3 Cormac O’Neill, 24 Marcus Kelly, 5 Phillip Gillespie, 6 Aidan Bannon, 7 Aidan McCavana, 8 Thomas McFarlane, 9 Peter Johnston, 10 Nathan Gorman, 11 Stephen Fitzsimmons, 22 Piaras Donaghy, 13 Phil Murray, 14 Fionn Grew, 15 Sean Moreland, 16 Ryan Nugent.

Eire Og: 1 Mark Hamill, 2 Ryan Clarke, 3 Jarlath Devlin, 4 James McClory, 5 Ronan Donnelly, 6 Mark Graham, 7 Conor Erskine, 8 Peter James Toal, 9 Conal Smyth, 10 Stephen Erskine, 11 Kevin Clarke, 12 Gavin Donnelly, 13 Conor McKenna, 14 Caomhan Daykin, 15 Daniel Campbell, 17 Adam McKenna, 18 Christopher Carberry, 19 Dermot Burns, 21 Eanna McNulty,   

Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)

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JFC Group 2

Naomh Comhghall 3-24 Wolfe Tones 0-1

Championship favourites, Naomh Comhghall cruised into the semi-final of the Junior Football Championship with a facile victory over Wolfe Tones at Dunsilly on Friday evening.

The Division 3 league winners were superior in every department against a Wolfe Tones side, who to their credit fought to the end but were never able to match the fluency of their Antrim Town hosts.

The game was led from the start by St Comgall’s who scored a point in the first few minutes however Wolfe Tone never gave in throughout the match and the end score does not recognise the efforts made by both teams. Ryan Clarke top scored for the league champions with a personal contribution of 2-5 while Joe Webb weighed in with six points and James McCabe and Tom Patchett contribute 0-4 apiece.
Naomh Comhghall scorers :
Louis Higgins 0-2
Ryan Clarke. 2-5
Joseph Webb 0-6
Josh Henry 0-1
Aaron McGaw 1-0
James McCabe 0-4
Patrick O’Connor 0-2
Tom Patchett 0-4

Naomh Comhghall now carry the unwanted favourites tag to do the double and on Friday night’s performance it will take a good side to beat them though sides like St. Agnes, Pearses, St. Malachy’s, Laochra Loch Lao and Eire Og might have something to say about that.

Naomh Comhghall: 1 Anthony Watson, 2 Shane Og Gribbon, 3 Eoin Lynott, 4 Caolan McKeown, 5 Danaan O’Hara, 6 Michael McCabe, 7 Jack Moore, 8 Josh Henry, 9 Louis Higgins, 10 Joe Webb, 11 Patrick O’Connor, 12 Aaron McGaw, 13 Ryan Clarke, 14 James McCabe, 15 Colm Griffin, 18 Tom Patchett, 18 Liam Phinn,

Wolfe Tones: 1 Danny McIvor, 2 Dylan McAlorum, 3 Phil Walsh, 4 Caolan McKeown, 5 Declan Moloney, 6 Kieran Moloney, 7 Jamie Carberry, 8 Aaron McAlister, 9 Martin Connor, 10 Gerard McDonnell, 11 Declan Madden, 12 Jack Parke, 13 Aodhan Moloney, 14 Joe McKeating, 15 Ciaran Higgins, 19 Declan O’Neill

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Graham Tarmac Antrim Junior Football Championship, Group 1

Laochra Loch Lao 2-12-0-13 Pearses

Kevin Herron reports from Colaiste Feirste

Laochra Loch Lao ended the game strongly despite being reduced to 14-men in the closing stages of their 2-12-0-13 victory over Pearses at Colaiste Feirste on Friday evening.

Pearses reduced arrears to set up a grandstand finish, but Laochra tagged on three-unanswered points to ensure they would join their Belfast rivals in the last eight after St Agnes’ accounted for St Malachy’s in the other Group game.

Without a win in their opening two games, Laochra knew that only victory would give them a chance of prolonging their Championship campaign against the 2022 winners.

It was Pearses who settled quickest and lead through a converted Fionn Grew free- although Kevin Devine restored parity from the hosts first attack at the other end.

Pearses regained the lead after Piaras Donaghy laid the ball off to Liam Deegan to drop a shot over and a quickfire double from Stephen Fitzsimons and Grew moved the North Belfast outfit 0-04-0-01 ahead.

Laochra finally got to grips with things and moved level by the midway point in the half. Sean Mac An Bheatha sent a high effort between the posts and Pearse McAuley blasted over following Rian McShane’s lay-off.

Full-forward Kevin Devine swept over his sides equaliser and doubled his personal tally in the process before his side moved ahead for the first time on the 19^th minute through Oisin Crawford’s angled effort.

Things would get better for Laochra as they hit the first goal of the game, Eamonn McKenna’s kick-out was intercepted by Devine and he unselfishly slipped a pass inside for Connor McGucken to blast to the net and make it 1-05-0-04.

Mac An Bheatha doubled his personal tally to make it 1-05 without reply and although Pearses would cut the deficit through a Darren O’Neill point from play and a converted mark from Liam Deegan, Laochra extended their lead in first half injury time.

The hosts worked an opening down the Pearses right hand side and Cathal O Ceadagh took a pop back from the by-line and guided a low shot into the corner of the net to give his side a 2-06-0-06 lead at the interval.

Like the opening half, it was Pearses that started brightly, and they halved the deficit with three unanswered points.

Fionn Grew kicked his second free of the evening, Stephen Fitzsimons pointed after combining with Liam Deegan and was on hand again moments later as the visitors had the early momentum.  

Devine settled Laochra for the half, dropping over a near-post point and Conor McGucken sent an angled shot over a few minutes later.

The sides traded scores between Fitzsimons and Devine, but Pearses would cut the deficit to just two with another three unanswered points.

A fisted Phil Murray score was followed by a converted free from Fitzsimons. On the 53^rd minute Pearses would gain a numerical advantage as referee Chris Brown spotted Deaglan McComb throw an elbow in an off-the-ball incident and produced a red card that ensured Laochra would see the game out with 14-men.

Stephen Fitzsimons conjured up his fifth of the half to reduce arrears to two with three minutes plus injury time remaining.

Laochra didn’t panic though, and the 14-men would see the game out on the front-foot. Connla O Coinn converted a close-range free and assisted in Kevin Devine floating over his fifth of the contest.

O Coinn set off on a solo run deep into injury time and finished the evenings scoring as Laochra joined Pearses on the two-points at the conclusion of the Group and join their Belfast counterparts in the last eight.

Laochra Loch Lao: S O hEachain, N Mac Aodha, T Mac Siacais, E O Ceallaigh, S Mac An Bheatha (0-02), O Crawford (0-01), C O Ceadagh (1-00), P McAuley (0-01), C O Coinn (0-02, 0-01f), R McShane, N McAreavey, D Mac Crabhagain, C McGucken (1-01), K Devine (0-05), D McComb. Subs: P O Tiarnaigh for T Mac Siacais (60+3).

Pearses: E McKenna, D O’Neill (0-01), J Collins, A Nugent, N Gorman, A Bannon, A McCavana, T McFarlane, J Smyth, P Murray (0-01), S Fitzsimons (0-06, 0-01f), P Donaghy, F Grew (0-03, 0-02f), L Deegan (0-02), S Moreland. Subs: M Kelly for A Nugent (36), R Bannon for J Smyth (43).

Referee: Chris Brown (St Pauls)

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Junior Football Championship Group 1 – Round 3

Friday 30^th August

Report by Niall Kelly 

Naomh Úna 0-16                 Cardinal O’Donnells 1-09   

St Agnes’ overcame the rigorous challenge of local rivals O’Donnells in an end to end, ding-dong encounter at a sun soaked Pairc Naomh Úna on Friday evening. Unconquered throughout their Championship campaign, not many Gaels across Antrim would’ve earmarked St Agnes’ as group winners. However, their swashbuckling style of play and newly instilled belief reaped rewards and they deservedly take passage straight to the final four.  Nevertheless, after Charlie Hemsworth’s final whistle, it was a case of contrasting fortunes as news began to filter through that Laochra had upset the odds and gained the verdict against Pearses in Group One’s corresponding fixture. This result condemned an injury ravaged ODs to exile and an early exit from this year’s Junior Championship. There can be little doubt that they will rue their collection of spurned chances from this one.

The game burst into life right from the off as the sizable contingent of spectators were treated to a real spectacle. The Aggies raced into an early two-point lead with as many minutes on the clock thanks to scores from Colin Clarke and Ronan Carroll. It was looking ominous for the Os as their hosts were capitalising on the huge spaces that they were afforded and were attacking with real purpose and gusto as talisman Conall Turley added another from the placed ball.  It could’ve been much worse for the visitors though as James Campbell’s effort looked destined for the net but was thwarted with a heroic block from Sean Lavery.

The travelling support were relieved when Marc McKenna gained them a foothold in proceedings, splitting the posts from range. The ODs number twelve then doubled his tally with a perfectly curled effort from the flank and suddenly it was the men in maroon and yellow who were purring. Their midfield engine room was proving to be the fulcrum of their attacks as John Rafferty and Conall Carville were having a real influence in proceedings. Quick hands and some delightful interchange of passing carved a host of scoring chances for O’Donnells but they were unable to apply the finishing touches with their wide count growing.

Aggies’ corner back Patrick Carroll then made ODs pay for their lack of composure in front of the posts as he managed to covertly advance up the field before fisting over to finish a well-orchestrated move. By this stage, it was end to end and anybody’s game as the visitors responded positively thanks to two superb points from the industrious John ‘Beef’ Rafferty who closed the gap to the minimum.

It was indeed the visitors now who were asking all the questions and they were desperately unlucky not to have the green flag raised. James Walsh’s drilled effort was so close to finding the net but ricocheted off the post before Jonny McKenna latched on to the rebound only to see his shot agonisingly kiss the other upright before going wide. Perhaps the perfect illustration and epitome of the luck they’ve had this season.

This near miss spurned Naomh Úna back to life as Colin Clarke doubled his tally before the ever-dangerous Cormac McBride split the posts after latching on to a cleverly disguised pass from Ronan Gilligan. With five minutes left of the half, James Campbell added another to increase the gap to four.

O’Donnells though were determined to dismantle the deficit as McKenna stroked over yet another delicately curled effort. Padraig McKissock then found his bearings moments later as he tapped over a close range free. Conall Turley responded with his second of the evening but it would be the visitors who would have the last laugh of the half as they grabbed the game’s only goal.

Jonny McKenna, determined to banish the demons of his earlier near miss, was ‘Jonny on the spot’ and latched on to Conall Carville’s saved effort before drilling to the net from close range to bring proceedings to a deadlock just in time for the interval with the scoreline 0-09 to 1-06.

The second period followed a similar script as the first as both teams went on the offensive. However, a strong final quarter proved the difference as the Aggies were much more potent and composed in front of the posts than their counterparts as they limited the Whiterock side to just three points.

The talismanic Conall Turley opened the second half scoring after commandeering possession straight from the throw in before gliding up the field and nonchalantly tapping over. Moments later, Cormac McBride doubled his tally as he put the gloss on a flowing move from the hosts. Padraig McKissock responded from the deck but Naomh Úna were on a mission and points from Ronan Carroll and McBride again further bolstered their lead with fifteen left to play.

To their credit, O’Donnells continued to search for penetrative avenues of attack but again they continued to spurn an array of scoring chances. McKissock managed to covert another effort from the deck with McKenna pitching in with another curler, but it would prove to be too little given the chances they had.

With the game approaching its climax, it was the hosts who finished the strongest as David McGarahan floated over an expertly executed 45 before Ronan Carroll doubled his tally. The impressive McBride, who was a constant thorn in the O’Donnell’s rearguard, slotted over his fourth for the evening to all but seal a fine evening’s work.

A disappointed end to the season for O’Donnells. However, with so many injuries and key men sidelined throughout their Championship campaign, manager Joe Herald can take many positives going forward particularly with the fact that he had the opportunity to blood a host of his younger options. No doubt this will stand well to them going forward. Congratulations to St Agnes’ who have really been the Championship’s surprise package. There is a real verve and swagger to their play and with safe passage secured straight to the semis, they will certainly dare to dream. Could this be their year?

Teams:

Naomh Úna:

C Carroll; R Reilly, K McCormick, P Carroll (0-01;) D McGaharan (0-01,) C Turley (0-04,) D Turley; R Carroll (0-03,) R Gilligan; C Flannery, C Clarke (0-02,) J Campbell 0-01;) B McLarnon, C McBride (0-04,) D Quigley

O’Donnells:

C Murphy; S Lavery, S Smylie, J Walsh;  J Wilson, C Walsh, G McKernan; C Carville, J Rafferty (0-02;) C McKissock, P Rice, M McKenna (0-04;) P McKissock (0-03,) J O’Donnell, J McKenna (1-00)

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