Laochra Loch Lao got their Junior Championship hopes back on track when they scored a comprehensive win over St Agnes in Saturday game at MacCrory Park to set up a winner takes all meeting with Eire Og in their final round robin game in two weeks’ time.
Lochra owned the ball during the opening quarter and went 0-4 to no score ahead by the 13th minute, the points coming from Conor McGucken, Caoimhin O Daimhin (following a Mark), Diarmuid McPhilips (from a 45) and O Daimhin again. The Aggies sprung to life just on the quarter hour mark when midfielder Conall Turley broke through the middle of the Lochra defence to fire home a brilliant individual goal, but the Coalaiste Feirste side hit back right away hitting a goal and three points in a devastating five minute spell. Corner forward Oisin Mac Crabhagain started the run with two quick points, Rian McShane added one from play before delivering the killer blow with a well taken goal.
The Aggies were in deep trouble but they ended the half well and points from Ronan McCarroll and Declan McLarnon left them trailing by seven at the break. (1-9 to 1-02)
The gap was down to five as the Aggies hit two early points in the second half through Turley and Cormac McBride and for a spell there was renewed hope. However when Conor McGucken got Lochra’s first point of the second half on 37 minutes they pulled away again. McGucken added two more and McShane one to all but seal the win midway through the half, and though the Aggies goalkeeper Colum Carroll got in on the scoring act with a well taken point, it was to be his sides last score as Laochra Loch Lao pushed on to win by ten in the end.
One of the favourites for the Junior Championship, O’Donnell’s, were pushed all the way by Belfast rivals Eire Og in Friday evening’s round robin game at St Agnes, the MacCrory Park men winning in the end by three. However when Eire Og centre back Ronan Donnelly pointed with just three minutes of normal time left to play the gap was just one, but O’Dee’s held their nerve to slot two late points and seal the win.
O’Donnell’s started well and two points from Sean Pat Donnelly and one from Richard McAvoy put the three ahead after just three minute, but Eire Og hit back with three of their own from PJ Toal, Daniel Campbell and Ronan Donnelly to level up the score. Keelan Loughran and Fergal McNerney pushed O’Ds two clear again but Toal pulled one back from a free for Eire Og and it wasn’t until corner forward Marc McKenna grabbed the first goal of the game that O’Ds had a bit of breathing space. However it was to be brief respite for the Whiterock Road men as Eire Og finished the half strongly with three points from PJ Toal to trail by just one at the break. (0-8 to 1-6)
It took a good save from O’Ds goalkeeper Cillian Walsh in the opening minute of the second half to keep Eire Og at bay and then lady luck turned her back on then Ogs when one of their defenders deflected an attempted punched clearance into his own net. Toal and Donnelly exchanged points to keep the gap at four but Daniel Campbell and Stephen Erskine cut the gap in half, Erskine unlucky to see his shot go just over the bar when a goal seemed to be on.
Sean Pat Donnelly gave O’Donnell’s a bit of breathing space with two pointed frees and Fergal McNerney added one from play to put four between the sides again, but Eire Og kept coming back and three in a row from Clarke, Toal and Donnelly cut the deficit to the minimum. Once again when the chips were down however O’Donnell’s reacted well when the pressure was on and two late points from Sean Pat Donnelly and Ciaran McKissock sealed the win and secured a semi-final spot.
Wolfe Tones wrote their names into the latest chapter of their history when they recorded a fully merited first championship victory over a fancied St. Malachy’s at Hightown on Friday night.
The Greencastle club was only reformed three years ago and this was their first year playing in the Antrim ACFL and championship so this win will surely mark a significant post in their present journey.
Right from the throw-in at Hightown it was Wolfe Tones who made the early running and Gerard McDonnell from a free and Aidan Maloney shot them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after two minutes.
Ronan Maneely got the men for the Markets up and running with a point in the fourth minute but it was the Greencastle side who were playing the more expansive football as the moved the ball swiftly and with accuracy.
Aidan Maloney kicked his second of the evening and Marty Connor got his name on the score card before Gerard McDonnell moved his side 0-5 to 0-1 ahead by the 22nd minute.
Jack McGivern raised St. Malachy’s second white flag of the evening when he converted a 25th minute free but his side was getting no change from a tight Wolfe Tones defence in which Stephen McKee, Neil Brannigan and Debhan McGivern were outstanding.
The excellent Gerard McDonnell replied with another point for Wolfe Tones as he stroked the ball first time of the ground and the same player sent a 55 meter free directly between the posts to put his side into a fairly healthy 0-7 to 0-2 lead as Richie Leahy sounded his half time whistle.
St. Malachy’s had played second fiddle to their opponents for nearly all of the opening half but right from the throw in a long ball into the Tones danger area resulted in a penalty and Paul Carlisle stepped up to send the resulting award to the net.
Carlisle’s conversion closed the gap to two points and with the increasing wind now at their backs the Market’s side must have fancied their chances but it was Wolfe Tones who once again took control.
The sweet striking Gerard McDonnell struck and excellent point in reply and followed with another from a free to move his side four in front after 9 minutes.
St. Malachy’s were certainly enjoying more possession than in the opening half but too often were over hitting their final pass in the strong wind while their opponents continued to look dangerous on the break.
Substitute Matt McCann saw his effort deflect over by a defender for another point and Ciaran Maloney converted a free in the 19th minute to move the Greencastle side six ahead.
Things got a little heated in the closing stages with both sides losing a player to a second yellow card and Gerard McDonnell sent over his seventh point of the evening before Cathal Jordan concluded the scoring with a fine point for the losers in the fading light, deep in injury time.
Both sides have 2 points from 2 games played with Wolfe Tones entertaining Ballycastle at Valley Parade on Friday the 25th of August and St. Malachy’s at home to Rasharkin on the same night and on tonight’s performance the Greencastle side look favourites to join St. Mary’s in the quarter-final draw.
Wolfe Tones
Danny McIvor, Joseph Carmichael, Stephen McKee, Neil Brannigan, Jack Parke, Debhan McGorvern, Gerard McDonnell, Kieran Moloney, Eian McKee, Martin Connor, Conor Burrows, Declan Moloney, Declan O’Neill, AodhanMoloney, Tomas Austin.
St Malachy’s
Fintan McBride, Sean O’Neill, Caoimhin Corr, Colin Connolly, Daniel Quinn, Stephen Carson, Ben McCaughey, Anthony Dobbin, Ciara Vernon, Jack McGivern, Mark Connolly, Cathal Jordan, Paul Millar, Paul Devine, Ronan Maneely.
Eire Óg got their junior championship campaign off to a flier with a convincing win over local rivals St Agnes. The Ógs got off to superb start as within 2 minutes Conor Erskine rattled the back of the Aggies net with a superb goal. Young Erskine went on to have a superb first half with his direct running causing the Aggies no end of problems. Successive points from JT Toal, Ronan Donnelly and Kevin Clark saw them race in to a 1-3 lead.
However, the Aggies were as dogged as ever and came back with successive points from Ronan Carroll, who always looked dangerous when on the ball to see the gap narrow to three. That was the closet they came in the match as a penalty by JT Toal extended the Ógs lead once again.
With further points form Ronal Donnelly and Clark the Eire Óg went into the half time break leading 2-7 to 0-6.
With Caomhan Daykin and Ronan Donnelly dominating at midfield and supported by Conall Smyth in the half forward line the Reds began the second half as they had the first. Despite some tenacious defending from the Aggies back line, they extended their lead with an excellent goal from sub Dan Campbell who gave aggies keeper Bob Carroll no chance.
Ronan Carroll pulled a goal back for the Aggies but the St. Agnes main threat was starved off any real supply and closely marked by Paddy Loughran. There was no way back for the home side as the visitors went on to widen the gap. Super sub Campbell added another goal while points from JT Toal, Conal Smyth and Camhna Daykin extended their lead.
In the end Eire Og ran out convincing winners. This was a very entertaining open game of football which was a credit to both teams and enjoyed by the good crowd in attendance
Favourites Rasharkin recorded a resounding victory in this Graham Tarmac JFC opener against new boys, Wolfe Tones at Dreen on Friday night. The division 3 league winner led 4-5 to 0-1 at the break and went on to add a further 2-15 in the second half.
Eamonn McNeill got St. Mary’s on their way with a goal in the third minute and a minute later the same player would add a second as the home side opened strongly.
There would be no respite for the visitors as Cathal Mooney and McNeill added points before Ryan Lynch mad amends for a missed penalty when he hammered home Rasharkin’s third goal in the 15th minute.
Wolfe Tones finally opened their account with a point from their wing half forward but it provided only temporary respite as Rasharkin came back strongly with points from Shane Hasson and Tiernan O’Boyle.
Lynch added his second and his side’s fourth goal in the 30th minute and a fine Fergus Quigg point in injury time ensured that this game was well and truly over despite there being 30 minutes still to play.
Half time score: Rasharkin 4-5(17) Wolfe Tones 0-1(1)
The visitors were giving it everything and added a second point on the restart but it brought another quick response from the home side as Tiernan O’Boyle, Fearghal Kennedy and Shane Hasson fired over points but Wolfe Tones replied again with their third point of the game in the 8th minute.
Shane Hasson was having a good game for the rampant home side and he added back to back points and Eamonn McNeill added another in the 11th minute before the visitors recorded their fourth and final point.
There would be no respite for the visitors as the one-way traffic towards the Tone’s goal continued as McNeill, Oisin Casey, Ruairi O’Boyle and McNeill again split the uprights.
Thomas McMullan, Ryan Lynch and Shane Hasson added to the ever increasing total as Rasharkin emptied their bench but it failed to disrupt their rhythm.
Oran McMullan added another before the deadly duo of Eamonn McNeill and Ryan Lynch struck with late goals to conclude the scoring and give St. Mary’s a great start in their quest for a league and championship double.
They play Ballycastle on the 12th August in Dunloy before travelling to St. Malachy’s in their final game on Friday 25th August and already look favourites to emerge from the group and secure a place in the quarter-finals
SUBS: off: Killian O’Boyle on: Oisin Casey, off: Pearse Kelly on: Pearce McTague, off: Cathal Mooney on: Oran McMullan off: Fergus Quigg on: Conor Higgins, off: Tiernan O’Boyle on: Colm Kennedy, off: Killian O’Boyle on: Oisin Casey, off: Pearse Kelly on: Pearce McTague
