P.GRAHAM TARMAC JFC Group 2 Round 2

Kickham’s Ardoyne 6-10 St. Brigid’s Cloughmills 2-5

Report & Pics: Brian McKee

The men from Ardoyne knew that nothing less than a comprehensive victory would be good enough to keep them in the hunt for the Junior Football Championship. Cloughmills would have travelled to the lough shore with a justifiable degree of confidence following their early-season shock defeat of Ardoyne, but a relentless North Belfast attack was a warning that Championship football was an entirely different matter.

Ardoyne opened the stronger of the two teams, finding an early goal when a high ball into the square was flicked into the net with a fisted punch from the in-form James Óg McAuley. This was followed shortly by a point from Brendan Hamilton, making it clear from very early on that Ardoyne were controlling the pace of the match through possession football.

Caolan Hardy had a chance for a second goal for Ardoyne but saw his shot landing in the arms of shot landed safely in the arms of Doran in the Cloughmills net. Moments later, Brendan Hamilton cut through the Cloughmills defence again; a goal looked to be on the cards, but his powerful shot sailed just inches over the crossbar.

The Cloughmills defence found the strong runs of McAuley and Lopez impossible to counter, while the experienced McKiernan was back to his best in an Ardoyne shirt. In his first year at senior level, Lopez was playing with a maturity and commitment that lifted his more experienced teammates around him. Cloughmills did have their chances early on, but their wayward shooting proved to be their downfall. At one stage, Watson broke through the Ardoyne line and a goal looked certain, only for the final shot to fly well wide of the target.

This miss triggered another period of dominance from Ardoyne. Lopez sent a high ball crashing towards the square, where Cahal Keown reacted quickest to flick it into the net. Three further points followed in quick succession for the North Belfast side. Veteran captain Cormac McMullan was not to be outdone by the emerging talent of Lopez, elegantly sending a pinpoint pass to McNeill, who stroked it home for Ardoyne’s third goal. McNeill was clinical again moments later, picking up goal number four.

Keown proved to be a masterful target man at full-forward, instrumentally conducting the lines of attack as the first half progressed. He was incredibly unlucky not to add another when his own shot bounced back off the upright. Cloughmills failed to register a score in the opening half against an Ardoyne defence where Copeland and Magee led a defence that effectively dealt with any incursions from Cloughmills.

Half-Time: Ardoyne Kickhams 4-07 St Brigid’s Cloughmills 0-0

The opening minutes of the second half saw Cloughmills once again under serious pressure. Keown quickly exerted his dominance at full-forward, setting up the opening goal of the half for Ardoyne from Caolan Hardy.

Cloughmills were clearly rattled, but they refused to buckle under the continuous pressure. Eight minutes into the second half, Devlin finally opened the scoring for them with a well-taken two-pointer. This provided the needed inspiration for St. Brigid’s. A series of sustained attacks on the Ardoyne backline saw 0’Mullan blast home two goals in quick succession. While the final result was never realistically in doubt, Ardoyne lost their composure and were visibly shaken by the spirited Cloughmill’s fight-back.

It was the ever-reliable Keown who put a halt to the resurgence. Following a free from McMullan, Keown collected possession and rifled over a point to steady the Ardoyne boat. James Óg McAuley then topped off a fine individual performance by slotting home a final goal for Ardoyne in the dying moments of the match.

Despite the win, the second-half display will be a major concern for the Ardoyne management team. They will be disappointed that the second-half performance was a pale shadow of their brilliant opening half. They will know that a repeat in their crucial final group stage match against Eire Óg will not be good enough to progress into the knockout stages.

Cloughmills, while well beaten on the night, will gain immense self-belief from their resilient second-half display as they look forward to their final game against O’Donnell’s.

Full-Time: Ardoyne Kickhams 6-10 St Brigid’s Cloughmills 2-05

Ardoyne: Tiernan Hughes Cormac Curran Micheal McGreevy Piarais Marley Oisin Copeland Emmett Corey Eoin Quigg Joe Gibson Brendan Hamilton Caolan Hardy Cormac Mullan Aidan McNeill Odhran Mullan Thomas McKinney Barry McKervey Gary McKernan Odhran McKee Aidan McConnell James Óg McAuley Anton Mallon

Cloughmills: Anthony Doran Jack McDowell Brendan O’Mullan Conal McCurdy Rian Dobbin Stephen McIlroy Jonny Duffin Michael O’Mullan Eoin Dobbin Dara Watterson Reece Watt Eoin McGee Aidan McNeil PJ McBride Gerard O’Mullan

Referee: Colin Mallon

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St Agnes’ 2-10 Davitt’s 3-13

Antrim Intermediate Football Championship at Woodlands

Davitt’s produced a strong finish to secure a six-point victory over St Agnes’ in an entertaining Antrim Intermediate Football Championship contest at Woodlands on Friday evening.

There was little between the teams during a lively opening half. St Agnes’ opened the scoring through a free from Conall Turley before Sean O’Neill replied with a two-pointer from play for Davitt’s after five minutes.

St Agnes’ struck the opening goal a minute later when Killian McCormick took advantage of a mix-up in the Davitt’s defence and fired the ball to the net. Colm Carrol in the Aggies goal then made an excellent save to prevent an immediate response.

Davitt’s gradually settled, with Ryan McAuley converting a ’45 before St Agnes’ Conall Turley added his second point. The Woodlands side continued to play some good football, but two quick goals brought Davitt’s right back into contention.

Sean Smyth found the net after a quickly taken free caught the St Agnes’ defence off guard, while Brady Maguire finished an excellent move that began deep inside the Davitt’s half.

Conor Sullivan and Caoimhin Slane were also among the Davitt’s point-scorers, while St Agnes’ continued to threaten through Turley, James Campbell, Paudie Meehan and Cormac McBride.

At half-time Davitt’s held a narrow two-point advantage, 2-5 to 1-6, although St Agnes’ had arguably enjoyed the better of much of the opening period.

Davitt’s Sean Smyth opened the second-half scoring, but St Agnes’ responded immediately through their own number nine. Further well-worked scores from the home side’s Briondan McLarnon and and Conall Turley brought them level and left the game finely balanced.

Oskar Deevy Persson replied for Davitt’s, only for St Agnes’ Turley to restore parity once again after 13 minutes.

The decisive score arrived three minutes later when Davitt’s worked the ball across the square and it was palmed into the net. That goal gave them the platform to take control of the closing stages.

McLaughlin followed with a point before Sullivan took centre stage, landing an excellent two-pointer from play and then adding two more scores, including one from a free.

St Agnes’ continued battling and substitute Declan Crummey gave them late hope when he finished a cross into the net in added time. Davitt’s, however, responded with the final point to complete an impressive closing spell and seal a 3-13 to 2-10 victory.

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JFC Group 1

St Mary’s Rasharkin 3-14 St Malachy’s 0-04

St Malachy’s hosted St Mary’s Rasharkin on Sunday evening in the JFC Group 1 and the away side wasted no time in getting going. Rasharkin have already collected the Division 3 league title and are aiming for a league and championship double but others will have plenty to say about that.

 A point from James Higgins then a penalty goal and a point straight after, both from Brian Og O’Neill had the Dreen side on top in the opening 5 minutes.

The game then had a long delay due to an injury to the St Malachy’s goalkeeper Stephen Carson, but Rasharkin picked up from where they left off to extend their lead with further goals from O’Neill and Daniel Doherty.

Caoimhin Corr got St Malachy’s off the mark with a point just after O’Neill had pointed from a free and Killian O’Boyle put the visitors further ahead in the 26^th minute. 

A 2 pointer from a John Paul Lagan free gave the home side a lift before Tiernan O’Boyle finished the first half scoring to leave St Mary’s 3-05 to 0-03 ahead at half time

The second half started in a similar fashion however Rasharkin missed several chances in the early stages but points from Killian O’Boyle, O’Neill and Tiernan O’Boyle kept them on course for the win. 

A great 2 pointer from Oisin Casey followed by quick-fire points from Thomas Hasson, Killian O’Boyle and half back Liam Quigg confirmed the Dreen men’s dominance.

St Malachys got one back with a point from James McGivern but Tiernan O’Boyle hit an excellent 2 pointer from play to close out the game.

P.Graham Tarmac Antrim JFC Group 2 

O’Donnells 1-13-2-9 Ardoyne 

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc MacRuairi 

Photographs: Brian McKee

O’DONNELLS survived a late onslaught to open their P.Graham Tarmac Antrim JFC campaign with a 1-13-2-9 victory over Ardoyne at Pairc MacRuairi on Sunday evening. 

In a keenly contested and action packed contest, the hosts found themselves trailing 1-7-0-5 at the break, but a 10-point swing saw them hold the same advantage before Ardoyne showed their battling qualities- though not quite enough to see them leave the Whiterock with a point. 

Ardoyne made a dream start and were ahead within two minutes at MacRory Park. Fiontan Lagan’s goal bound shot was saved by Conor Murphy but the loose ball fell to Cormac Mullan who sent the ball  looping into the unguarded goal. 

In response Fionntan McKeernan popped over after combining with namesake Gerard and then Paddy Matthews drew a smart save from Ardoyne keeper Tiernan Hughes. 

The visitors were forced into an early change with Joseph Gibson suffering an arm injury and he was replaced with up and coming Ciaran Lopes.

Lopes would contribute to his side’s next score after surging forward at pace and laying off to Oisin Maskey to clip over and the lead was extended following a neat move that saw goalscorer Mullan pop the ball into Aidan McNeill to drop a shot over the bar. 

At the other end Tiernan Hughes was forced to push a dropping Fionntan McKernan shot over the bar. 

Quickfire points cut the deficit to the bare minimum as Paul Moore swept a shot over, Tiernan Hughes stuck out a foot to block a goal bound Gerard McKernan shot, a point eventually arrived off the boot of Richard McAvoy and then Fionntan McKernan blasted over his third of the half to make it 1-3-0-5. 

Ardoyne should have had their second goal five minutes before the break. Lopes switched to Cormac Mullan and his pass into Aidan McNeill in the corner opened the ODs defence with McNeill laying the ball to backpost where Cahal Keown somehow blasted over the bar rather than under. 

Mullan grabbed the first two-pointed score, sending a sideline attempt over the bar and just before the break he converted an injury time free to ensure that his side held a 1-7-0-5 lead at the interval. 

ODs started the second period on the front foot with points from Patrick Meehan, Fergal McNerney and half time substitute Sean Pat Donnelly giving them momentum. 

They had the chance to hit the front in the 42nd minute following Daniel Moore’s challenge that referee Charlie Hemsworth deemed worthy of a black card and penalty. 

Substitute Padraig McKissock stepped up and made no mistake as tucked the spot kick high into the top corner past Hughes to ensure his side led for the first time (1-8-1-7). 

Ardoyne restored parity for a brief period through a point from half time substitute Barry McKervey, though Sean Pat Donnelly instantly popped over at the other end. 

Ciaran McKissock extended ODs advantage with a curling effort that dropped between the posts and Richard McAvoy then doubled his account for the evening to see the Whiterock outfit pull three ahead. 

The visitors thought they had pulled level upon regaining their full complement. Cormac Mullan’s 45’ curled and dropped into the net, however after consulting with his umpire, referee Hemsworth ruled the goal out for square ball. 

With five minutes remaining a two-pointed Patrick Meehan effort from play would prove to be the insurance score for the hosts, giving them a 1-13-1-8 lead, but Ardoyne battled to within the bare minimum in the closing stages. 

They were awarded a penalty with two minutes to go and Cormac Mullan calmly fired low past Conor Murphy to reignite his side’s chances. 

Both teams would end the contest with 14-men after a coming together saw Mullan leave on a second yellow card, and Stephen Seawright given a straight red. 

Ardoyne may have snatched a late winner as McKervey’s attempted free from outside the arc stayed in at the byline, Cahal Keown saw his shot blocked and it fell to the path of Daniel Keenan whose follow-up was diverted behind for a 45’. 

The resulting 45’ was converted by Aidan McNeill to make it a one-point game, though the visitors were unable to secure a share of the spoils and ODs ran out winners by the narrowest of margins to join Eire Og at the summit of Group 2. 

O’DONNELLS: C Murphy, K Kennedy, S Seawright, S Lavery, P Meehan (0-3, 1×0-2pt), S Thompson, J McKenna, J Rafferty, G McKernan, R McAvoy (0-2), F McNerney (0-1), P Moore (0-1), C McKissock (0-1), P Matthews, F McKernan (0-3). SUBS: C Walsh for P Matthews (HT), P McKissock (1-0p) for S Lavery (HT), SP Donnelly (0-2) for K Kennedy (HT). 

ARDOYNE: T Hughes, C Curran, M McGreevy, C Magee, J Gibson, P Marley, F Wall O’Brien, D Keenan, O Marley (0-1), C Mullan (2-4, 1-0p, 0-2f, 1×0-2pt), G McKernan, A McNeill (0-2, 0-1 45’), F Lagan, C Keown (0-1), D Moore. SUBS: C Lopes for J Gibson (8), B McKervey (0-1) for C Lopes (HT), T McKinney for D Keenan (60+3). 

REFEREE: Charlie Hemsworth (ST PAULS)

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Antrim JFC – Round 1

Laochra Loch Lao 1-20 Pearses 0-11

Laochra Loch Lao laid down a significant marker in the first round of the Antrim Junior Football Championship, securing a comprehensive 1-20 to 0-11 victory over Na Piarsaigh (Pearses) at Colaiste Feirste. Driven by an electric attack and a solid team ethos, Laochra controlled the tempo for the majority of the contest.

The game burst into life immediately, with Laochra’s number 8, Jack Mac Iomhair, registering a point from play within the opening 10 seconds. Pearses responded swiftly on the two-minute mark when Sean Moreland slotted a point from play to level the proceedings. Gearoid Mac Seáin and Moreland then traded points from play and from a free, keeping the sides neck-and-neck at the four-minute mark.

As the half progressed, Laochra began to assert their dominance. A slick team move in the eighth minute culminated in a point for their corner forward , followed closely by a score from Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh at number 15. A sweeping move that covered the length of the pitch was finished brilliantly by Oisín Mac Crabhagain on 12 minutes, extending the Laochra lead. Following a 13th-minute point from Jack Mac Iomhair and a free by Oisín Mac Crabhagain, Pearses found a lifeline in the 20th minute when Oisin Grew successfully landed a two-pointer, briefly stunting the Laochra momentum.

However, Laochra’s attacking machine kept rolling. After a 23rd-minute point, Jack Mac Iomhair forced a brilliant save from the Pearses goalkeeper, who managed to tip the ball over the bar for a point in the 24th minute. Despite some very good points under pressure from Oisin Grew and Phil Murray for Pearses, Laochra closed the half strongly with excellent points from play by their number 13 and Conchubhar Mac Gafraidh left the halftime scoreline reading Laochra 0-11 to Pearses 0-06.

Second Half: Laochra Pull Away

Pearses emerged from the break with intent, as Sean Moreland grabbed a point in the 33rd minute to cut the deficit. Laochra, however, responded ruthlessly with back-to-back points from their number 13 and Oisín Mac Crabhagain. The Pearses goalkeeper produced a spectacular point-blank save shortly after to keep his side in the contest, which was immediately rewarded by another Sean Moreland point on the nine-minute mark of the half.

Yet, Laochra’s depth proved too much. Jack Mac Iomhair knocked over a point from play, followed quickly by Fionntan Ó Tuathaláin on 34 minutes. Gearoid Mac Seáin added a free after a breach in the Pearses defence, and Connla Ó Coinn kept the scoreboard ticking with a point from play in the 51st minute. Just a minute later, Jack Mac Iomhair hit an exceptional individual score, and Pádraig Ó Préith capped off a stunning end-to-end team move with a point to put the game entirely out of reach.

Sean Moreland knocked over another point for Pearses on 28 minutes, but the decisive blow landed on 60 minutes when Fionntan Ó Tuathaláin found the back of the net, registering the game’s only goal from play. Dubhaltach Mac Crabhagain piled on the misery for Pearses in the closing moments with a fisted point on 61 minutes and another point from play shortly after. Sean Moreland tapped over a final consolation point for Pearses in the 65th minute, but the damage was already done, bringing a commanding performance to an end.

Final Score: Laochra Loch Lao 1-20, Pearses 0-11

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