Aldergrove returned to winning ways after their midweek defeat at the hands of Rossa when they beat Con Magees Glenravel with four points to spare despite a late goal from the visitors. A rain shower just before throw in left the sod greasy and the home team adapted better to the underfoot conditions over the hour to secure two valuable league points.
Declan Gough had a really good performance across the hour and he gave early indication of this with a lovely point in the opening minute. Glenravel, playing “up the hill” in the first half wrestled back control through scores from Shea O’Broin, Eamon Fyfe and Conor McQuillan but the lads in red levelled when Oisin Graham and Kian Jones. Rian Lennon and full back Shea McAuley popped over a couple of scores so with a quarter gone the visitors led by two point 0-05 to 0-03. The second quarter however was totally dominated by the home team who would go on the tag on 2-04 as their trio of Gough, Seamus McGarry and Ryan McCarthy were causing all sorts of problems to the Glenravel defence. McGarry added two points and full forward McCarthy fielded a long ball in before finding the net from close range. Soon after Gough added to his total to give the home side a four point lead. To their credit, Glenravel did continue working hard and were rewarded by a lovely score from Rian Lennon and a goal from Decky Traynor to bring the sides level on 1-06 each. But in the closing stages Aldergrove got their second goal from Ryan McCarthy followed be a very fine 2-pointer from Seamus McGarry so they went in at the break five points to the good, a lead they would go on to retain throughout the second half.
McGarry picked up where he left off with another 2-pointer and suddenly the gap looked unassailable from a Glenravel point of view. Eamon Fyfe got the visitors back on the score sheet but that was cancelled out be a point from Conor Browning, and as we entered the home stretch Glenravel mounted a revival with points from Fergus Donaghy and Aidan O’Donnell but two late points from Aldergrove effectively sealed the deal in their favour despite a late goal from Deccy Traynor again to bring the visitors within four points as the final whistle blew.
Both clubs will get a welcome break now of ten days before the final three games in the league campaign. Glenravel will entertain St Paul’s at Fr Maginn Park next whilst Aldergrove will make the short journey to Aghagallon next time out.
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(Featured Image) Ruairi McCann who was in sparkling form for Creggan in their win over Casement’s on Sunday
ACFL Division 1
Portglenone 1 – 17 Creggan 4 – 16
Photographs: Colleen Webb
Creggan bounced back from a narrow defeat to league leaders Cargin during the week with a determined and polished display of football to ease out convincing winners against a lack lustre Portglenone in Kelly Park on Sunday.
Both clubs make no secret about harbouring aspirations of greater things later in the season, and on this occasion there is no doubt the men in green and gold looked every inch like a team that has kicked on since last year.
Casements looked a pale shadow of the team that brought intensity and physicality to a hugely entertaining county final eight months ago, and whilst their management will not panic about dropping two league points, they do have a very clear idea of the size of the task ahead of them in the next few months if they plan to get back to that level.
Conor Small looks up before delivering his shot
As a contest this one was almost as good as over after just twelve minutes. At that stage rampant Creggan had raised no less than four green flags, and from that point on their game was simply about management and containment.
Jamie McCann’s effort was the first mark on the scoreboard, evened out a minute later when a fine fetch and delivery by Stephen Kelly played in his cousin Ronan for the hosts equalising and opening score after four minutes. Then just as supporters of both clubs settled down for what many anticipated would be a competitive and even contest, corner forward Small kicked off a seven minute goal fest for the visitors, jinking and weaving his way past a number of defenders to plant the ball past helpless Casements net minder Ryan O’Neill.
One minute later, a terrific point on the run off the boot of livewire Conor Johnstonextended the gap to four, matched in its excellence by the first of numerous long range points from Casements Paddy Kelly to restore the balance.
The next five minutes completely changed the game and effectively killed it as a contest. A rampant Creggan, dominating all over the pitch ran in three superbly taken quickfire goals, finished off by Kevin Small, Conor Small and the lively foot ofConor Johnston, all the result of well cohesive team play across the pitch.
Ruairi McCann was having a great afternoon, looking like the county player he should still be, and when he knocked over a trademark free from all of 60 yards, it was up to Paddy Kelly to show that art is still firmly in his locker too with his second two pointer of the half. Paddy would go on to double this and bring his first half tally to four doubles, much to the appreciation of the large crowd. When Ray Matthews blew his short whistle at the break, Creggan were comfortably ahead by eight points.
Despite kicking 4 2pointers in the opening half Paddy Kelly was to finish on the losers side
Creggan were out earliest for the second period, as John McKeever attempted to rally his team, and they responded when Patrick Graffin worked harder than anyone to claim a hotly contested breaking ball in the square and laid it off to the waiting Ciaran McAleese who made no mistake.
Within a minute though Kevin Small pointed to maintain the eight point margin that had been established, and try as they could, led by the industrious Enda Lynn, Casements could not find a way of breaking down that deficit, due largely to Creggan’s physical strength and stranglehold on the game around the middle, allied to their much greater ability to win the scraps for breaking ball.
Casements had simply no answer in the ariel exchanges, and with Johnston brothers Ricky and Marty as well as Kevin Rice still waiting in the wings, Creggan have a lot of strength in depth in this department as well.
Casements battled hard to remain in contention, and did produce some excellent movements of their own, deserving credit for their contribution to a lively encounter, but Creggan soon moved into game management mode and were content to see out the contest without needing to overly extend themselves in the final quarter.
Portglenone had a number of players who grafted admirably for their cause, but the majority will know that both individually and collectively there is another few levels to find in six weeks. Paddy Kelly gave it his all, and Enda Lynn died with his boots on, and the returning Ryan O’Neill in goals did well at times under high balls, but truthfully the better performers on the day were on the visiting side who look like a team going in the right direction. Both Smalls gave it large, as did McCann brothers Keelin and Ruairi, whilst up front Matthew Rodgers was immense as a ball winning magnet. The eye catching performance of corner forward Conor Johnston was emphatic, a new CJ is in town!
Creggan won this fixture last year, if anything in even more emphatic fashion and its possible that both managements hold varying degrees of aspiration for the league. John McKeever may well be holding back on pressing his pre championship button, however the reality is that Joe Cassidy will have slept much easier on Sunday night, in the knowledge his systems are already working and his team are still firmly in the picture for a chance of taking home the Eddie Fitzsimons Cup in a month’s time.
Scorers;
Casements; Paddy Kelly 0 – 8 (4 x 2pts) Michael Hagan 1 – 00, Enda Lynn 0 – 02, Ciaran McAleese 0 – 02, Ronan Kelly 0 – 02, Oisin Doherty 0 – 02.
Creggan; Conor Johnston 1 – 03, Kevin Small 1 – 01, Conor Small 1 – 01, Jamie McCann 0 – 02, Ruairi McCann 0 – 03, Conor Small 1 – 01, Matthew Rodgers 0 – 02, Jamie McCann 0 – 01, Conor McCann 0 -01, Fintan Close 0 – 01.
(Featured Image) Lorcan Phillips fires over a St. Paul’s point
ACFL Division 1
St. Paul’s 0-12 Rossa 0-7
St. Paul’s took another step in the right direction as they continue to fight to maintain their hard earned division 1 status while inflicting more headache on neighbours, Rossa who find themselves stranded at the bottom of the table.
Niall McStravick gave St. Paul’s an early lead following a good save by Niall Crossan in the Rossa goals in the 4th minute NS Conal Duffy and Conor Hughes moved the host team three ahead by the 13th minute.
Visitors Rossa were struggling to get their game together but Thomas Morgan finally got them on the score card with a point in the 14th minute and when Eoghan McMenamin followed with another with 20 minutes gone they seemed to be gaining some momentum.
Gerard Walsh of Rossa holds on to the basll despite taking a tumble
Rossa flattered to deceive however and it was their neighbours who finished the half on top as Conal Duffy and Ciaran Duffy from a free moved them 0-5 to 0-2 ahead in a low scoring first half.
That lead might well have been greater but St. Paul’s were guilty of some wayward shooting in a half where they were mostly in control.
Last year’s promoted side St. Paul’s have been striving manfully this season and this was expected to be another stiff test for them following Rossa’s win over Aldergrove last Wednesday night but in truth the ‘Hoops’ always looked in control.
Niall McStravick extended their lead with a point, 30 seconds into the second half and Lorcan Phillips hit a great 2 pointer to move them 0-8 to 0-2 ahead after 7 minutes as Rossa struggled to put something meaningful together.
Eoghan McMenamin finally got them of the mark after the hosts were penalised for a breach of the 3-man-back rule and Conal McDonald fired over from distance to raise an orange flag and suddenly the deficit had been cut to a manageable three.
It would be as close as they got however with Ciaran Duffy from a free and Pearse magee with a good point from play increased the St. Paul’s lead to five once more by the 25th minute.
Another 2 pointer from the impressive McDonald free and another from Thomas Morgan from close range had it down to four with three minutes remaining but the final score of the game fell to substitute Shea Burns to leave the hosts victors by five points.
Rossa’s Niall Crossan clears his linews as Conall Duffy of St. Paul’s moves in to challenge
With three round of games remaining, division 1 has two separate competitions emerging with the bottom six fighting for the points that would ensure their survival though St. Paul’s and Aghagallon look reasonably safe.
Both have 7 points but they are followed by Ahoghill, Tir na nOg and St. John’s on 6 while Rossa look in trouble on 4.
Nothing has been decided yet and we can look forward to some hard fought encounters in the coming weeks with Ahoghill v Dunloy, Dunloy v Rossa and St. John’s v St. Paul’s on the final day of the league campaign ones to look out for
Main pic – St Brigid’s Reuben Carleton who scored two 2-pointers in a man of the match performance
A C League Division One
Cargin 0-11 St Brigid’s 0-16
Reigning Division One League champions St Brigid’s Ended Cargin’s extended unbeaten run in the race for the 2025 title when they proved more than a match for the Toome men on their own patch in a positive performance which ended in a five point victory before a good attendance on Sunday.
The visitors certainly opened on the positive and after utter domination in the opening phase failed to show result on the scoreboard Dara Quinn’s 8th minute point sent the South Belfast men on their way to a positive return
The home side struggled to get their hands on the ball from the outset and after their hosts had ushered the butterflies from the proverbial stomach their show was on the road, and after Dara Quinn had opened their account Peter King and Matthew Downey followed suit and they had earned a three point advantage by the 12th minute and the home side looked unable to provide a reply.
Cargin for their part looked less than happy in their own sod and even after Sean O’ Neill opened their account with a fine point, following a Conan Johnston clearance, the home support were allowed to breathe a little easier.
St Brigid’s goalkeeper Declan Heery turns Pat Shivers penalty around the post
The home side had looked more than uneasy on their own patch, a very rare observation that may have been oft times observed on the Toome sod and much out of character for Ronan Devlin’s charges
However the home side, though living off scraps, hit back with four quick points as Conan Johnston and Michael Mc Cann fired over points before
goalkeeper John Mc Nabb sent over a 2pointer to get their show on the road and leave only the minimum between them and their quick starting visitors
Paul Bradley, who was to prove a thorn in the home side’s defence for much of the hour got the St Brigid’s focus on the scoreboard back again adding a point from and when from Reuben Carleton stepped forward to send over a long range 2pointer the the gap was out to 0-08 to 0-05 for the city dwellers.
St Brigid’s refreshed by the interval break did not lose sight of the scoreboard as they strode into the arena again for the second period and the opening minutes saw them increase advantage on the scoreboard.
The ever accurate Paul Bradley was sent away on the left after Jack Dowling rose highest to fetch in the central zone to despatch between the posts and when he followed suit again after Dara Quinn delivered over the black spot to put his side six points ahead 0-11 to 0-05.
Paul McCann who sent over two 2pointers for Cargin
As the end of the third quarter approached, and the home side in the rare position of being in arrears at this stage of a game, they needed something in the way of inspiration if they were to get back into the game. Paul McCann, a man who has given his all for the cause strode forward, despite being just back from injury and lifted his team as he sent the first of two second half 2ponters between the posts.
Kevin Mc Shane added a fine score a few minutes later, and the wing man added another to reduce the deficit to three points, St Brigid’s holding a well-deserved 0-10 to 0-07 just at the three quarter mark.
The home side were able to see light at the end of the tunnel as the last quarter commenced having looked decidedly out of sorts for much of the game, but such brightness perceived was soon darkened again as the ever excellent Paul Bradley and Matthew Downed added points apiece and advantage was increased.
The home side which with the encouragement of net minder John Mc Nabb, Paul Mc Cann, and Sean O’Neill adding wind to their sails looked for the positive as the last quarter continued and indeed opportunity knocked in the 49th minute as Sean O’ Neill on trek forward was upended when close to goal and a penalty was the quick award,f although some had made suggestion that the leather had found way into the net prior to the whistle.
Big full-forward Pat Shivers was nominated for ‘spot duty’ but in the event his well struck shot was was well saved by the St Brigid’s netminder who got down well to turn the ball to the outside the post, though Shivers sent the resultant 45 between the sticks.
The clock was ticking onwards when John Mc Nabb sent the award directly between the posts and when he promptly delivered another from play his side faced deficit of four points as the end approached.
Paul Bradley added a further point to the St Brigid’s total with the equally excellent Paul Mc Cann replying in kind at the other end shortly afterwards, but the south Belfast med were never really threatened and the long blast of referee Kevin Parke’s whistle following to ensure victory for the Musgrave Parkac men on a final score of 0-16 to 0-11 as the end of the league draws near.
Enda Downey in action for St Brigid’s in their win over Cargin
Referee K Parke (St Enda’s)
Teams
Erin’s Own Cargin
John Mc Nabb(0-03), Sean og O’ Neill, Kevin Mc Shane, Benen Kelly, Conan Johnston (0-01), Paul Mc Cann (0-03), Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Michael Mc Cann (0-01), Gerard Mc Cann, John Carron, Sean O’ Neill (0-02), David Johnston, James Laverty, Pat Shivers, Jamie Gribbin
Subs
Tomas Mc Cann
St Brigid’s
Conor Heery, Conor King, Finn Mc Kernan, Shay Campbell, Reuben Carlten (0-02) #, Shea Downey (0-01), Jack Dowling , Fergal Meenagh (0-01, Dara Quinn (0-02), Paul Bradley (0-08), Peter King (0-01), Matthew Downey, Enda Downey
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All Saints, Ballymena retained second place at the top of division 1 when they withstood a second half rally from St. Mary’s Ahoghill at Slemish Park on Sunday evening.
Baker Bradley’s side led 0-16 to 0-6 at half time and were good value for that victory with Ronan McKillop in excellent scoring form and Peter McReynolds controlling matters around mid-field.
McKillop scored 0-6 during that opening period where the home side were on top for most of the 30 minutes but he failed to return for the second half with a tight hamstring causing his withdrawel while McReynolds limped off after 20 minutes when he came down awkwardly following a spectacular catch.
Colla McDonnell whoes goal early in the second half ignited a comeback by St. Mary’s
Still it didn’t seem to matter that much as the sides headed to the dressing room with ten points separating them and All Saints good value for that lead but St. Mary’s had other ideas as they set about reeling in the opposition in a wind assisted second half.
The Cloney side dominated the second half kick-outs with Boris O’Connell and Patrick Graham catching or picking up everything that Conor Brennan drove into the middle third and a goal in the 6th minute from Colla McDonnell and a point from Neil O’Connell had the gap back to two by the 7th minute and All Saints recent good run of wins looked in decided danger.
Connell Lemon and Sean O’Callaghan replied with points for the Ballymena men but the one way traffic towards the home goal continued to flow and as the game ebbed into the closing stages a James O’Connell 2 pointer closed the gap to the minimum and the momentum was very much with the visitors.
From the resulting kick-out All Saints finally won a primary possession with Paddy McAleer breaking Brennan’s long kick out and he found Connell Lemon who sent substitute Paudin Mitchell clear for the insurance point.
GOOD START
It was Dan O’Neill who got the visitors off to a good start when he raised the game’s first orange flag into the breeze but All Saints were quick to reply as Ciaran Campbell and Paddy McAleer tied the contest by the 7th minute.
McAleer’s attempt at fisting over, came back of the upright but the impressive McKillop struck a 2 pointer and followed with a single to move his side three ahead.
All Saints keeper, Conor Brennan and Michael Read combine to dent Neil O’Connell as St. mary’s press for an equaliser
Sean O’Callaghan, McKillop with a fisted score, Connell Lemon and Paddy McAleer had the home side 8 ahead by the 17th minute before Peter McReynolds was forced out of the game with what looked like a recurrence of a knee injury to be replaced by Emmet Killough.
James O’Connell replied with St. Mary’s first point for 18 minutes but Sean McVeigh, Ciaran Campbell and Connell Lemon responded with points at the other end to move the Ballymena men 10 ahead.
The visitors looked to be in for a much needed score but Michael Read pulled off an excellent diving block to deny James O’Connell before Diarmaid Graham Kicked a massive 2 pointer into the breeze to close the gap to 8 with five minutes remaining to the break.
James O’Connell followed with a pointed free but It was All Saints who finished the half on top with Connell Lemon pointing and Ronan McKillop adding his 6th of the game to leave it 0-16 to 0-6 at the halfway stage.
It was a different story after the break as St. Mary’s dominated the mid-field sector and Colla McDonnell brought them to life with an excellent finish past Conor Brennan.
Prior to that, Noel Crossey was wide off the crossbar and Dan O’Neill struck his second 2 pointer and when Neil ‘Boris’ O’Connell followed with a point from play it was down to two points and the momentum was with the men in Red & Black.
Lemon and O’Callaghan eased the pressure with points at the other end but the momentum was with the visitors as they sensed the victory that would take them further away from the relegation zone.
Connell Lemon added to the All Saints lead as lead as the Slemish Park men countered up field but Ahoghill replied through Colla McDonnell and Neil O’Connell to keep their hopes very much alive.
The visitors were wayward in their shooting however and missed a number of scoring chances as Sean McVeigh screwed the ball over to move the Ballymena side four ahead with James O’Connell replying again to leave just a goal between the sides.
O’Connell raised another orange flag to close the gap to the minimum as the clock counted down but All Saints broke up field and Paudin Mitchell fired over for only their fourth point of the half as Darren McKeown’s full time whistle sounded from the kick-out.
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