ACFL Division 1

Casements 2 – 10

Cargin 2 – 14

Pics: Colleen Webb

Casements welcomed county champions Erin’s Own to O’Kelly Park for a much anticipated re run of last year’s dramatic county final which on that occasion required overtime to separate the two teams. This time there was a bit less drama, Cargin doing what they do, coming from six points down with twenty minutes left, to find a way to win a game of football.

The pitch was in pristine condition and a large crowd was in attendance when referee Colin McDonald got the game underway. Cargin got out of the blocks a bit quicker, punishing Portglenone for several early contest lapses in front of goals in the opening minutes, Conan Johnston and Benen Kelly posting the minors.

Enda Lynn got the home support going with a superb point to get the Ports into the contest and followed up with an even more outrageous score a few minutes later.  The fayre was full on and end to end, a fantastic fingertip save from Casements keeper Ryan ONeill from Conan Johnston preventing a certain Cargin goal. Either side of that Tomas McCann had raised both an orange and a white flag, to put Cargin up by three at the end of the first quarter.

Casements finally got their foothold in the game and in the space of a few minutes they had a goal and four, a fair reward for numerous spells of attractive and open football to edge ahead in the contest. Dermot Mc Aleese signalled his return to club duty with a trademark solo effort and it took two excellent points, one from Michael McCann and the other from his nephew Sean O’Neill to send the clubs in at the interval, Casements two points to the good.

Shooting into their favoured end, Casements started where they left off, opening up a six point gap thanks to an excellent point from Ronan Kelly and a superb solo goal from the imperious Enda Lynn who weaved and jinked his way through the Cargin defence to plant a pile driver past John McNabb in the Cargin goals.

The script was going nicely at this point for the hosts, and the more optimistic of their supporters may have been thinking that a rare league win over their South West rivals was just possibly on the cards.

That position was reinforced when a finger-tip save from a Cargin penalty dispatched by Michael McCann resulted in a white flag which Dermot McAleese returned at the other end almost immediately to maintain a six point gap in favour of the yellow and black.

Cargin never doubted themselves and in the space of a few minutes John McNabb dispatched two orange flags for a four point contribution, and Tomas Mcann tagged on another point to leave the minimum between the teams as the game entered the final quarter.

Then the game changed in the space of a minute. John Carron fielded highest and sent a delivery high into the Casements goal mouth. Daniel McNicholl rose highest and was bursting out with the ball when he believed he was fouled, waited on the accompanying whistle which didn’t come – the ball spilling to the on waiting Cargin predator David Johnston who made no mistake, drilling the ball into Casements net to put Cargin back in front.

The large crowd were getting more involved and with the contest full on, Casements put together their best move of the game. Niall Delargy and Dermot McAleese worked the ball the full length of the pitch, and found Casements sharpshooter Aidan Mc Aleese in a one on one opportunity, but on this occasion the normally reliable Aidan pulled his shot narrowly to the left and an inch wide of the post.

Casements came again though, and the superbly talented Enda Lynn narrowed the deficit once again to the minimum and the big question was could Casements find that crucial score. Try gallantly as they did though, and with the game entering its concluding stages, a well worked weave between McCann brothers Tomas and Michael set up Ben McLarnon for a score he will remember, finishing to the net past Ryan ONeill to give the visitors a clear advantage on the scoreboard.

Sean ONeill and Tomas McCann raised another two points in succession for the men in green, a late Sean Byrne point a consolation score for Casements right at the end.

Best on the night for the winners were McCann brothers Michael and Tomas, with John Carron, James Laverty and Gerard McCann also catching the eye. Sean ONeill also looked lively, his evenly matched dual with Niall Delargy a feature of the evening.

Portglenone have Enda Lynn to thank for keeping them in the contest, his individual scores from this particular game worthy of the entrance fee alone.  Dermot McAleese, Niall Delargy,  Ryan Convery and Kevin OKane all gave their lot to their teams cause.

Cargin were without the services of numerous anticipated championship starters, so Ronan Devlin will be relieved to get through this midsummer test, content that his men are nicely on schedule for the time of year.

Casements will finish the league more or less in a similar position to last year, and in due course will switch focus to their main seasonal objective, but while manager John McKeever will take some positives from his team’s performance, he will still be hoping to get more from first phase possession around the middle and see an improvement in breaking ball statistics.

For long periods of time there was little to separate these teams from open play, Cargin just that bit more clinical in front of goals, of course also possessing that crucial knack of finding a way to win. That’s why they remain the team to beat in Antrim football.

Scorers.

Casements; Enda Lynn 1 – 03, Ronan Kelly 1 – 01, Paddy Kellyb 0 – 02, Dermot McAleese 0 – 02, Michael Hagan 0 – 01, Sean Byrne 0 – 01.

Cargin; Tomas McCann 0 – 05, John McNabb 0 – 04, David Johnston 1 – 00, Ben McLarnon 1 – 00, Michael McCann 0 – 02, Sean ONeill 0 – 01, Benen Kelly 0 – 01, Conan Johnston 0 – 01,

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Antrim Football League Division 1

St Gall’s 1-10 St Brigid’s 1-17

St Brigid’s made the short journey to Milltown on Wednesday evening and came away with both points after an impressive win over St Gall’s. The Musgrave Park side, with their county players back on board were on top form as they secured two more league points to all but assure a place in the league semi-finals in a couple of weeks’ time.

Early points by John Morgan, Paul Bradley, Enda Downey and Shea Downey had them four clear after seven minutes, and while St Gall’s did have a couple of good scoring chances themselves, they just failed to deliver the finish. However the home side eventually got going when goalkeeper Kevin Niblock sent midfielder Gerard O’Neill through for their opening point on eleven minutes and two minutes later they were back to within two when corner forward Daniel Quinn sent over a free.

The visitors were starting to dominate however and they hit the next four points without reply as Dara Quinn, J Higgins, Patrick Finnegan and the excellent Paul Bradley found the target, but the home side stayed in touch when right half back Liam Lynn sent over for St Gall’s. Ronan Boyle came back with a point for St Brigid’s before a controversial incident when St Gall’s Brendan Bradley appeared to be fouled while closing down on goal. Most people in the crowd thought match referee Kevin Parke had signalled a penalty but in fact the St Enda’s man was indicating a wide. Daniel Quinn and Brendan Bradley did manage two scores before the break but Peter King sent one over at the other end and there was only five between the sides at the break.

When Paul Bradley got three in a row for the visitors early in the second half it looked like St Gall’s were in trouble, but they bounced back with a well taken goal by Colm Walsh, and when the same player added a point there was just four between the sides again. St Brigid’s Ronan Boyle and St Gall’s Daniel Quinn exchanged points to keep the gap at four, but the Musgrave Park men were dominating possession and after JJ Higgins added a point, second half substitute Rian Tweedy got through to fire home the game clinching goal.

Substitute Matthew Downey added a point soon afterwards and Bradley hit his sixth of the game but St Gall’s kept battling and Daniel Quinn pointed before finishing with a 2pointer, though by this stage the destiny of the points had already been decided.

ST GALL’S: K Niblock, C McGirr, T Keenan, J McCaffrey, R Wilson, C McCabe, A Gallagher, L Lynn, G O’Neill, M Murray, B Bradley, D Wilson, C Walsh, C Doherty, D Quinn.

ST BRIGID’S: D Heery, J Toner, O Downey, S Doyle, S Downey, J Morgan, R Carleton, P Finnegan, J Finnegan, R Boyle, D Quinn, P King, P Bradley, E Downey, JJ Higgins

Referee – Kevin Parke (St Enda’s)

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O’Neills ACFL Division One 

St Johns 1-18-3-12 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

CONOR HAND touched home an injury time goal that could be vital for St Johns come the end of the regulation league season as the Whiterock outfit battled back from seven-points behind to claim a 1-18-3-12 draw with Lámh Dhearg at Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening.

Ahead through two points within the first sixty seconds as Ronan Quinn charged forward and popped over the opener, Conal McGlade then got his hand to the resulting kick-out and after a string of forward passes Odhran Quinn doubled his sides lead.

Lámh Dhearg hit back through a smart Adam Murray point and Murray doubled his tally from a placed ball a few minutes later. 

The Johnnies were caught for a 2-man infringement and Murray slotted over the close range 50-metre advancement, with Ross Murray collecting a fine pass inside and adding to a point to make it four unanswered for the Hannahstown outfit. 

After going almost ten scoreless minutes Paddy McBride opened his account for the evening from a free and less than a minute later kicked a further score from the same scenario to level. 

Conal McGlade shot his side ahead for the second time with an excellent two-pointed score from the edge of the arc to make it 0-6-0-4 

The pendulum swung back in the Lámhs favour and they would 1-5 unanswered approaching the break. 

Adam Murray added his personal tally for the evening from a free, Declan Smyth then steered a high shot between the posts to level for the third time. Murray stroked over his fourth free of the half and Donal Martin then opened his account. 

On the stroke of half time Conor Murray entered proceedings and he would play a role in the opening goal, gaining possession and offloading a high shot that came off the large post with Ryan Diamond reacting quickest to slot the loose ball underneath Eoghan Rua Lambert to make it 1-8-0-6. 

A further point from Marc Jordan had his side six-ahead, but their lead would be halved before the break after Odhran Quinn landed a fine two-pointer and youngster Odhran McAuley produced a fine angled score to make it 1-9-0-9 at the interval. 

St Johns began the second half brightly and overturned their three-point deficit. Conal McGlade kicked back-to-back frees and after missing a further opportunity, Paddy McBride assumed responsibility for the next chance and pulled his side level. 

The Whiterock side hit the front after Odhran Quinn curled a shot between the posts, but their advantage lasted a few minutes as Lámh Dhearg got up and running for the half. 

After almost 15-minutes without a score the visitors regained the lead again. Evan Stanley got to Gerard Smith’s kick-out and laid the ball off to Sean McCarthy, he in turn found Ryan Diamond to pick out Adam Murray whose low shot found the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-9-0-13. 

Evan Stanley clipped over an angled point and things soon got better when Marc Jordan charged through and shot home a third goal, with Declan Smyth’s attempt to land a two-pointer in the aftermath halved after James Wilson got a finger-tip to the shot – nonetheless, Lámh Dhearg were seemingly on route to victory with a 3-11-0-13 lead. 

St Johns introduced Conor Hand for the final quarter which coincided with an upturn in fortunes. 

Scores were traded between Conal McGlade (free) and Donal Martin- the latter of which was Lámh Dhearg’s last of the evening. 

Paddy McBride and Odhran Quinn pointed within minutes to begin the hosts comeback, whilst there was a let off at the other end when Adam Murray’s snapshot came back off the post. 

At the other end McBride saw a shot deflected behind for a 45’ and Andy McGowan was next to point, fisting over after a deep McBride run and floated pass. 

The Johnnies continued to push for a goal with Conor Hand seeing a close-range shot blocked by Paddy Mervyn and after a 45’ was awarded they went close again, Conal McGlade clipped the 45’ into the area where Hand again gathered and his shot was steered off the line by Sean Paul Gibson. 

Adrian Oliver pointed deep into added time to leave it a three-point game and there was still time for St Johns to salvage a share of the spoils. 

The opportunity appeared to have passed when Andy McGowan shot crashed off the large post, but Paddy McBride collected the loose ball, popped a high ball into the area and Hand touched it home to secure a share of the points with the final action of an exciting encounter. 

ST JOHNS: E Rua Lambert, O Jackson, E McGurk, D McKeogh, C McEvoy, R Quinn (0-1), J Wilson, P Nugent, R Donnelly, O McAuley (0-1), P McBride (0-4, 0-3f), S Tierney, C McGlade (0-5, 1×0-2pt, 0-3f), A McGowan (0-1), O Quinn (0-5, 1×0-2pt). Subs: C Hand (1-0) for S Tierney (47), A Oliver (0-1) for R Donnelly (47). 

LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth, Ross Murray (0-1), P Mervyn, D Murray, G Smyth (0-2), B Rice, E Matassa, C Boyd, P Fitzsimons, R Diamond (1-0), O McKeown , D Bellew, D Martin (0-2), M Jordan (1-1), A Murray (1-5, 0-4f). Subs: C Murray for O McKeown (30+1), E Stanley (0-1) for C Boyd (42), S McCarthy for D Bellew (42), J Quinn for P Fitzsimons (53), SP GIbson for R Murray (54). 

REFEREE: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

Antrim Football League – Division 1

Glenravel 2-14  St Pauls 1-20

St Pauls had a good win against Glenravel in Fr Maginn Park on Wednesday evening when they recorded a three point victory over the hosts. The game was won and lost in the final five minutes of the opening period as the home team led by three points after twenty five minutes, but their opponents finished the half strongly with 1-04 scored without reply. That gave them a four point lead going into the break and they effectively held that lead to the end of the game despite a see-saw second half. 

Ryan McQuillan opened for Glenravel but a 2-pointer from Lorcan Phillips followed by a score from Caoimhin Duffy edged St Pauls in front. Two points apiece for each side, Sean McKay for Glenravel and Ciaran Rogers-Duffy for St Paul’s retained the lead for the visitors. Callum Higgins and Ryan Lennon restored parity for the hosts before Niall Ward gave the lead back to St Pauls. However Glenravel were starting to find some accuracy and points from Eamon Fyfe and Aiden O’Donnell followed by a sublime goal from Ryan McQuillan gave Glenravel a four point lead. Rogers-Duffy and Conall Duffy got St Pauls back on track before Fergus Donaghy scored Con Magee’s final point of the half on twenty five minutes and they led by three points. St Pauls hit the turbo boost at that stage and would score 1-04 in this final five minutes as Ciaran Rogers-Duffy became supplier in chief with 1-02 and he was ably assisted by Conall Duffy and Bairre Burns to give St Pauls a half time lead 1-12 to 1-08

St Paul’s started where they had left off with a point from James Farrell but points from Daniel McQuillan, Colla Ward and Ryan McQuillan brought Glenravel back to within two points. Rogers-Duffy and Ryan McQuillan would exchange points before a brace from  Conall Duffy and a point from Rogers-Duffy stretched the lead to five once more 1-17 to 1-12 with ten minutes to play. two Ryan McQuillan frees and a free from Rogers-Duffy left four between the teams. With seven minutes left Glenravel needed a major and Sean McKay provided it from close range to reduce the gap to a single point but the visitors were in no mood for late drama and recorded the final two points of the game to secure victory 1-20 to 2-14

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