ACFL Division 2

St. Enda’s 4-16 St. Mary’s 4-13

Division 2 pace setters, St. Enda’s Glemngormley turned in a strong second half performance to pip an excellent St. Mary’s Ahoghill in an exciting ACFL Division 2 encounter at Hightown on Wednesday night.

This top of the table clash had everything and produced some excellent passages of play with the side’s level at the break at 2-5 to 1-8 and it remained all to play for in the second half.

Ahoghill will rue the fact that they kicked 8 wides during a well contested opening half where they edged the exchanges and it was St. Enda’s who pushed on to maintain their place at the top of the table despite losing a player to atright Red with two minutes remaining.

Michael McKenna for St. Enda’s and James O’Connell with a 2 pointer for the visitors exchanged early scores with Eamonn Brady edging Ahoghill further ahead before Odhran Eastwood reduced the gap to the minimum with a pointed free for the Hightown side.

St. Enda’s hit the front when Conor Eastwood fired to the net in the 12^th minute and the same player would add a second in the 16^th minute after Patrick Graham had found the net for St. Mary’s at the other end.

Ronan Graham and James O’Connell brought the Ahoghill points total to 8 by half time, ‘Jimmy’s’ second effort a fine 2 pointer while further points from Sean Nolan, Stephen O’Connor and Sean McBride for St. Enda’s left it all square at the break.

Ahoghill put themselves in a strong position early in the second half with Colla McDonnell finding the net twice in quick succession and St. Enda’s responding through points from Michael McKenna 0-2 and James McAuley.

Mickey Morgan put Glengormley right back into the contest with a goal in the 6^th minute and followed immediately with a point and another from Odhran Eastwood saw the league leaders hit the front as we reached the end of the third quarter.

Donal Graham, Ronan Graham and James O’Connell kept the score board ticking with points for the visitors but an Odhran Eastwood goal for the Glengormley men with 8 minutes remaining left it firmly in the balance and still anyone’s game.

It would be St. Enda’s who would finish the stronger down the home straight however with Cillian Brown, Odhran Eastwood 0-2 (f’s) and Eoghan O’Hare adding points with Fionnbar O’Neill’s goal for Ahoghill with four minutes remaining concluding the visitors scoring.

An excellent game of football with St. Mary’s pushing the hosts all the way but it is St. Enda’s who now move four points clear at the top of the division on 14 points with Ahoghill, Glenavy and St. Teresa’s all on 10 points.

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ACFL Division 1

Erin’s Own, Cargin 0-19 St Mary’s, Aghagallon 0-18

Report and photos by Brian Hamill

Erin’s Own, Cargin claimed the points by the narrowest of margins in a gripping Division One contest on Wednesday evening, edging St Mary’s, Aghagallon by a single score in a match that highlighted both sides’ squad depth.

With key players missing on both panels, the game provided opportunities for squad members to step into prominent roles, and it was Cargin who ultimately made their greater control count, even if Aghagallon were the more clinical side when chances arose.

Cargin enjoyed the upper hand for long stretches, particularly around the middle third, where their ability to retain possession and dictate the tempo stood out. Ciaran Bradley was central to that control, finishing with four excellent points from play, while James Laverty drove forward from deeper positions, contributing both a point and a two-pointer.

At the sharp end, Patrick O’Neill produced the decisive performance of the evening. The full-forward mixed sharp movement with composure from distance, repeatedly punishing space and finishing with a series of points and crucial two-point scores that kept Cargin ahead during key passages of the game.

Aghagallon, though, remained firmly in contention throughout thanks to their ruthless efficiency.

The visitors made the most of their scoring chances, particularly from long range under the new two-point rule. Luke Mulholland, Aghagallon’s goalkeeper, was outstanding from placed balls, landing two two-point frees to keep the pressure on the hosts. Enda McCartan and Jack Lenehan also punished any looseness with well-taken long-range efforts, while Jonny Hannon chipped in as Aghagallon stayed in touch despite seeing less of the ball.

The contrast in styles was clear: Cargin controlled possession and territory, while Aghagallon maximised almost every meaningful attack.

The closing stages were tense. Aghagallon reduced the deficit to the minimum late on, again through Mulholland, but Cargin’s game management in the final moments saw them hold on to seal a valuable Division One victory.

While the result went the way of the hosts, both management teams will take encouragement from the performances of squad players who stepped up in the absence of regular starters, underlining the growing depth available to both clubs as the league campaign continues

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Antrim Football League – Division One

Moneyglass 2-14 Dunloy 1-18

Wednesday 20 May

Brendan McTaggart reports from the Loughbeg Road, Moneyglass

Dunloy produced a strong second half performance against Moneyglass on Wednesday evening to take the league points on offer.  By the time Kevin Parke called for time, it was just the minimum between the sides with the home side left with a strong sense of ‘what might have been.’

Having led by two at the break and looking like the better side for long periods of the first half, Moneyglass were pegged back by a quite brilliant start to the second half by the Cuchullains.  They looked to have weathered that storm when Dermott McErlain fired over a two pointer and Sean Boyd followed up with a major, the home side looked to take control.  Dunloy finished strongly however with Donnach Laverty’s free taking ability giving them the edge.  He would finish top of the scoring charts with 1-5 while Tom McFerran’s second half performance was a large reason for the Dunloy turnaround – three of his four points coming in that opening quarter of the second half as the Cuchullains cut loose.

The home side were excellent in that first half with Callum Murray, Sean Boyd, Aidan McErlain and Seanchan Duffin all impressing.  Second half goals from Sean Boyd and Odhran Duffin kept the St Ergnat’s men in the game but Dunloy held out for the points.

The opening quarter was a fairly even affair that the home side just edged.  Aidan McErlain was giving the Cuchullain defence plenty of problems with a couple of points while Caolan Boyd and Dermott McErlain were also on the scoresheet.  Dunloy’s response came through points for Tom McFerran, Reece Cunning and Oisin McCamphill.

A further brace of points from Aiden McErlain stretched the Moneyglass advantage to three by the half way mark of the half.

In a game that ebbed and flowed, both sides coughed up turnovers that added to what was an entertaining game.  The home side were worthy of that early advantage but Dunloy hit back with the opening goal of the contest.  Donnach Laverty finding the back of the net after good work from Eoin McFerran and Nigel Elliott in the build up.

Moneyglass’ response was to fire over another brace of unanswered points.  Sean and Caolan Boyd with their second points of the contest.  Dunloy answered with Luke McFerran marking his return to the Dunloy football shirt before a free from McCamphill restored parity with seven minutes of the half remaining but Moneyglass landed the last two scores of the half to give the home side a 0-10 to 1-5 lead at the break.

With a slight wind advantage in their favour for the restart, Dunloy made a lightning start to the second half.  Points from Laverty (free), McFerran (two) and McCallin brought them into a two point lead after just eight minutes of the second half.  Moneyglass would register their opening score with a point from Sean Boyd, electing to handpass over the bar when he had a half chance for goal but Dunloy’s dominance continued.  A further three unanswered points from Tom McFerran, Aaron Crawford and Eoin McFerran gave the visitors a four point lead.

A brilliant two pointer from Dermott McErlain gave the home side the lift they badly needed before Sean Boyd’s major in the 45^th minute.  His initial effort was superbly saved by Chrissy McMahon in the Dunloy goals but he reacted quickest to the breaking ball and palmed the ball to the empty net.

Dunloy responded with Tom McFerran and McCallin edging them ahead once again but the second Moneyglass goal came in the 50^th minute thanks largely to the persistence of Odhran Duffin.  The Dunloy defence stuttered when it looked like the Moneyglass man was being fouled but Duffin played on and made no mistake when he got the half yard needed in front of goal.

But, just like the first Moneyglass goal, Dunloy responded superbly.  A trio of scores from Laverty frees – one from outside the 40 meter arc put the Cuchullains two points ahead at the end of the hour.  The home side continued to look for ways back into the game but a pointed free from Colum Duffin was their only reward in the time that remained.

A highly entertaining contest that the visitors probably did enough to take the points on offer.  Dunloy will welcome Lamh Dhearg to Pearse on Saturday evening for their next match while Moneyglass will make the short journey to All Saints Ballymena in search for their second league win of the campaign.

TEAMS:

Moneyglass Starting XV: Jamie McLaughlin; Eunan McErlain, Matthew Mullan, James McCormick; Callum Murray, Fearghal Duffin, Odhran Duffin; Seanchan Duffin, Dermott McErlain; Sean Boyd, Colum Duffin, Conor O’Kane; Charlie McCloskey, Aidan McErlain, Caolan Boyd

• Subs: Tyler Cassidy for C McCloskey (38), Conleth McCann for C O’Kane (43)
• Scorers: S Boyd 1-3; A McErlain 0-4; O Duffin 1-00; D McErlain 0-3 (1xTP); C Duffin 0-2 (2F); C Boyd 0-2

Dunloy Starting XV: Chrissy McMahon; Sean Og Blaney, Aaron Crawford, Cathair McCloskey; Reece Cunning, Ryan McGarry, Jack Martin; Eoin McFerran, Paudie McGilligan; Luke McFerran, Tom McFerran, Oisin McCamphill; Oisin McCallin, Nigel Elliott, Donnach Laverty

• Subs: James Scally for R McGarry (12); Eoghan McGrath for O McCamphill (53); Ciaran McQuillan for J Scally (57)
• Scorers: D Laverty 1-5 (3F, 1xTPF); T McFerran 0-4; O McCallin 0-2; O McCamphill 0-2 (1F); E McFerran 0-2; L McFerran 0-1; A Crawford 0-1; R Cunning 0-1

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Eanna)

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ACFL Division 1

Roger Casements 7 – 23 v 1 – 04 Patrick Sarsfields

Mattie McGleenan’s Portglenone hosted Sarsfields at O’Cahan Park on Wednesday night, and in front of a decent sized attendance posted a mid-season league performance that was simply too strong for their opponents.

McGleenan’s men took a few minutes to settle into the match, but when Oisin Doherty popped over the opening score of the game after four minutes, the floodgates started to open. Although Joe McNally Matthew Skillen and Daniel Smyth raised white flags and the lively Kevin Barry McArdle found the net for the visitors, the reality is this contest had been well and truly decided long before that, as the hosts ran in comfortable leaders at half time by the score of 5 – 09 to 1 – 04.

Despite their best efforts Sarsfield never gave up when many other teams may have done so, but the Stewartstown road outfit just couldn’t manage to add to their tally, and in the end Casements ran up an impressive score tally and comfortably took both points on offer.

Ably led from the front by captain, Dermot McAleese who was in the middle of the action throughout, the hosts also had yet another eye catching performances from minors Tom Duffin and Odhran Doherty and Convery brothers Johnny and Ryan. Big Niall McKeever  looks to be really enjoying his football at the minute and is another who was in the thick of things throughout, whilst free scoring Ronan Kelly has burst onto the scene this year with renewed vigour, as his ten individual scores during this contest will testify.

Sarsfields will pick their battles and will remain competitive in the second half of the table, and in Liam Mitchell, Cormac Murray, Conor Moley and Daniel Smyth they have a solid and competitive midfield diamond, but Casements look like a team that still have something to prove and on this performance will be firmly in the mix as the season progresses.

Referee Conall Roberts

Scorers;

Casements; Ronan Kelly 0 – 10, Odhran Doherty  1 – 04, Ciaran McAleese 2 – 00, Oisin Doherty 1 – 01, Stephen Kelly 1 – 02, Niall McKeever 1 – 00, Tom Duffin 0 – 03, Dermot McAleese 1 – 00, Caolan Tierney 0 – 01, Sean Byrne 0 – 02.

Sarsfields;  Kevin Barry McArdle 1 – 00, Matthew Skillen 0 – 01, Joseph McNally 0 – 01, Daniel smyth 0 – 01.