U21A Football Semi-Final
Sunday 3rd November 2024
Con Magee Gaels 0-14 Naomh Mhuire Aghagallon 2-04
Report by Niall Kelly
Con Magee Gaels sealed their spot in the showpiece of this year’s U21A Championship overcoming the rigorous challenge of a dogged Aghagallon side at a greasy Father Maginn Park on Sunday afternoon. Truth be told, the men from the tenth glen were good value for the win but it didn’t come easy as Aghagallon’s resiliency didn’t wane throughout the sixty minutes and they always seemed to have an answer when the going got tough. In the end, Glenravel’s sharpshooters at the top end of the pitch made the telling difference as they had that little bit more composure in front of the sticks when it mattered most.
It was the hosts who started brightest and were two ahead after ten played thanks to Daire Higgins and Colla Ward. The visitors replied through Enda McCartin who applied the finishing touches to a patient move. Glenravel though looked the more menacing and driven forward by Cormac McKeown, Niall Hynds and Callum Higgins they appeared an ominous prospect. The Aghagallon goal was indeed living a charmed life in the opening quarter as netminder Gabhan Baine came to the rescue to deny Colla Ward from close range before Daire Higgins’ scorching effort rattled off the wrong side of the post.
The home side needed to start making their efforts count on the scoreboard and Fionntan Hodgson increased the gap as he met a flighted effort from Shea Ó’Broin to fist over from close range. Naomh Mhuire kept about their business though and their patient approach was starting to pay dividends with Hugh Hannon responding almost immediately with a delicate effort off the outside of this right boot.
With the short whistle approaching, Glenravel sought about increasing their advantage and two great scores from Fergus Donaghy and a Daire Higgins free-kick did the trick. However, it was Aghagallon who had the final say of the half as talisman Jonny Hannon converted from the placed ball to leave the score 0-05 to 0-03 in favour of Glenravel.
The second period burst into life as Aghagallon came storming back to gain the lead in the opening two minutes. A goal-bound effort from Eoin Maginnis was saved spectacularly by Con Magee’s number one, Déaglán Carey, but among the melee the ball somehow diverted into the net off an unsuspecting Glenravel defender to trigger an almighty roar from the travelling faithful.
The visitors further capitalised on their early second half momentum as Michael McStravick angled his effort to perfection to increase the gap to two. Glenravel would’ve been scratching their heads and could’ve been forgiven for a temporary lapse in performance but instead they immediately sought about rectifying the situation and taking back their stranglehold on proceedings.
A Shea Ó’Broin free settled them back into things nicely as they started to wrestle momentum back in their favour. How the Con Magee’s didn’t manage to notch a goal to their tally remains a mystery as another flowing move once again ended with a thundering Daire Higgins effort being thwarted by the post. The Glenravel number 15 though did have some joy as he converted from a close range free moments later.
Higgins then turned provider for centre forward Shea O’Broin, who unleashed a colossal effort from just outside the 45 to reestablish a slender lead with 15 minutes remaining, triggering an almighty roar from the ‘Balcony Boys’ as their side were beginning to purr. Substitute, Ronan McCormick, then announced his arrival to the game with a well-taken point to further increase the gap.
With the game now finely poised, the heavy artillery up top for the hosts sprang to action. O’Broin was on hand to convert another free before Fergus Donaghy negotiated himself the smallest slither of space and carressed his effort between the posts. Glenravel were relentless now in their offensive pursuits and after Callum Higgins had commandeered possession with an outstanding fetch in the middle third, he fed the tireless Cormac McKeown who rampaged up the field before tapping over to increase their advantage to five with as many minutes remaining.
Just as it seemed that the Con Magee’s were cantering home to victory, Aghagallon turned the screw themselves to set up a grandstand finish. The men from the Lough Shore were bombarding forward and were thwarted on more than one occasion by Déaglán Carey’s heroics in goal. However, the Glenravel shot stopper and his defenders were powerless to stop Padraig Gowdy rising highest to fist home to the net from the high ball at close range.
Still the visitors came surging forward as the game entered time added on with Glenravel’s lead a perilous one now at two points. Aghagallon then thought they had struck gold as the ball found its way to the net yet again, but the whistle had sounded just before to signal a free out. They continued to pepper Carey’s goal but the host’s defence remained resolute led by some outstanding defending from Callagh Mooney and Niall Hynds.
Cormac McKeown then embarked on one of his trademark runs before firing over to settle the host’s nerves. The visitors were unperturbed though and knew another goal would force extra time as the bodies continued to file forward. With the last action of the game though, they were caught on the counter as again the Glenravel defence stood tall with Callagh Mooney emerging from defence before setting up Shea O’Broin to hit his fourth and final point of the game to clinch a superb win.
Credit to both teams for an excellent game. November football is usually far from pretty but both sides demonstrated that it can be done. Aghagallon fought tooth and nail and can be proud of their efforts as they refused to surrender right to the last. Glenravel will now look forward to yet another underage final. They will meet familiar opposition in St Gall’s in a repeat of the 2021 final of the old U20A competition in which they were victorious. The Con Magee’s will seek to repeat the same feat again whereas St Gall’s will have revenge on their minds. Either way, it promises to be an intriguing final.
Teams:
Con Magee’s Glenravel
D Carey; N Dickson, N Hynds, A Campbell; C Mooney, D McQuillan, E Ward; C Higgins, F Hodgson (0-01;) F Donaghy (0-02,) S O’Broin (0-04,) C Ward (0-01;) C McKeown (0-02,) P McDonell, D Higgins (0-03)
Substitute scorer
Ronan McCormick (0-01)
Naomh Mhire Aghagallon
G Bainne; J McCormick, S Devlin, C Hannon; C Magill, C Maginnis, J Hannon; J Hannon (0-01,) P Gowdy (1-00;) H Hannon (0-01,) E McCartan (0-01,) E Maginnis; S Gowdy, T Mallon, M McStravick (0-01,)
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