Dunloy booked their place in the under 21B semi-final with an impressive win away to Sarsfields on Sunday afternoon. With both teams getting to grips with the conditions, the early stages were tight as they traded scores.
The decisive moment of the first half though came on 15 minutes when Ben O’Kane won a Sarsfield’s kick out and fed Oisin McCamphill who made no mistake finishing to the net. Following the goal Dunloy were able to gain a bit of momentum in attack and started to pick off some impressive scores. Sarsfields replied with two points of their own just before the half time whistle to leave it all to play for in the second half.
Half time score Sarsfields 0-4 Dunloy 1-6.
The second half started as the first half finished with Sarsfields fighting their way back into the game and scoring a point in their first attack. They pressed Dunloy in their own half however the Cuchullains defence stood strong and were able to eventually break out and score a point of their own.
They traded further scores but Sarsfields were unable to close the gap and with time against them it was starting to seem a difficult task. With 10 minutes remaining the result was put beyond doubt when Francis McMullan broke through the Sarsfields defence and finished emphatically to the net. Dunloy finished strongly to claim the victory in an entertaining game at the Bear Pit.
Dunloy will now travel to Whitehill next Sunday to face Tir na nog in the first of the U21 B semi-finals while Kickham’s |Creggan host Lamh Dhearg in the other semi-final.
In the U21A semi-finals St. John’s make the relatively short trip to Milltown Row where they will face St. Gall’s while Glenravel entertain Aghagallon in the other semi-final.
All games are scheduled for a 12-00 Noon throw-in.
Tir na nOg defied miserable conditions and a late comeback from their visitors Casement’s to earn a place in the next phase of the under-21 B championship on a sodden Whitehill pitch on Sunday.
The home side looked on their merry way into the semi-finals at the break with a 2-05 to 1-02 advantage at the end of the opening period as they asked questions aplenty of their visitors.
Caolan Smith had found the net for the home side early in the game and the full forward over turned a short kick out in the latter stages of the opening period to return to the net to give his side a six point interval advantage.
Portglenone, faced a stern breeze in the first period but found the back of the home side’s net in the closing stages as Sean Burns finished soccer style on the greasy surface which paid dividends.
Casement’s having played second fiddle to their hosts for much of the opening period despite positive performances from Ryan Mc Allister, Ciaran McAleese, and Brian McKeever came back strongly with the breeze at their backs and Sean Byrne raised white in the opening phase with Ciaran McAleese adding another a few minutes later.
Casements continued to ask questions as the second half progressed but several chances were off target and when Caolan Smith was sent away by mid-fielder Pat Higgins to find the net the home side looked on the way to victory.
Casement’s were not about the accept what looked inevitable and continued to take the game to their opponents as they tested Tir na nOg’s net minder on a couple of occasions but Levi Thumann proved up to the task.
As the game moved into the final stages the visitors continued to press forward with wing half back Brian McKeever leading the charge.
The fame haired wing half back set up Conor McCann to deliver between the posts in the 59th minute to keep them within touching distance.
Questions were being asked of the home side and Portglenone’s James McAleese made a strong approach to finish stylishly to the back of the net at the eleventh hour to reduce the deficit to a couple of points but it was close as they got as the Whitehill side held on for victory and a place in the semi-final.
Tir na nOg: Levi Thumann, D Martin, B Devlin, O Loughran, S Gault, T Bonnes, P Higgins (0-01), Josh Higgins, C Mc Camphill, A O’ Donnell (0-02), C Mc Kenna (0-01), S Martin, C Smith (3-03), E Maguire
Casement’s: F O’ Connell, M Mc Garry, F Mc Cormick, C Mc Aleese, B Mc Keever, O Mc Auley, R Mc Allister, James Mc Aleese (1-00), Sean Burns (1-03), P Murray, C Mc Aleese (0-01), Ciaran Mc Aleese (0-03), C Mc Cann (0-01)
Referee: D Mc Keown (St Gall’s)
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Con Magees Gaels got over the line in this tough battle despite a final furlong flourish from rivals Cargin as they tagged on four unanswered points in the final five minutes to draw level but then yielded two scoreable frees in added time which the home team converted, much to the relief of the home support. Both teams defied the difficult playing conditions to deliver a fine brand of football with Glenravel just edging it in the end.
The Toome men opened through big full forward Eunan Quinn but that would prove to be the only time they led throughout the sixty minutes. A Shea O’Broin free followed by Cormac McKeown point nudged the home team ahead only to be pegged back by a free from Cargin midfielder Odhrán Molloy to leave honours even after the first quarter. A superb move by the Glenravel men was finished to the net by Daire Higgins to put three between them but soon after Callum Cribbin reduced the deficit to two. A lovely point from Fergus Donaghy extended the home team lead to three but the Toome men finished stronger with two points from Cian Scullion and Jack Harney to leave the minimum separating both teams at the break.
Con Magee Gaels made a great start to the second half when a long speculative ball in was held by Cargin keeper Shea Laverty but the advancing posse of Glenravel players applied enough pressure and Eamon Ward got the final touch to play the ball over the line to open up a four point lead for the home team. Scores from Jack Harney and Odhrán Molloy were cancelled by Colla Ward and Daire Higgins to maintain the Glenravel four point lead with ten minutes remaining. At this stage Cargin needed to go for broke and that started with a lovely point from keeper Shea Laverty who advanced upfield on numerous occasions aka Rory Beggan. That inspirational point spawned three further scores from Tom Shivers, Eunan Quinn and Odhran Molloy to level the game as we entered added time. But in the end Con Magee Gaels benefitted from indiscipline in the Cargin defence which gifted two scoring chances which Daire Higgins gladly accepted and converted to leave two between them when the final whistle blew.
This was a hard fought game where both sides went at it but the skill and guile of the Glenravel men won out in the end and the now advance to the semi final stages.
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St. John’s advanced to the semi-final of the U21 A Football championship when they produced an impressive performance to overcome the challenge of visitors St. Paul’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday.
The Shaw’s Road side would have probably started this one as favourites having contested the last two minor finals but it was a big and powerful St. John’s who took control from early in the contest.
The hosts dominated the opening half to lead by six at half time but with the wind in their favour in the second half St. Paul’s certainly didn’t look out of it.
The visitors made a real fight of it in the second period but any time they threatened, the ‘Johnnies’ were able to find a response and in the end were worthy winners.
St. John’s were strong down the middle with full-back Enda McGurk, centre-back Ronan Quinn, midfielder Conor Hand, and centre-forward Conchuir Adams in dominant form.
The Shaw’s Road side battled hard and closed the gap to three with six minutes remaining when Caoimhin Duffy finished to the net but before the celebrations had died down, Ronan Quinn netted at the other end after being placed by James Wilson.
St Paul’s got off to a brighter start, with Tarlach Enright kicking a free within the opening minute. Their lead doubled when Conall Duffy made a good break, and the ball was worked to Patrick Crawford, who scored via Caoimhin Duffy.
The Johnnies’ first real attack resulted in their opening score with Ronan Quinn pointing and this seemed to bring belief to their challenge.
They looked in for an early goal when Conor Hand cut through, but Lorcan Murphy turned away his shot superbly.
Conhuir Adams levelled the contest shortly after and from the resulting kick-out the home side won possession and Adams sent an inch perfect pass into the path of Hand who palmed to the net from close range.
The hosts were now in full swing as Enda McGurk and Adams followed up with points and the visitors were now struggling to find a way through a solid Johnnies defence.
Enright did kick frees either side of an impressive score from Hand, but McGurk and Quinn would double their own tallies as the scores began to flow for the Whiterock Road side.
Jack Ireland did hit back with a good score for St Paul’s, but Adams replied with a free and then was unlucky to see his shot at goal; come back off the crossbar, but the hosts held a deserved 1-8 to 0-5 lead at the break.
The visitors needed a quick start to the second half to mount a challenge and when Caoimhin Duffy converted a Mark in the opening minute it looked like a comeback might be under way.
St. John’s had other ideas however as they replied with their second goal of the afternoon with just four minutes gone. An Adams free dropped short but Lorcan Duffy in the St Paul’s goal only palmed it out to Fearghal MacManus to palm home.
That put eight between them, but three minutes later it was back to five as a good move resulted in Garrett Cowan slotting low to the net and just one minute later, it really could have been game on when Caoimhin Duffy forced a smart stop from Padraig Graham.
St Paul’s looked to be getting on top as they pressed forward but they hit three wides in quick succession as they failed to capitalise on a period of possession as Conor Hand kicked a free at the other end.
St Paul’s substitute Ryan McCoy’s immediate duty was to kick a free but Hand replied, yet the Shaw’s Road side seemed right back in it five minutes from time as a bit of quick thinking ended with Caoimhin Duffy finishing from close range to leave just a goal between the sides.
St. John’s response was immediate and decisive and a good move from deep in their own half saw Ronan Quinn collect a pass from James Wilson to blast home.
Conall Duffy and Enright narrowed the gap to four in added time, but Conan McKinney ensured there would be no way back as he kicked the final point of the evening to secure the Johnnies place in the semi-final.
St. John’s: P Graham; M Darragh, E McGurk (0-2), M Mallon; J Robb, R Quinn (1-2), D King; C Hand (1-3, 0-1f), R Donnelly; J Wilson, C Adams (0-3, 1f), C McKinney (0-1); F McKinney, F MacManus (1-0), O McAuley.
Subs: D Robinson for M Mallon (28), C Darragh for D King (56), O Quinn for F MacManus (56).
St. Paul’s: L Murphy; G Cowan (1-0), C McAlea, N McKenna; C O’Neill, D O’Sullivan, J Ireland (0-1); C Killyleagh, D Quinn; P Crawford (0-1), Conall Duffy (0-1), T Enright (0-4f); Caoinhin Duffy (1-1, 0-1m), P McDonnell, S Burns.
Subs: C Rogers-Duffy for C O’Neill (24), R McCoy (0-1f) for P Crawford (49).
Referee: Martin Quinn (Naomh Éanna)
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Aghagallon secured their place in the semi-final of the Antrim Under 21 Football Championship when they beat St Brigid’s in Sunday’s quarter final in Aghagallon. There was little between the two sides during a cautious opening half as both sides struggled to adapt to the wet conditions which made underfoot conditions difficult. JJ Higgins put St Brigid’s ahead in the opening minute,, but Ciaran Maginnis and Enda McCartin came back with points for the home side to put them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead by the ninth minute.
St Brigid’s ended a fourteen minute scoreless spell when Higgins got his second point of the game on 14 minutes and they went back ahead three minutes later when Rory McErlean hit the target. Hugh Hannon and Jack Toner exchanged points to keep the visitor noses in front, but Aghagallon finished the half strongly with an Eoin Maginnis point and a goal from Michael McStravick two minutes from the break to give their side a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the short whistle.
A strong start to the second half put the home side in a strong position as Johnny Hannon, Sean Gowdy and Thompson Mallon hit unanswered points to stretch their team’s lead to seven. St Brigid’s Rory McErlean got the Belfast side’s first point of the second half on 41 minutes, and though Sean Gowdy came back with one for the home team Jack Toney closed the gap to six once again midway through the second half. Corner forward Gowdy again hit the target to keep the home side well on top, but the Musgrave Park men got back into the contest when Toner found the Aghagallon net after a goalmouth scramble. When Rory McErlean pointed again for the visitors on 51 minutes the gap was down to just three but the home team steadied the ship on the run-in and outscored the visitors 3 to 1 in those hectic final minutes to end up four clear at the end, their points coming from Michael McStravick, Enda McCartan and Hugh Hannon to secure their place in the semi-final next weekend.
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