O’Donnell’s once again impressed in the Junior Football Championship on Friday evening when they ran up a big score against St Agnes at MacCrory Park, the Cardinal’s men winning by 4-21 to 0-2 to secure a place in the semi-finals.
Playing with the breeze at their backs O’Dee’s started on the front foot and were 0-5 to 0-0 ahead after seven minutes, the scores coming from Sean Pat Donnelly, Joe Wilson (2) Cialan Walsh and PJ Meena. Midfielder Conal Turley got the Aggies on the scoreboard but two more from PJ Meena and one from right half forward Keelan Loughran stretched the O’Donnell’s lead to seven.
The Aggies were struggling to hold on and they got hit with a real killer punch when O’Dee’s grabbed three goals in five minutes through Ciaran McKissack, PJ Meena and Gearoid McKernan to stretch their lead to 3-11 to 0-1 at half time.
St Agnes had more possession in the second half but they could not convert into scores and O’Donnel’s kept picking off the points with Walsh, McKernan, Loughran adding to their totals. St Agnes goalkeeper Martin Duffy made a few good saves to keep the home team at bay, but five minutes from time he was beaten by substitute Conor Walsh who fired home his team’s fourth goal.
It is sad to see the Aggies struggle so much, a club with a great tradition and hopefully we will see an upturn in their fortunes soon.
O’Donnell’s treasurer Joe McKearney presents a sponsorhip cheque to Bert Trowlan of Saffron Gael before their JFC game with St Agnes at MacCrory Park
Graham Tarmac Antrim Junior Football Championship Group 1
Eire Óg 2-11 Laochra Loch Lao 2-13
Paul McIntyre reports from The Woodlands
Photographs: Kevin Herron
Laochra Loch Lao showed great resolve to fight back from an eight-point deficit to claim a two-point win over Eire Óg at The Woodlands on Friday evening.
As the game approached half time, Eire Óg looked to be coasting to victory as Kevin Clarke’s second major of the evening put his side 2-9 to 1-4 ahead.
But the Óg’s failed to raise a flag of any colour for the next 26 minutes and the visitors took full advantage.
An unanswered 1-7 saw Paddy Murray’s side take a two-point lead in the third quarter, and despite having midfielder, Éanna Ó Ceallaigh dismissed on a straight red card in the 44th minute, the Falls Road side did enough to hold on for a famous win.
Conor McGucken top scored for the winners with 0-8 and he also claimed a sublime assist for his side’s first goal in the 12th minute after his inch perfect pass through the heart of the Óg’s defence picked out the run of Diarmurd McPhilis. McPhilis showed great composure to finish to the corner of Thomas Malone’s net.
The winners were also well served by the tenacious pair of Niall Ó hAodha and Oisín Mac Crabhagain in defence while in attack the piercing runs of Rian Mac Seáin caused the home defence trouble from first whistle.
James Toal and Kevin Clarke carried the scoring threat for Eire Óg. Conall Smyth, Caomhan Daykin and Conor McKenna gave the homeside the perfect platform to launch a continued assault on the visitor’s goal in the first half, with Smyth in particular combining his play making skills to his ball winning abilities to assist Toal and Clarke in the scoring department.
With O’Donnell’s already confirmed as section winners, the battle for second spot added spice to this derby clash. And both teams showed their intent from the off in what was largely, a very entertaining affair.
A free from McGucken opened the scoring in the 5th minute, but it was Eire Óg who were asking all the questions.
Toal levelled the tie a minute later, and after kicking two wides from play, Kevin Clarke opened his account from a free.
Eire Óg took further control on the scoreboard through Toal and Smyth, but McPhilis’s goal in the 12th minute levelled the tie.
But the sides were level for less than 60 seconds.
Daykin claimed a Mark from Malone’s kick-out and quickly picked out Adam McKenna. McKenna’s first-time flick put Stephen Erskine in the clear who unselfishly picked out Kevin Clarke who palmed the ball over Seán Ó Heachain to restore the Óg’s three-point advantage.
It was all Eire Óg now and further points from Ciaran Rice, Toal, Smyth and Ronan Donnelly pushed their lead out to seven-points as the clock ticked towards the break.
Eire Óg’s stranglehold on the game tightened in the 27th minute. Loachra’s goalkeeper, Ó Heachain allowed Eanna McNulty’s effort to spill through his hands, and Kevin Clarke was on hand to turn the loose ball into the net.
It opened up an eight-point lead, but in the final minutes of the half, Loachra Loch Lao’s running game was rewarded with three frees, two of which were converted by McGucken, and one by Mac Crabhagain. And at the break, only five-points separated the sides with Eire Óg ahead, 2-9 to 1-4.
Loachra Loch Lao built on their strong finish to the first half as McGucken and Mac Seáin equally shared the first four points of the second half.
It cut the deficit to just one-point, but in the 42nd minute came the game’s defining score.
Tomás Ó Tuathalain done well to win possession wide on the right and he picked out Caoimhin O Daimhin.
As O Daimhin drew the attention of two defenders, he spotted Mac Seáin in space and his powerful drive into the roof of the net gave the visitors the lead.
But all their hard work looked to set come undone just two-minutes later when Éanna Ó Ceallaigh was dismissed for a strike on his opposite number Conor McKenna.
Toal’s point in the 50th minute was Eire Óg’s first score in 26 minutes. It cut the gap to just one-point, but they failed to make use of their numerical advantage.
Possession they had in abundance, but they failed to make any clear-cut scoring chances and the final act was left to Caoimhin O Daimhin to split the posts with a piercing drive in the fourth minute of additional time to seal a famous comeback win.
Teams & Scorers:
Eire Óg: Thomas Malone, Alex McKnight, Paddy Loughran, Ryan Clarke, Ciaran Rice (0-1), Ronan Donnelly (0-1), Daniel Campbell, Conor McKenna, Caomhan Daykin, Eanna McNulty, Adam McKenna, Conall Smyth (0-2), Stephen Erskine, James Toal (0-4), Kevin Clarke (2-3 3f).
Replacements: Conor Erskine for Loughran (38), Kevin Comber for S Erskine (38), Emmett Holmes for Donnelly (48), Gavin Donnelly for Campbell (56).
Laochra Loch Lao: Seán Ó Heachain, Niall Ó hAodha, Deaglan Macthom, Padai O Tiarnaigh, Conch ubhar Mac Gafraidh, Padraig Fryers, Liam Mac Thréinfhir, Éanna Ó Ceallaigh, Cathal O Ceallaigh, Conor McGucken (0-8 7f), Diarmurd McPhilis (1-0), Rian Mac Seáin (1-3), Caoimhin O Daimhin (0-1), Tomás Ó Tuathalain, Oisín Mac Crabhagain (0-1).
Replacements: Eamonn O Coinn for Macthom (HT), Aaron Ó Straitheain for Ó Tuathalain (52).
Rossa advanced to the quarter-finals of the Senior Football Championship after a hard earned draw with Tir na nOg at Whitehill on Friday night but the Randalstown side will feel they did enough in the second half to win this one.
As the game moved into injury time Eamon Og McAllister produced a great run from out on the left, into the heart of the Rossa defence where he was un-ceremoniously brought down and referee, Sean Laverty pointed to the penalty spot.
Tir na nOg held a slender one point lead at this stage of the game and with the home crowd roaring their approval Darragh Fagan stepped up to take the penalty but his well struck shot cannoned off an upright with Mick Byrne beaten and was cleared to safety.
Rossa’s Dominic McEnhill takes on Barry McCormick, Tir na nOg
Play swung to the other end and with virtually the last kick of the ball Thomas Morgan fired over the equaliser to earn his side a draw and win them a place in the quarter-finals with group winners, Cargin who recorded a comprehensive win over St. John’s in Toome on the same night.
The opening half was a slow burner with Tir na nOg sitting deep in an effort to contain the Rossa attack and danger man Dominic McEnhill coming in for some close attention every time he received the ball.
Thomas Morgan opened the scoring, as he finished it in the end, with a point for Rossa in the 6th minute and at the other end Tir na nOg had a promising attack thwarted at the expense of a ‘45’ that came to nothing.
Both sides were playing a possession game and a Mick Byrne free for Rossa came back of a post before Sean Duffin levelled the contest with Tir na nOg’s first point of the game in the 14th minute.
Two minutes later the home side struck a telling blow when Darragh Fagan beat Chris McGuinness in a race for a long ball over the top from deep in defence and side footed home from close range.
Rossa recovered and slowly their pressure began to pay dividends as Stephen Beatty punished a couple of fouls on the lively McEnhill and added another from play to leave the sides level, 1-1 to 0-4 at the break.
Tir na nOg’s Eamon Og McAllister climbs to claim the ball
With the breeze behind them Rossa were expected to push on after the break but it was Tir na nOg who emerged from the dressing room a more focused side and Emmet Murray pointed them into the lead after 30 seconds.
Dominic McEnhill and Mick Byrne pointed frees to edge the visitors ahead before Darragh Fagan replied for the Whitehill side to tie matters once more but points from Diarmuid Rogan and Thomas Morgan had the Shaw’s Road side two in front by the 5th minute.
Things were certainly livening up after a drab opening half and Eamon Og McAllister received a Black card after dragging down Matthew Mallon with Gerard Walsh shown Yellow as matters got a bit heated in the aftermath.
When the dust settled Darragh Fagan pointed from a free and a fisted point fromFagan and a converted free from Aaron McNeilly had the home side in a strong position with seven minutes remaining.
Rossa had a couple of opportunities for points in the minutes that followed but went looking for goals with Sean Paul McAtamney pulling off a good save to deny Stephen Beatty.
Mick Byrne dives as Darragh Fagan’s penalty rebounds of an upright to safety
Mick Byrne closed the gap to the minimum from a free in the 29th minute but the returning Eamon Og McAllister produced a defence splitting run before being pulled down at the expense of a penalty.
Fagan spot kick rebounded of an upright to safety and Morgan responded with a later equaliser as the news filtered through from Toome that the Johnnies had been heavily defeated and it is Rossa who finish in second place in the group and go forward to the quarter-finals.
Tir na nOg: 1 Sean Paul McAtamney, 2 Ryan Crilly, 3 Ciaran McGrellis, 4 Brandon McLarnon, 5 Ciaran O’Neill, 6 Barry McCormick, 7 Aaron McNeilly, 8 Sean Duffin, 9 Oliver McAtamney, 10 Paul McCloskey, 11 Aodhan Tolan, 12 Caoimhin Duffin, 13 Emmet Murray, 14 Darragh Fagan, 15 Eamon Og McAllister.
Subs: Kevin Sheerin, Christy Sheerin
Rossa: 1 Mick Byrne, 2 Niall Crossa, 3 Chris McGuinness, 4 Ciaran Orchin, 5 Jack Morris, 6 Adam Devlin, 7 Richard Gowdie, 8 Gerard Walsh, 9 Stephen Beatty, 10 Diarmuid Rogan, 11 Cormac McGettigan, 12 Dominic McEnhill, 13 Matthew Mallon, 14 Eoghan McMenamin, 15 Thomas Morgan. Subs: 18 Patrick Moyes, 19 Darren Grego, 26 Rory Grant
The 2023 Ulster Under 15 Football Academy programme came to a close for this season with a 30-player squad taking on Dublin GAA Academy in challenge games at the Box-It Athletic Grounds in Armagh this week.
The panel of players, from across all nine counties in the province, were selected by Ulster GAA coaches from three regional camps that took place over recent weeks in Tyrone Centre of Excellence, Garvaghey, Monaghan GAA Centre Cloghan and the Derry Centre of Excellence, Owenbeg.
As part of the Academy programme, all the young players have learned about key areas such as developing resilience, game sense/decision-making and performance analysis for positional play and statistics. There were also special Q&A sessions with star players and former Academy graduates, Ruairi Canavan & Oisin Gallen.
The game against the Dublin-select was refereed by Enda Mallon, from Armagh, and was played out in excellent conditions in Armagh, with strong, free flowing football from both sides.
Both squads observed a moment’s silence for the late Peter Cassidy, father of Josh Cassidy from Monaghan, who had been due to represent Ulster on the day.
The full list of 30 players who were selected for the Ulster panel were:
This Reserve Football Shield semi-final saw two evenly matched teams battle against each other in the fight for a place in the final at Pearse Park, Dunloy. The game started with an ebb and flow pattern with both sides looking for a weakness in each other’s defence. Eamon Higney eventually opened the scoring for Ardoyne with a beautiful point from a very difficult angle. Dunloy responded quickly as they asserted pressure on the visitors’ defence and Barry Scott slotted over a 30 yard point. Ardoyne were lucky not to go further behind as loose passing in defence saw Michael Smith hit the post for Dunloy.
The sides exhibited contrasting approaches as Ardoyne sprayed the ball across the pitch looking for an opening, while Dunloy opted for a more direct play and a series of long balls looking to penetrate the Ardoyne defence. Conor McDowell though proved to be on the top of his game for Ardoyne but Dunloy finished the first half strongly and their pressure began to take its toll and they moved into half-time leading of 1-5 to 0-4, the goal coming from top scorer Declan McGarry.
The second half began much like the first with both defences seeing plenty of action. Michael Smith broke the second half deadlock for Dunloy. At this stage it looked like Dunloy were going to take complete control as they moved into an eight point lead. However, Ardoyne responded through a brilliant flick from the ever threatening Ciaran McNeill to Brendan O’Neill who rifled to the back of Dunloy net to reduce the deficit to five points. Further attacks from an increasingly confident Dunloy saw them move into a 2-9 to 1-4 lead before the Ardoyne forward line began to find vulnerabilities in Dunloy defence. Barnes gave a precision pass the McNeill who raced through to fire the ball to the back of the net. Dunloy’s lead was reduced to two points, but the home team were determined to take the spoils from this game and they dominated an exciting conclusion as they slotted over a further three points to take the victory by five.
Dunloy 1. Chris Logan 2. Daniel Dixon 3. Séanna Martin Ryan 4. Oisin McErlane 5. Cathair McCloskey 6. Ciaran McQuillan 7. Barry Scott (0-1) 8. Eoghan McGrath (0-1) 9. Karl Fitzpatrick 10. Seanie McAleese (0-1) 11. Anthony Smith ((0-2) 12. Rory Smith 13. Barry McCloskey (0-2) 14. Michael Smith (0-5) 15. Declan McGarry (2-1) 16. DJ McKendry 17. Ryan McFarlane 18. Christopher McMahon
Ardoyne 1. Daniel Wilson 2. Eamon Higney (0-1) 3. Mick McAuley 4. Oisin McCloskey 5. Brendan Mailey 6. Conor McDowell 7. Oisin Hickey 8. Shane McBride (0-1) 9. Sean Rooney 10. Brendan O’Neill (1-5) 11. Ciaran McNeill (1-0) 12. Dan Moore (0-1) 13. Conor Magee 14. Conor Carter 15. Connor Barnes 16 Conor Meeking 17. Antony McKenna 18. Kealan McCallan 19. Ryan McGranaghan 20. Odhran Mullan 21. Diarmuid Martin 22. Cormac Curran
