O’Neill’s Sportswear – Antrim Football League Division 1
Gort na Móna 1-11 Aldergrove 1-16
Aldergrove moved into second place in the Division 2 league table when they travelled to Turf Lodge and beat Gort na Móna by 1-16 to 1-11. The win puts them ahead of Con Magees Glenravel on score difference, but with two games in hand.
Sunday’s win was hard earned against a Gorts side who fought to the bitter end. The visitors were a point ahead at half time after playing up the slope in the first half, and when they moved five clear ten minutes into the second half it looked like they had the points wrapped up. However the Gorts hit back with a goal and a point to close the gap to a single point and it took a great scoring display from full forward Seamus McGarry to get the Crumlin men over the line.
Two points by Padraig McHugh and one from Niall Malaney had the Gorts 0-3 to 0-2 ahead after eight minutes, the Aldergrove scores coming from Declan Gough and Ryan Owens. Goalkeeper Shane O’Neill sent over a 45 to bring the visitors level on 11 minutes and they moved ahead when Ryan Owens hit a superb point.
Points from Christopher Carson and Padraig McHugh restored the Gorts lead midway through the opening half but three on the trot from Seamus McGarry, Oisin Graham and Conor Browning put Aldergrove three ahead with just five minute of the first half left to play, but two well taken points from Carson brought Gort na Móna back to within a point by half time.
Ronan Hanna stretched the visitors lead to two with an early second half point but Niall Malaney cancelled that out with a point at the other end on 35 minutes. However the Crumlin men were starting to find the target and points from Seamus McGarry and Cormac McGarry were followed by a Ronan Hanna goal, the centre forward selling the defender a neat dummy before blasting home.
With the gap now out to six Aldergrove looked comfortable but nothing is won easily at Pairc Enright and back came the Gorts with goal from Carson and a Manus McMullan point to close within two. The gap was still at two with just nine minutes of normal time left on the clock, but Aldergrove dominated those final minutes and with McGarry in great form on the edge of the square they hit five of the last seven points, four of them from the full forward and one from Ronan Hanna to seal the win and keep their league title hopes very much alive.
Rossa had to withstand a late barrage by visitors Tir na nÓg before claiming the points in Sunday’s Division 1 League game at Rossa Park. There were times in the game when the Shaw’s Road me appeared to be in complete control but once in each half the Randalstown side clawed their way back and entering injury time at the end of the game a well taken point by Emmet Murray from the right of the goals cut the gap to the minimum. When Murray was put clear on the other side of the goal a minute later it looked like he would earn his team a share of the spoils, but his shot went just inches wide of the left upright and Rossa had survived to take both league points.
Rossa had started really well and despite playing up the slope towards the Sarsfield end of the ground they went 1-2 to 0-0 clear after seven minutes, the goal coming from Adam Devlin in the sixth minute, while the points were scored by Rory Grant and Tommy Morgan.
Tir na nÓg were struggling to get to the pace of the game but when they were awarded a penalty on 13 minutes full forward Darragh Fagan slotted the ball into the bottom corner and things took a dramatic turn. Emmet Murray added a point soon afterwards and when the visitors took advantage of a short kick out that went wrong Darragh Fagan fired over the equaliser at the end of the first quarter.
To their credit Rossa did not panic and they had the next three points through Tommy Morgan, Cricky McGuinness and Darren Grego to lead by three again. Aaron McNeilly, from a free, and Christy Sheerin from play brought the Randalstown me back to a single point, but Tommy Morgan came back with one for the home team just before the break to give them a 1-7 to 1-4 interval lead.
Rossa started the second half in positive mood and their two point advantage was soon out to five as Tommy Morgan, Eoghan McMenamin and Stephen Beattie added points. The home side were cruising but just as in the first half Tir na nÓg came back strongly and they drew level on 48 minutes when points from Eamon Og McAllister and Darragh Fagan where followed by a goal Emmet Murray, who fired home from a narrow angle on the right.
Rossa appeared have everything in hand when they pushed on to lead by three going into injury time but Sean Duffin closed the gap to two before Emmet Murray cut the gap to a single point with a well taken point. When the same player was given the chance to earn his team a draw soon afterwards a draw looked a distinct possibility , but the substitute’s shot went narrowly wide of the target and the chance was gone.
A few weeks back, Kickham’s Creggan lost to St. Mary’s Ahoghill in Clooney and looked in a spot of trouble. Last week we saw the first seeds of recovery when they recorded a 0-16 to 1-7 win over St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass and on Sunday that recovery continued when they travelled to Hightown and comprehensively defeated St. Enda’s
If ever there was a game of two half’s this was it. A cagey game with wides being the order of the day and the first score didn’t arrive until the 13th minute when defender Sam Maguire kicked the first point followed by 2 from Mathew Rodgers in the 14th and 19th minutes.
St Enda’s got their first point in the 20th minute from their number 14 before Mathew Rodgers replied with his third point of the half in the 27th minute. St Enda’s finished the scoring withtheir centre-half-forward converting a ‘45’ to leave the half time score 0-02 to 0-04 in favor of Kickhams.
Thankfully the second half had a bit more life in it as St Enda’s no 5 kicked off with a fine point before the lively Tiernan McAteer and Aiden Maguire replied with points for the visitors to bring their side to life.
Mathew Rodgers hit two superb goals and Dominic McAteer followed with two points as the visitors began to dominate proceedings but St. Enda’s were far from finished as they replied with a goal and a point of their own.
The hard working Sean Duffin got his name on the score card with a point on 21 minutes and Dominic McAteer followed with another before the same player fired home his side’ third goal to put the game beyond the reach of the Hightown side.
Paddy Coey then got in on the scoring act with points in the 25th and 27th minutes and Dominic McAteer concluded his scoring for the evening with a point in the 29th minute. The last score of the game went to the man who deserved it most however as Joe McAteer, who had covered every inch of the pitch finished to the back of the net for a fantastic individual goal.
This win sees the Kickham’s climb into 7th place, a point behind St Ergnat’s but with two games in hand and they still have a strong chance of a top six place when the leagues split.
A big crowd gathered at Marian Hill for the first league meeting of these two local rivals for quite a number of years and it was visitors, St. Mary’s Ahoghill who showed their intent right from the throw in as they took the lead after 23 seconds through a Colla McDonnell point.
The home side replied with a point of their own from Connladh McCann but James O’Connell fired over at the other end to restore the visitors lead.
Noel Crossey pointed a ‘45’ with only six minutes gone as Ahoghill made the early running but the home side settled and Colum Duffin, Conaill Prenter and Sheanachan Duffin hit three unanswered points to put them ahead for the first time.
Sheanachan Duffin fires home St. Ergnats’ third goal
In what was turning out to be an entertaining game, the scoring continued with the teams trading points through Ronan Graham for Ahoghill and another from play from the impressive Conaill Prenter before Moneyglass edged 3 ahead through Colum Duffin and Sheanachan Duffin after 17minutes and seemingly in a strong position.
The game was about to turn on its head however as Ahoghill struck with a goal from Colla McDonnell to draw them level and although Moneyglass would get the next score through Sheanachan Duffin it was Ahoghill with their tails up who replied through a James O’Connell double to edge ahead once more.
The home side finished the half on top and late points from Kevin McCann and the impressive Prenter saw them lead by the minimum as Kevin Parke sounded his half time whistle with all still to play for in the second half.
The start of 2nd half would be a story 2 goal chances with Ahoghill firing wide before Moneyglass netted through a fisted Colum Duffin effort to extend their lead to 4.
This was quickly followed by a Sheanachan Duffin point to move the Marian Hill side five ahead and when Dermot McErlain netted a 2nd Moneyglass goal to put 8 points between sides it wasn’t looking good for the visitors.
Ahoghill’s Eamonn Brady comes under pressure
Things would get worse for the Clooney side when they missed a penalty that would have put them right back into contention but points from James O’Connell and Ronan Graham left them trailing by seven points at the end of the third quarter.
The scores dried up for a time after this and a lengthy stoppage due to an injury to Jack McCoy disrupted matters for a time. When matters got under way again it was left to Sheanachan Duffin to put the game to bed with the 3rd Moneyglass major with Ahoghill hitting a consolation point through James O’Conell in injury time.
Another good win for St. Ergnat’s who have taken the move up to division 1 in their stride with Colum Duffin, Conaill Prenter and Sheanachan Duffin their best on view and James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell and Ronan Graham best for the losers.
Best wishes to Jack McCoy who received what looked like a bad injury and both sides wish the Moneyglass man a speedy recovery
Colum Duffin, Moneyglass and Patrick Graham, Ahoghill challenge for the dropping ball
Cuchullain’s Dunloy appear to be running out of road following this five point defeat to Davitt’s in Dunloy on Sunday. The Cuchullian’s find themselves firmly fixed at the bottom of the table with St. Patrick’s Lisburn and will need to get it together sooner rather than later with one game remaining to the split.
It was Davitt’s who raced into attack right from the throw in and Conor McGilligan was forced to get down sharp to deny Sean O’Neill after 45 seconds with the ball cleared to safety.
Michael Og Rowntree pointed the visitors ahead after 5 minutes but Declan McGarry replied with the equaliser, two minutes later and the same player edged them ahead with another in the 9th minute.
Playing with the wind at their back, Barry McCloskey replied to a point from Padraig McParland to keep the home side one ahead at the end of the opening quarter but the visitors were beginning to get on top with Anthony Rowntree and the deep lying Sean O’Neill dictating matters at mid-field.
Davitt’s Christoir Browne is dispossessed by Conor McGilligan and James Scally of Dunloy but the ball broke to Daniel Wallace who first timed to the net for Davitt’s second goal \(See featured photograph above)
Davitt’s produced a decisive move in the 16th minute with several players involved in the build-up and Anton Hargan placed Michael Og Rowntree who blasted to the net to give his side a lead they would not again lose.
This score seemed to lift the visitors and Gerard Slane soloed through for a fine individual point and added another after being placed by Sean O’Neill to move the visitors four in front.
The momentum was very much with the Falls Road side as Padraig McParland split the posts following good work from substitute CJ Sullivan and then Dunloy lost Peter McQuillan to injury to be replaced by Kevin McQuillan.
Kevin ‘Red’ McAllister replied with Dunloy’s first point for 15 minutes but the final score of the half fell to the visitors with Jay Maguire splitting the posts to leave Davitt’s 1-6 to 0-4 ahead at the break and with the wind to face in the second half, it wasn’t looking good for the home side.
CJ Sullivan increased the Davitt’s lead as he raced forty yards with the ball before firing over after 40 seconds but Dunloy settled after this and began to move the ball around through the hands and keep possession.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAKevin ‘Red’ McAllister, Dunloy is closed down by Davitt’s Sean O’Neill
Kevin McQuillan replied from a free, Declan McGarry added another from play and another converted free from substitute McQuillan had the Cuchullian’s back into contention and trailing by three with five minutes of the new half gone.
The visitors replied immediately with a point from Daniel Wallace but Dunloy were now playing with a bit of belief and McQuillan pointed his third free of the half to keep their hopes of a comeback very much alive.
Gerard Slane for Davitt’s and Kevin McQuillan for Dunloy exchanged further points to keep the gap at three with 13 minutes of the half gone and Davitt’s had been forced onto the back foot for a time but they broke at pace from defence with the ball breaking to Daniel Wallace who‘s first time volley ended in the net.
Once again it was the home side’s captain, Kevin McQuillan who struck his fifth point from a free in the 21st minute but Dunloy needed a goal and they could find no way through the visitors defence though they did have one attempt cleared off the line.
Daniel Wallace fires over a Davitt’s point despite the best efforts of Eoin McFerran, Dunloy
The closing stages saw Davitt’s back in control with Gerard Slane moving them six ahead once more and Declan McGarry replying with a consolation point for the Cuchullian’s but it was too little, too late.
Dunloy now find themselves on 1 point from 10 starts with St. Patrick’s Lisburn on the same total but having played a game more. Dunloy entertain Con Magee’s, Glenravel on Thursday night in the final game before the split.
The night before Davitt’s host unbeaten St. James’ Aldergrove at Davitt’s Park and a win over the Crumlin side would see them climb above Sarsfield’s who have the same number of points but have a superior score difference.
Sarsfields have also one game to play against Aldergrove. The previous meeting between the sides was abandoned owing to a serious injury to a Sarsfield’s player but whether this game can be re-arranged before the split remains to be seen
Dunloy: 1 Conor McGilligan, 2 Cathair McCloskey, 3 Adrian Scullion, 4 Oisin McErlain, 5 Tom McFerran, 6 James Scally, 7 Sean Scullion, 8 Peter McQuillan, 9 Eoin McFerran, 10 Anthony Smith, 11 Eoin Gillan, 12 Rory Smyth, 13 Kevin McAllister, 14 Declan McGarry, 15 Barry McCloskey.
Subs: Kevin McQuillan for Peter McQuillan, Michael Traynor for Oisin McErlaine, Darragh Waterson for Sean Scullion
Davitt’s: 1 Liam McGivern, 2 Nathan Maginn, 3 Caomhin Rainey, 4 Christoir Browne, 5 Caoimhin Slane, 6 Anton Hargan, 7 Deaglan Mooney, 8 Niall McParland, 9 Anthony Rowntree, 10 Padraig McParland, 11 Gerard Slane, 12 Jay Maguire, 13 Daniel Wallace, 14 Michael Og Rowntree, 15 Sean Og O’Neill. Subs: CJ Sullivan for Declan Mooney, Anto McGrattan for Jay Maguire
