A Tiernan McAteer point, deep into injury time earned Kickham’s Creggan an opening day win as they overcame the challenge of Rossa in a low scoring but entertaining encounter in the first game of this year’s league.
With both teams playing without their county players and missing players through injuries it gave fringe players a chance to play at senior level.
Rossa got out of the blocks quicker with Colm Fleming scoring their first 2 points from well taken frees in 2nd and 6th minute. Kickhams eventually settled after kicking a few wides with Sam Maguire kicking a nice point in the 15th minute and this was followed by a great goal from Kevin Rice who soloed from the 45m before blasting to the net.
The visitors kicked their last point of the half in the 20th minute and Dominic McAteer replied for Kickhams with the last point on the 26th minute to leave Kickhams 1-02 to 0-03 ahead at halftime.
Kickham’s made the better start to the second half with Dominic McAteer and Liam Quinn kicking firing over points in the 1st and 5th minutes but Rossa replied with a well taken Colm Fleming point in the 7th minute.
Liam Quinn got on the end of a great team move before firing to the corner of the net in the 10th minute as the home side threatened to take control. It didn’t materialise however and Rossa came back strongly with Noel Crossey hitting his first point in the 11th minute and the same player followed with a goal in the 20th minute and the momentum was now very much with the visitors.
Crossey followed with another point in the 24th minute to leave Rossa just a point behind and when Colm Fleming hit his 4th point of the day in the 28th minute to draw the match level the visitors looked to have earned a useful point.
Both teams went looking for the winner but Creggan’s persistence paid dividends and it was Tiernan McAteer who kick the winner in the 32nd minute to break Rossa’s resistance and leave the Kickhams winners by a point.
Cargin opened their league account on a positive note when they travelled up to Whitehill in the opening round of the competition on Sunday and returned home with the points secured at the expense of Tir na nOg.
The home side provided stiff resistance to their visitors for much of the hour and although the Toome men led 1-04 to 0-04 at the interval, thanks to a Tom Shivers goal and four points from the accurate Kieran Close, the home side were still very much in touch.
The Whitehill side with Aaron McNeilly and the impressive Eamon Og McAllister leading the charge, started brightly in the second half and an early goal by the latter ensured parity by the 37th minute.
At such juncture the home side looked on course to cause an upset but with Gerard McCann regaining dominance in the central zone and Gerard McCorley and Sean Og Quinn on top in defence, the Toome men took charge and a late flurry of scores saw them breast the line full value for their win.
County champions Erin’s Own Cargin travelled to Whitehill for a meeting with Tir na nOg with the Toome men assigned in the role of favourites.
The Toome men started positively with Kieran Close much to the fore and they held an interval advantage of 1-04 to 0-04.
It was the home side who were first to register with an early Sean Duffin point with Cargin quick to reply when Kieran Close split the posts. The home side nipped ahead again in the 8th minute as Eamon og Mc Allister scoring from away out on the left wing after a Brandon Mc Larnon delivery to split the posts.
That lead was short lived however as back came the Toome men with Benny Laverty and Justin Crozier combining to send in Kieran Close to raise an 8th minute white flag.
Corner man Close was ever prominent in the visitors offensive and he nipped in to add a third point before a strong Sean Og Quinn advance and a Tom Shivers assist sent the former away to find the net and the visitors had opened a 1-03 to 0-02 lead.
James Laverty added a point at the end of the opening quarter but it was the home side who were to gain in confidence in the second quarter.
Cargin lost their way somewhat in the latter stages and a strong clearance sent Eamon Og Mc Allister away to split the posts in the 20th minute to reduce the deficit.
Tir na nOg pressed in the latter stages of the first half but were denied access to the Cargin posts on a couple of occasions with timely interventions by Kevin O’Boyle and Gerard Mc Corley but a late Aaron Mc Neilly score from distance reduced the Cargin advantage to 1-04 to 0-03 at half time.
The home side made a bright start to the second half and Brandon Mc Larnon was first to provide employment to the score board attendant when he raced up the right hand side to split the posts.
They continued to press and a couple of minutes later a Ciaran O’ Neill delivery sent full forward Eamon Og Mc Allister in to the plant the leather in the back of John Mc Nabb’s net and his side were back on par 1-04 to 1-04.
An upset looked possible at this stage but the Toome men were quick to respond as net minder John McNabb came forward to send Kieran Close in for a point before Padraig Mc Loughlin arrived on the left hand side to add another with a superb finish.
The home side replied with a smart Darragh Feagan 45th minute point but the visitors were quick to reply with Brendan Laverty adding an excellent point before a foul on Ciaran Bradley opened the way for Kieran Close to add to his personal haul.
The die had been cast and with the issue beyond doubt Cargin finished in the positive with late points from John Mc Nabb, James Laverty, Paudie Mc Laughlin, Justin Crozier, and debutant Ben McLernon to see Erin’s Own concluded with a scoreline reading 1-13 to 1-07 and an opening victory secured.
Tir na nOg: S P Mc Atamney, Manus Smith, Ciaran Mc Grellis, Peter Cullen, Ciaran O’ Neill (0-01), Caomhinn Duffin, Brandon Mc Larnon (0-01), Sean Duffin, Darragh Feagan (0-02), Eoin Mc Atamney, Aaron Mc Neilly (0-02), Paul Mc Closkey, Conor Hastings, Eamon og Mc Allister (1-02), Kevin Sheerin
Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-01), Sean Og Quinn, Kevin O’ Boyle, Gerard Mc Corley, Justin Crozier (0-01), Ronan Gribbin, Gerard Mc Cann, Eunan Quinn, Ciaran Bradley, John Carron (0-01),James Laverty (0-03), Paudie Mc Laughlin (0-02), Tom Shivers (1-00), Kieran Close (1-05)
A Eunan Walsh goal, midway through the second half swung this one in favour of County championship finalists, St. Mary’s Aghagallon when they travelled to Marrian Hill on Sunday to face newly promoted St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass in the opening round of the 2023 ACFL Division 1 and were given a stern test by a youthful home side before edging home winners by two points.
Tiernan McCormack, Paul Duffin, Kevin McCann, Frank Duffin all made their first start for the home side and Sean Boyd came into the game as a substitute and they certainly made a strong contribution for the home team.
The Marrion Hill side took a time to settle with Aghagallon making the early running but the visitors were wasteful in front of the post with a number of scoring opportunities going a begging.
Pete McGrath, the man in charge at Aghagallon this seasonAghagallon goal scorer, Eunan Walsh
In a low scoring opening quarter it was Aghagallon who held an early 0-2 to 0-1 lead before going on to lead 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval with Pauric Maginnis leading the way for the men from the Armagh border and Enda McCartan, Jack Lenehan and Caolan Farr their other marksmen.
St. Ergnat’s, despite some promising build up could only manage two opening half scores with Conaill Prenter and Connlaodh McCann the men on target but they still looked very much in contention as the sides changed ends.
Both sides stepped up their intensity at the start of the second half with Moneyglass fighting hard to get back into contention but a goal from Eunan Walsh appeared to have killed the St. Ergnat’s challenge as it put the visitors 1-7 to 0-4 ahead, their points coming from Jack Lenehan, Pauric Maginnis and Hugh Hannon.
Instead it ignited the home side’s challenge and they hit four points without reply with Prenter and McCann adding two apiece but the visitors held firm to emerge victors by two points in it at the end despite a late score from Conor Boyd for the home side.
St Johns claimed their first league victory at Hannahstown for five years with a 1-12-0-09 win over Lámh Dhearg in the league opener on Sunday afternoon.
Lámh Dhearg were twice ahead in the opening stages as Kieran Fay-Kelly and Terry McCrudden converted frees from either side of the post and Conal McGlade replied on each occasion.
A converted Ryan McNulty free had the visitors ahead for the first time, though Ben Rice levelled things up and Terry McCrudden notched up his second free of the half.
Conor Adams opened his afternoon account with a confident swing between the posts and three further points would follow for the Whiterock men.
They led for the second time when Conall Quinn popped a shot between the posts, Adams doubled his tally and a third point of the half from Conal McGlade ensured that his side held a 0-07-0-04 lead at the interval.
Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23
St Johns picked up where they left off at the break and added four further unanswered points.
Conor Hand sent a high effort between the posts and then Luke Pedan landed another impressive score.
McNulty then added to with first half free with a quickfire double to ensure the Johnnies held a comfortable 0-11-0-04 lead and were on well on course for the two-points.
The Lámhs eventually kicked into action through frees from Fay-Kelly and McCrudden, though Sean Wilson swung over a fantastic point after a link-up with Ciaran Garland.
Carl Maxwell reduced arrears with a fine attempt from distance and Adam Murray made an impact with the bench with a neat score to leave four between the sides (0-12-0-08).
A third converted Kieran Fay-Kelly free had a goal separating the sides going down the home straight. However, St Johns clinched victory after a rapid breakaway.
With time fast eroding, Stephen Tully dropped a late side-line ball into the crowded area- but it was claimed by Sean Wilson.
Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23
He set the wheels in motion for a move that involved Luke Pedan and Ciaran Garland- who got the ball away before and attempted take down.
Garland was able to pick out Conal McGlade though and he laid the goal on a plate to Daragh McGuiness to palm into the empty net and quell the hosts comeback, securing a 1-12-0-09 win in the process and ensuring a winning start to the Johnnies league campaign.
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, B Rice (0-01), C Nolan, P Larkin, D Smith, M McGarry, M Hynes, C Maxwell (0-01), C Boyd, S McManus, T McCrudden (0-03f), D Martin, K Fay-Kelly (0-03f), C Murray, D Larkin. Subs: S Tully for D Martin (HT), A Murray (0-01) for D Larkin (41), A Byrne for C Nolan (47), SP Gibson for M McGarry (54).
St Johns: M Leydon, C Garland, A Oliver, J Bohill, L Pedan (0-01), C Johnston, S Wilson (0-01), R McNulty (0-03f), C Hand (0-01), P Nugent, C Adams (0-02), C McGlade (0-03), A McGowan, C Gough, C Quinn (0-01). Subs: D McKeough for A Oliver (48), D McGuiness (1-00) for C Adams (57).
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23Lamh Dhearg V St Johns ACFL Div 1 Football Sun 5-3-23
Antrim were left looking nervously over their shoulder after a meltdown performance against Westmeath in Mullingar on Sunday which sees them with just two points after five games with only Tipperary and Longford below them in the table.
The Saffrons simply never got going as they went into this game with an ever increasing injury list which saw Marc Jordan the latest to miss out and never managed to raise a gallop over the hour and it took 21 minutes for Pat Shivers to raise their first flag by which time Westmeath had registered 1-6 and were in total control.
The Lake County kept in contention for promotion to Division 2 with a surprisingly facile win against a very disappointing Antrim and a 31-point winning margin did not flatter them, following two wins and two narrow defeats from their first four games.
Westmeath totally dominated the first half despite Antrim having the aid of a slight wind. John Heslin scored the first five scores of the game by the 16th minute, his 1-04 consisting of three converted frees and 1-01 from play. The goal was finished under pressure from close range on 12 minutes after good work by Ronan O’Toole and Senan Baker.
Joseph Finnegan delivers the ball to his attack as David Lynch moves in to challenge
The home team led by 1-06 to 0-00 when Antrim pounced for their opening two points courtesy of Pat Shivers and Odhran Eastwood. Heslin replied with two more frees at the other end before Sam Duncan teed up Baker, the son of Clare hurling legend Ollie, who scored a great solo goal in the 28th minute.
Conor Stewart kicked Antrim’s third point but with Luke Loughlin in fine form and Heslin bringing his first half tally to 1-09, Westmeath led by 2-12 to 0-03 at the interval.
Dessie Dolan’s charges scored their third goal just 15 seconds after the resumption of play after Heslin picked out David Lynch who found the net in style.
The one-way traffic continued throughout the second half with O’Toole dictating play in the forward line, scoring four points in the process.
Andy McEntee’s quite simply never got going and looked a pale shadow of the side who lost narrowly to Down in Newry and to Fermanagh last day out at Corrigan Park. The visitors constantly gave the ball away with at least six of Westmeath’s first half scores coming as a result of turnovers.
Westmeath’s fourth goal came in the 68th minute when O’Toole played in Sam McCartan and he fired past Mick Byrne to put the icing on an excellent hour’s work by the home side.
Antrim’s Odhran Eastwood challenges Ronan O’Toole during the NFL game in Mullingar on Sunday
Shane Dempsey came off the bench to score three very good late points, while John Heslin went on to top score with an impressive 1-12 in what turned out to be an embarrassingly one sided contest for the Saffrons.
Antrim have league leaders Cavan at home in two weeks-time before travelling to Longford for a game that might well decide their division 3 fate and they will hope to have some of their walking wounded back for those games.
Westmeath: J Daly; D Scahill, K Maguire, N Harte; J Dolan (0-01), R Wallace, S McCartan (1-02); S Duncan (0-01), R Connellan; S Baker (1-00), R O’Toole (0-04), C McCormack; L Loughlin (0-02), J Heslin (1-12, 8f), D Lynch (1-00).
Subs: T Molloy (0-02) for Connellan (43), A McGivney for Scahill (55), L Dolan for Baker (56), D Giles for Harte (57), S Dempsey (0-03) for McCormack (60).
Antrim: M Byrne; E McCabe, O Lenehan, J McAuley; P Healy, J Finnegan, S O’Neill; K Small, C Stewart (0-01); P Finnegan, R A McCann, C McLarnon; P Shivers (0-04, 2f), R McCann (0-01), O Eastwood (0-02, 1f).
Subs: S McGarry for Finnegan (ht), D McEnhill for R A McCann (ht), P Mervyn for Healy (ht), P McCormick for O’Neill (48), J Dowling for Stewart (58).
