Goals at either end of the game gave St Paul’s victory over St Patrick’s Lisburn in Sunday’s Division Leauge game at Pairc Naomh Pól as the home team took the points after a hard fought battle.
Niall Ward struck early for the Shaw’s Road men when he found the visitors’ net, but the Naomh Padraig hit back with points from Markus Chernek, Paul Law and Josh McMullan to tie the scores. An exchange of points between St Paul’s Michael Duffy and St Pat’s Francis McMeel kept the sides deadlocked but the visitors went ahead when Francis McMeel and Conor Ewing pointed. However the home side rallied and hit three of the next four points to go into the half time break with a one point lead. 1-04 to 0-6
An Aidan Finnegan point at the start of the second half put St Paul’s two clear but Lisburn fought back to level the game once again. There was just one score between the sides (1-9 to 0-9) going into injury time at the end of the game when St Paul’s Conall Duffy sealed the win with his team’s second goal
An excellent goal from Laughlin McCurdy late in the game lit up a dull evening as St. John’s made it two from two with this win over Creggan in an evening throw in at Corrigan Park, the game put back to accommodate Antrim’s NHL game against Laois earlier in the day.
The first half was a bit of a slow burner with both sides taking a time to find their feet on a slippery sod but it was St. Johns who were first to register through Conall Quinn and Conhur Adams who was to have an impressive hour in the corner for the home side.
Dominic McAteer pulled one back for the visitors but the early momentum was with the Corrigan men with mid-fielder, Conal McGlade pointing from play and then converting a ‘45’ to move his side three in front.
McAteer closed the gap to two with a Creggan free but St. John’s were beginning to get on top and Paddy McBride, returning from a lengthy injury, struck a couple of fine points as half time approached with McAteer replying with his third of the day to leave it 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.
The first half had been punctuated with some heavy hits and the issuing of a number of yellow cards and Creggan were given the opportunity to draw level early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty with Jack Bohill receiving yellow for his sins and Conor Small firing home the resulting penalty.
A couple of points from the excellent Ryan McNulty in reply to one from Tiarnan McAteer edged the Johnnies noses in front before a well worked goal from Conor Hand put them four ahead and they appeared to have weathered the early second half storm.
Before the cheering had died Creggan came racing back with an unreal major of their own with Kevin Rice applying the finish and the game was back in the melting pot and the league holders seemed to be settling to the task.
Once again the men from the Whiterock found a response however with Conhur Adams hitting a couple of good points and Liam McCann striking a long range effort for the Kickham’s in reply but it would be St. John’s who would turn the screw down the finishing straight.
Paddy McBride added a couple of fine scores and Lochlan McCurdy lit up a dull evening with a superb goal and McNulty added their final point with Conor Small and Dominic McAteer replying with consolation scores for the visitors.
St. John’s: 1 Matthew Leydon, 2 Ciaran Garland, 3 Adrian Oliver, 4 Jack Bohill, 5 Luke Peden, 6 Ciaran Johnston, 7 Sean Wilson, 8 Ryan McNulty, 9 Conor Hand, 10 Paddy Nugent, 11 Conal McGlade, 12 Andy McGowan, 13 Conchur Adams, 14 Conall Gough, 15 Conall Quinn, 16 Steven Magennis, 17 Simon McDonagh, 18 Paddy McBride, 25 Matthew Mallon 28 Laughlin McCurdy
Creggan: 1) Oisin Kerr, 2) Dylan Hymphy, 3) Ricky Johnston , 4) Jake Mc Ateer, 5) Sam Maguire, 6) Aiden Maguire, 7) Joe Mc Ateer, 8) Liam Mc Cann, 9) Kevin Rice, 10) Diarmuid Mulholland, 11) Tiarnan Mc Ateer, 12) Liam Quinn, 13) Conor Small, 14) Dominic Mc Ateer, 15) Odhran Mc Larnon
St. Mary’s Ahoghill will reflect on a first half that they mostly controlled but didn’t convert enough chances as the reason for their demise in this close encounter in the ACFL Division 1 at Shaw’s Road today.
Ahoghill played with the breeze in a first half where they were well on top but only scored 0-5 and Rossa’s goal from Colm Fleming in the 18th minute was the score that ultimately decided the game in the end.
The home side only managed two scores themselves during the opening 30 minutes but added 1-4 in the second half and a second goal from Fleming from the penalty spot was enough to see Hugh McGettigan’s men over the line.
Patrick Graham and Eamonn Brady kicked the visitors into a two point lead after only four minutes as St. Mary’s made the early running but they failed to build on that early lead and Colm Fleming finally got Rossa off the mark from a free in the 13th minute.
Diarmaid Graham and Brady again replied for the Clooney side but they were caught again by a Rossa counter attack and Fleming fired home the game’s opening goal with 18 minutes on the clock.
St. Mary’s were enjoying plenty of possession but were having difficulties in turning good approach work into scores but moved ahead again through a Ronan Graham point in the 24th minute but it would prove to be the final score of the half.
The visitors looked to have a tough task on hand as they turned into the breeze for the second half but James O’Connell gave them renewed hope when he extended their lead to two with a good point from play in the opening minute.
They received a setback however when Noel Crossey was penalised for a foot block a minute later with the referee pointing to the penalty spot and Fleming converted the resulting award to give his side back the lead.
Fleming pointed a free to extend the Rossa lead and Mick Byrne came forward to add another as Rossa experienced their best period in the game before Bernard Graham replied with a point for the visitors in the 17th minute.
The momentum was with Hugh McGettigan’s side however and points from Thomas Morgan and Eoghan McMenaman moved them four ahead with seven minutes remaining and they seemed to be home and safe but Ahoghill were not yet finished.
They came back strongly in the closing stages with Diarmaid Graham, Ronan Graham and Tom McGlone hitting late points to close the gap to the minimum but that was as close as they got with Rossa holding on for their first win of the campaign.
Rossa: 1 Mick Byrne, 2 Connor McGowan, 3 Ciaran Orchin, 4 Matthew Mallon, 5 Padraig Moyes, 6 Richard Gowdy, 7 Conal McDonald, 8 Eoghan McMenaman, 9 Jack Morris, 10 Darren Grego, 11 Niall Crossan, 12 Thomas Morgan, 13 Colm Fleming, 14 Ben McCauley, 15 Darra Rocks.
Ahoghill: 1 Noel Crossey, 2 Seamus McKeever, 3 James Magee, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Eamonn Brady, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Patrick Graham, 9 Thomas McGlone, 12 Bernard Graham, 13 Conor Paul Crossey, 14 Ronan Graham, 15 James O’Connell, 17 Donal Graham, 18 Gerard Graham, 20 Daniel O’Neill, 22 Colla McDonnell, 24 Ryan McPeake, 25 Conor McGarry,
Erin’s Own Cargin 1-05 St Gall’s 1-04 (abandoned due to injury)
An accidental injury to young wing half forward Marcus Donnelly just a few minutes into the second half caused the Cargin v St Gall’s division one league game in Toome on Sunday to be abandoned.
The home side led by the bare minimum when the injury occurred but as the teams waited for the arrival of an ambulance the match official called a halt to proceedings.
St. Gall’s were first to give employment to the score board attendant when the ill-fated Marcus Donnelly made ground out on the right hand side to collect a clearance from Thomas Bunting and fire to the back of the Cargin net.
Cargin’s John Carron
The Milltown men increased their advantage a few minutes later when a foul on Niall O’Neill opened the door for Sean Burns to plant the resultant award firmly between the posts to give the visitors a good start.
After a sluggish start to proceedings the home side began to get a foothold with Sean Og Quinn and Ronan Gribbin taking control in defence and net-minder John McNabb came forward to send a lofted delivery which ended in the net before Paudie Mc Laughlin added a point to bring the sides level.
St Gall’s regained the lead at the start of the second quarter through another Sean Burns pointed free but John Carron was quick to reply with a superb score before a foul on the advancing Eunan Quinn was punished by Tom Shivers to put the home side in front 1-04 to 1-02.
St Gall’s reduced the deficit to the minimum when Sean Burns added a 27th minute point but the home side had the final say of the half when a late Tom Shivers point gave them a 1-05 to 1-03 interval advantage.
St Gall’s Sean Burns
St Gall’s opened the second half with an early point from Niall O’ Neill following a Cormac Flannery clearance but that was to end the action as wing forward Marcus Donnelly fell awkwardly in pursuit of a loose ball to suffer what looked like a serious leg injury, forcing referee Karol Doherty to abandon the game.
The stricken Marcus Donnelly was taken to hospital by ambulance after an early halt was called to proceedings and the Saffron Gael and Erin’s Own Cargin wish a speedy recovery to the young St Gall’s man and look forward to his return to the ranks of the Milltown Blues in the near future.
Match referee Karol Doherty
Cargin: John McNabb (1-00), Sean Og Quinn, Cahir Donnelly, Gerard Mc Corley, Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin, Brendan Laverty, Gerard Mc Cann, John Carron (0-01), Ciaran Bradley, Sean Og O’ Neill, Eunan Quinn, Paudie Mc Laughlin (0-01), Tom Shivers (0-02), Kieran Close (0-1)
St Gall’s: Niall McCurdy, Tiarnan Keenan, Cormac Flannery, Eoghan Mc Curdy, Gaireach Mac Adaimh, Thomas Bunting, Jack Hopkins, Ryan Irvine, Manus McCrossan Marcus Donnelly (1-00), Sean Burns (0-03), Ruairi Wilson, Conn Doherty, Niall O’ Neill (0-01), Brendan Bradley.
A goal from Benny McDonnell as the game moved into injury time clinched both points for All Saints over an Ardoyne side who can count themselves unfortunate not to take anything away from an evenly balanced contest at Slemish Park today.
The Kickham’s had controlled possession during the final quarter and drew level through an Aidan McNeill free in the 27th minute and were pushing hard for a winner. An interception from excellent cornerback James Gillan instigated a swift counter attack however and McDonnell got the final touch to a sweeping move that split the opposition wide open.
It was Aidan McNeill who opened the scoring from an 8th minute free for the visitors with Patrick Ferris replying for All Saints after 10 minutes of a very cagey first half with both side pulling players behind the ball and denying the opposition space.
All Saints Sean McVeigh breaks clear of the challenge of Ardoyne’s Cormac Mullan
Slowly though Ardoyne began to get on top as they hit three great points on the trot through Cormac Mullan, Michael McGreevey and Oisin McVicker to lead 0-4 to 0-1 with 17 minutes gone.
At the other end the home side’s best efforts were being thwarted by some resolute defending or careless passing but Brendan McDonnell finally settled them with a good point from distance in the 18th minute and two more from Emmet Killough and a Michael McCarry free had the sides level.
Joe McNeill edged Ardoyne back in front with a point in the 22nd minute but another excellent effort from Brendan McDonnell and another from Ronan McKillop saw the home side hit the front for the first time with three minutes remaining to the break.
The final score of the first half fell to Ardoyne’s Gary McKernan as the sides went to the dressing rooms tied at 0-6 apiece but with the wind at their backs for the second half Liam Bradley’s side must have fancied their chances of pushing on in the second half.
It was the North Belfast side who were first on the mark when play resumed however as Aidan McNeill pointed from a Mark in the opening minute and for the next 10 minutes they frustrated the life out of the opposition with a very efficient possession game.
Oisin McVicker fires over an Ardoyne point
When the home side did get their hands on the ball they got turned over time and again as a superbly organised Ardoyne defence denied them time and space but Luke O’Rawe finally opened their account with a good point to draw level after 13 minutes.
This score seemed to settle Liam Bradley’s side and Benny McDonnell finished off a good move to restore their lead and further points from a Michael McCarry free and Ronan McKillop from play saw them move three in front with ten minutes remaining.
It looked as good as over at this stage but Ardoyne had other ideas and came back strongly with points from Cormac Mullan, Cathal Keown and a well struck free from Aidan McNeill off the ground to leave it tied after 27 minutes.
The momentum was now very much with the Kickham’s as they went looking for the winner but they were caught on the counter attack as James Gillan made a timely interception and a swift and incisive exchange saw Michael McCarry place Ronan McKillop in the clear and McDonnell applied the coup de grace.
Ronan McKillop embraces Benny McDonnell after he had scored the winning goal to give All Saints their first win of the season at Slemish Park today
All Saints: Ryan Stewart, Matthew Downey, James McDonnell, James Gillan, Patrick Ferris, Emmet Killough, Ciaran McGarry, Luke O’Rawe, Sean McVeigh, Shea O’Brien, Michael McCarry, Connell Lemon, Ronan McKillop, Benny McDonnell, Conor Brennan Subs: Rhys O’Mullan for Sean McVeigh, Darrach Bradley for Luke O’Rawe,
