The always fiery local rivalry between these sides brought a high scoring contest to Milltown and with the return of County men for both sides, the game brought with it some great end to end action.
St John’s came out of the traps early and with relentless pressure and direct running from Conal Hynds and Patrick McBride, and were rewarded for their efforts and managed to score three early goals.
These was added to by another three points from play and place ball and the Johnnies looked on course for their first win of the season.
St Galls were stunned found themselves 3:3 to 0:1 down after 15 minutes. This left the men in blue with a mountain to climb but that they did, as they dug deep to score 2-7 without reply in what was an exciting turnaround.
2-3 of those scores came from the impressive Niall Burns and 0-2 from the experienced Michael Pollock. In remarkable fashion St Galls found themselves one up at the break.
The second half again brought with it a thrilling contest which was tightly contested throughout and with not much separating the sides. Niall Burns and Bara McCaffery kept the score board ticking for the ‘Blues’ whilst Conal Mc Glade and Luke Peden kept the game within touching distance for the visitors. St Galls however used their bench well and would be glad to see the return of key players from injury to include Niall O’Neill who proved a dangerous target man inside in, winning a number of balls and setting up some key scores to keep the game his side in front.
Aodhan Gallagher also sparked life into the St Galls men from the bench and his experience showed around the middle of the field at key moments. Considering the bad start, St Galls showed true grit and held out for an impressive win to keep their unbeaten run alive while St. John’s still await their first win of the season but on this performance it shouldn’t be too long in coming.
A strong opening period which included a penalty despatched by Tomas Mc Cann sewed the seeds of victory and an away win over a hard working Aldergrove on what was a sodden Crumlin sod on Wednesday evening last.
Aldergrove had really asked questions in their first year back in division 1 of the visiting reigning county champions but James Laverty’s early goal in the opening minutes ensured a positive start was enjoyed by the Toome men.
Jamie Gribbin and Tom Shivers combined to create the opening for the hard gafting wing half back to find the net and although the home side replied with a goal at the other end through wing half forward Dee Gough, a second major for the Toome men from Michael Mc Cann saw Cargin seemingly in charge.
Despite looking second best to their visitors in the early stages Adrian Dougan’s side did rise to the occasion as the tie progressed on a slippery sodden sod with Seamus McGarry leading the home side’s charge.
A Jamie Gribbin point had ensured a 2-04 to 1-03 advantage as the game progressed towards the end of the opening period but such was quickly negated at the other end as a quick interception by Gerard Mallon halted a Cargin offensive with the well delivered clearance opening the way for a Seamus Mc Garry point at the other end.
The home side were not about to make any concessions in the latter stages of the opening half and indeed the Toome men had to rely on their defence in the latter stages.
The home side were well in touch as half time approached with a pointed free from Dee Gough and a fine addition by Fergal Hanna reducing the deficit to the minimum.
Cargin upped the ante in the latter stages of the half and Mark Kelly rose to collect before splitting the posts in the 27th minute heralding a tide change.
The visitors had been troubled by the strong running home side in the first half and were only a couple of points ahead as the short whistle loomed but in the event such was about to change.
A slick interchange involving several in the green and white, including James Laverty, David Johnston and Tom Shivers saw the latter fouled in the act of striking and a penalty award followed.
Tomas McCann assumed the spot kicking duties and although net minder Ryan Mc Caffrey, who had pulled off several eye catching saves, was to deny the Cargin centre forward from the spot he was quick to find the rebound and return poste haste to the net and ensure an interval advantage of 3-6 to 1-06.
Cargin net minder John McNabb was shown a ‘black card’ in the latter stages of the half with Benen Kelly deputising for the next ten minutes which progressed without concession.
The Toome men started the second half with a six point advantage but a man down, and it was the home side who recorded the first score with Fergal Hanna finishing a strong approach to the posts with a point.
The opening strike looked to have signalled positive intentions from Adrian Dougan’s men but in the event it was the visitors who were to make the running again.
Justin Crozier and Ronan Gribbin were dominant on the Cargin ‘40’ and a flurry of scores in the next phase posted firm intentions.
Tomas Mc Cann raised a couple more white flags and with Tom Shivers, Justin Crozier and Michael Mc Cann making further additions the visitors had nipped into a 3-09 to 2-06 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Cargin looked firm favourites to finish the job at this juncture but Aldergrove were not ready to throw in the towel and a strong approach saw them give answer as the impressive Cormac Mc Garry nipped in the find the back of the net.
The visitors responded positively as James Laverty, Tom Shivers, and the back on duty John Mc Nabb knocked over points apiece to move them 8 ahead and that lead may well have increased but for a good save from Ryan McCarthy who denied Michael McCann in the closing minutes.
Cargin: John McNabb (0-01) Sean Og Quinn, Kevin McShane, David Johnston, Justin Crozier (0-01), Ronan Gribbin, Jamie Gribbin (0-01), Ronan Devlin, Gerard McCann, Benen Kelly (0-01), Tomas McCann (1-08), James Laverty (0-02), Mark Kelly (0-01), Tom Shivers (0-03)
Subs: Diarmuid Quinn, Ben Mc Lernon, Hugh O’ Donnell, Charlie Mc Cann, Callum Gribbin
Aldergrove: Ryan Mc Carthy, Conor O’ Toole, Emmett Irvine, Chris Mc Veigh, Gerard Mallon, Eoin Gough, B Mc Quillan Dee Gough (0-01, James Trolan (0-02, Seamus Mc Garry (0-02), Cormac Mc Garry (0-01), Fergal Hanna (2-00)
Subs
Coary Fogarty, Chris Mc Stein, Adrian Irvine, Shea O’ Connor
Never much to separate these sides on recent league and championship performances, supporters of both clubs could have been forgiven for thinking this contest would follow suit, especially with the North Belfast club totally dominant in all parts of the pitch in an emphatic opening quarter that left them five points up and cruising at the fifteen minute mark.
Despite missing regulars Donal Walsh and Conan Lyttle, the hosts took the game to Casements from the first whistle, with Stephen O Connor running riot at full forward as the pivotal hub of a St Enda’s team full of energy and desire. His two excellently taken points and contribution to a well worked goal finished with aplomb by impressive Fintan Nagle laying the groundwork for much optimism throughout a large St Enda’s support, Sean McBride also contributing to the scoreboard during that excellent spell for the home team.
Casements were five points down and floundering. The question was who could arrest this, and it was Ruairi Hagan who put his hand up highest, heading off on a mazy solo down the right wing before delivering the ball straight and true between the posts to signal the start of some kind of comeback. Shortly after, a superb interception by wing half back Conor McGhee lifted the siege, disrupting a probable St Enda’s score, instead supplying to score taker Oisin Doherty who narrowed the gap, before Oisin then added a second minor from a free kick, Enda Lynn dragged down as he was heading goalward.
That man Big Stevie O`Connor restored St Enda’s advantage to three though as half time approached Big Aidan McAleese cancelled that out with a trademark long range effort to offer some comfort to John McKeever and his management entourage.
St Enda’s were two up, but to be honest the league champions hadn’t really turned up, but were starting to gain a foothold in the contest when Brendan Toland blew for the interval.
The mood in the Portglenone camp all evening was of sombre reflection – perhaps reflected in the opening performance – one of their foremost supporters and patrons Mickey Kelly, who hadn’t missed a match in decades, was lying in intensive care, with team stars Paddy and Michael by his side, prevalent in everybody’s thoughts and prayers.
The team talk John McKeever delivered at half time drew an immediate and resounding response. Within a breathtaking opening fifteen minute second quarter spell, the visitors put this contest beyond doubt, unleashing a barrage of scores with some passages of glorious football that yielded two excellently worked goals (McAleese brothers Aidan and Ciaran) and half a dozen points from a variety of positions and personnel, often at the end of superb link up team play, and more often than not with the exciting Enda Lynn acting at the fulcrum of a fast moving one touch forward division.
St Enda’s tried manfully and had good individual performances from Fintan Nagle, Philly Curran and in particular Stephie O Connor, but Carl McCabe and Co will rue not being able to kick on when his side were five points ahead and at one stage in this contest, cruising and playing good quality football.
Best for Casements on the night when a lacklustre first half was replaced by a splendid second, was Aidan McAleese who looks a good option in midfield, the nonstop graft and unselfish contributions of Conor McGhee, Ruairi Hagan, Kevin O Kane and, of course, Enda Lynn, as team management and supporters alike headed homeward with thoughts only of a missing stalwart, and the weekend ahead.
St Enda’s Scorers: Stephen O Connor 0 – 05, Fintan Nagle 1 – 02, Sean McBride 0-2
St. Mary’s Ahoghill 1-12 St Mary’s Aghagallon 1-14
With the battle of the St. Mary’s in Clooney heading for a draw, the Aghagallon St. Mary’s struck the final two points of the evening to claim two hard earned points.
With Ahoghill pressing for the winner in injury time, Aghagallon forced a turnover and Johnny Hannon edged the visitor’s one ahead and from a similar scenario Niall McShane made victory secure with virtually the last kick of the game.
Hannon for Aghagallon and Patrick Dougan for Ahoghill exchanged early points with Dan O’Neill and Thomas McGlone for the home side and Johnny Hannon and Stephen Devlin for the visitors leaving it at four apiece after a hectic opening to the game.
It was the visitors who started to get on top with Johnny Hannon to the fore with some excellent scores but a Patrick Dougan goal in the 19th minute edged the Clooney side one ahead.
That lead wouldn’t last long however as two minutes later as cornerback, Pat Branagan got forward to fire past Cahair O’Kane at the other end and restore Aghagallon’s lead.
Dan O’Neill replied for the Ahoghill men with a couple of excellent scores but points from Enda McCartan and the excellent Johnny Hannon had the Aghagallon St. Mary’s two ahead at the break.
The second half would follow with the same level of intensity as the first with two well matched teams going at it toe to toe and very little separating them going down the home straight.
Three pointed frees from Ronan Graham in answer to one from Callum Mulholland had it all square with 19 minutes of the second half gone and it would remain nip and tuck as the minutes ebbed away.
Bernard and Patrick Graham added points for the Clooney side but a point from Enda Mallon for Aghagallon left it all square but those late, late scores from Johnny Hannon and Enda McCartan swung it in the way of St. Mary’s Aghagallon.
Ahoghill: 1 Cahair O’Kane, 2 Seamus McKeever, 3 Diarmaid Graham, 4 Conor McGarry, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Martin Graham, 7 Bernard Graham, 8 Patrick Graham, 9 Thomas McGlone, 10 Eamon Brady, 11 Dan O’Neill, 12 Patrick Dougan, 13 Conor Crossey, 14 Ronan Graham, 15 Donal Graham
A great display of score taking by man of the match Fergal Henry saw Glenavy beat visitors Ardoyne by 1-14 to 0-8 at Chapel Hill on Wednesday evening to continue their good start to Division 2 of the Antrim Football League. Lining out at corner forward Henry gave an exhibition as he led the Ardoyne defence a merry dance, scoring 1-12 of his team’s total of 1-14. He scored the first seven of his teams’ first half points as they opened up a 0-8 to 0-2 half time lead, Paddy Gallagher getting the other one, while Kevin Lynch and Cormac Mullan got the Ardoyne scores.
Henry was back in the action early in the second half, hitting his first point inside thirty seconds to stretch his team’s lead to seven. Mullan came back with one for the visitors four minutes later, but Henry came back with two of his own to put Glenavy eight clear by the midway point of the second half.
Mullan again hit the target for the Kickhams but a good move up through the field by the home side was fisted over the bar by full back Paddy Fox. Mullan got his fourth point of the game for Ardoyne on 51 minuutes but four more Henry points in a row were followed by a well taken goal to seal a great individual display.
