ACFL Division One 

Aghagallon 3-11-1-14 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Aghagallon 

Photographs: Brian Hamill

THREE goals inside the first ten minutes laid the foundations to Aghagallon’s 3-11-1-14 win over Lámh Dhearg on Wednesday evening. 

The hosts games plan was effective from the outset as they were awarded a penalty within the first 60-seconds as a high ball was flighted into Ruairi McCann and he was hauled down as he was about to pull the trigger, with referee Kevin Parke signalling for a penalty that was dispatched by Adam Loughran. 

In reply, Declan Lynch kicked a two-pointer from play, but the Hannashtown side were caught cold again when they conceded a free in midfield and a quick ball was launched into McCann, he gathered and a simple lay-off was palmed home by Jonny Hannon. 

Conor Murray halved the deficit with a turn and point, though Aghagallon’s response was to score a third goal inside of ten minutes. 

Once again the hosts utilised the high ball into Ruairi McCann, he again offloaded to Hannon who had more work to do on this occasion, rounding John Finucane and then composing himself to steer a shot to the net to make it 3-0-0-3. 

The Lámhs cut the deficit through a converted Adam Murray free and an angled Marc Jordan score that dropped over, but they squandered various scoring opportunities throughout the half. 

It took Aghagallon until the 27th minute to add their first point of the evening through Adam Loughran and just before the break Eoin Brankin clipped over to ensure his side held a 3-2-0-5 lead at the interval. 

Aghagallon extended their lead after the restart with Jonny Hannon and Ruairi McCann both opting to fist over the bar. 

Declan Smyth swung a fine shot over and Adam Murray kicked his first from play to maintain the six-point deficit. 

The sides cancelled each other out for the majority of the half, the hosts again pulled two further clear when Ruairi McCann shot over and Adam Loughran produced another fine kick that dropped over. 

In response Adam Murray dropped an impressive angled score over and substitute Mark Finnegan played a one-two with Declan Smyth and swung over a two-pointed score to make it 3-6-0-10. 

Further scores were traded between Enda McCann and the lively Adam Murray- though three unanswered scores in a five-minute spell appeared to have seen Aghagallon home. 

Enda McCann doubled his account, a dipping Adam Loughran shot was touched over the bar by John Finucane and then Jonny Hannon shot over his second of the evening. 

A third two-pointed score courtesy of Declan Smyth and a Ben Rice point had again reduced arrears to five, but time was against the Hannashtown outfit. 

It looked as though Aghagallon would see the scoring out with a further point, though deep into added time Declan Lynch dropped a high ball into the area, an attempted fist pass was blocked down and Marc Jordan swept home a goal that was little more than consolation. 

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Featured Image: Andrew Hasson who top scored for St. Mary’s in their win over Eire Og

ACFL Division 3

Rasharkin 0-17 Eire Og 1-7

Unbeaten Eire Og travelled to Rasharkin on Wednesday night to take on a Rasharkin team who have had an indifferent start to the season but who came ‘good’ on the night to defeat their visitors fairly convincingly in the end.

The early exchanges showed us just why the Derriaghy side had played themselves into this lofty position and a flowing move in the 6^th minute saw Conall Smith fire an unstoppable shot to Ryan Doherty’s net to move them two ahead.

Andrew Hasson had opened the scoring for the Dreen side with a pointed free and the Rasharkin number 14 would have an increasing influence as the game progressed with his accuracy from the placed ball.

It was Eire Og who continued to enjoy the better of the wind assisted opening quarter as Conor Dixon punched over and Lorcan McIlroy converted a free to move them four ahead by the 12^th minute.

Andrew Hasson’s second conversion of the evening closed the gap to three but the visitors were winning a lot of breaking ball from the kick-outs but were guilty of a series of bad wides as they tried to add to their early lead.

They were made to pay for their wastefulness as Andrew Hasson struck an excellent point at the other end from play and Thomas Hasson followed with another to leave just one between the sides approaching half time.

The visitors replied as Conor Dixon fisted over with Andrew Hasson kicking the final point of the half from a free and a one point lead for the Derriaghy side looked precarious as the sides headed for the dressing rooms, given the strength of the breeze.

And so it proved to be as Andrew Hasson struck from distance to raise an Orange flag on the restart and Eamonn McNeill followed with a point from play to move St. Mary’s two ahead.

Lorcan McIlroy replied with a point for Eire Og, who were still enjoying plenty of possession but were finding it hard to turn that possession into scores with Fergus Quigg superb at full-back for the hosts.

A 2 pointer from Eamon McNeill moved the home side further ahead and the visitor’s troubles grew when Eoin Dixon was shown Black and Rasharkin began to take control.

A Tiernan O’Boyle point moved the home side four ahead after 17 minutes but Eire Og did respond and a point from Conor McKenna, and two from Conor Dixon by the 23d minute reduced the gap to the minimum and we looked set for a grandstand finish.

It failed to materialise with Thomas Hasson replying at the other end as Eoin Dixon returned from the sin bin and Andrew Hasson, Substitute, Brian Og O’Neill and a great 2 pointer from Eamonn McNeill put it out of reach of the opposition.

Team captain, Cormac McMullan concluded the scoring with a late point for the Dreen side who were worthy winners in the end and this win should give them confidence for the campaign ahead.

Andrew Hasson gave an exhibition of point taking and would finish with 0-7 for the evening but this was an excellent team performance and team mangers, Cathal McMullan and Paddy Kelly will be happy with what they saw on the evening.

Eire Og showed in spells just why they had started the season so well and some of their approach play and movement was top drawer but too often their shooting let them down.

I would expect them to return from this setback and they look like a side who could be challenging for honours come season’s end.

St. Mary’s Rasharkin: 1 Ryan Doherty, 3 Fergus Quigg, 4 Pearce Kelly, 5 Connor Higgins, 6 Pearse McTeague, 7 Colm Kennedy, 8 Tiernan O’Boyle, 9 Ruairi O’Boyle, 22 Thomas Hasson, 11, Cormac McMullan, 13 Eamonn McNeill, 14 Andrew Hasson, 15 Killian O’Boyle, 16 Oran McMullan

Eire Og: 1 Jamie King, 2 Barry McDaid, 3 Brian O’Malley, 4 Kayvan Vesali, 5 Luca Mulholland, 6 Stephen Erskine, 7 Mark O’Hanlon, 8 Patrick Maxwell, 9 Eoin Dixon, 10 Gavin Donnelly, 11 Conor McKenna, 12 Ciaran Rice, 13 Conall Smith, 20 Conor Dixon, 15 Lorcan McIlroy

Referee: Gerard Dougan (Creggan)

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Above – Declan Barr celebrates after his goal sealed the Sarsfields win

Antrim ACFL Division 1

Pádraig Sáirséil 2-14 All Saints 3-07

Venue: The Bear Pit

Sarsfields secured their first top-division victory in 25 years following a thrilling, hard-fought battle against All Saints, Ballymena, at the Bear Pit. In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and an outstanding hat-trick performance from All Saints’ full-forward Brendan “Benny” McDonnell, the Paddies dug deep to overcome an early blitz and seal a famous win with a decisive late goal.

Two early goals by All Saints full forward Benny McDonnell got his team off to a great start

The match opened brightly for the home side when Connor Laverty pointed a free just one minute in to get Sarsfields on the board. However, that early optimism was quickly punctured by a lightning-fast response from the visitors. Benny McDonnell proved unplayable in the opening stages, finding the back of the net in the third minute to instantly put All Saints in front. Before the home defence could even reset, McDonnell struck again within the same minute, brilliantly gaining possession from the subsequent kick-out and chipping the Sarsfields keeper. He added a point shortly after, leaving the home side shell-shocked. By the 15-minute mark, the Ballymena men had cruised to a commanding lead, with Matthew Downey keeping the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors.

Faced with a daunting deficit, Sarsfields showcased tremendous resolve to claw their way back into the contest. They stabilized their possession and began to work through the gears. Jay Maguire kicked a much-needed point to start the revival. The home side then rattled off a series of vital scores approaching halftime: Connor Laverty added from play and a free, Garry Lennon slotted over another free, and half-back Liam Mitchell drove forward to score in the minute. Their methodical fightback narrowed the gap to just two points at the break, with All Saints leading 2-03 to 0-07.

The Paddies carried that momentum into the second half, with Philip McPeake quickly pointing to make it a one-point game. However, All Saints’ star man was far from finished. McDonnell halted the Sarsfields surge with a point before completing a spectacular hat-trick, latching onto a long, searching ball delivered all the way from his goalkeeper after a fantastic midfield catch.

Trailing once more, Sarsfields refused to lie down. Philip McPeake immediately answered McDonnell’s heroics by finding the net at the other end to keep the home side within striking distance. Darach Bradley (10) briefly restored some breathing room for All Saints with a quick point, but the momentum was undeniably shifting back toward the home side.

Connor Laverty remained deadly accurate, converting another free before adding one from play shortly after. Joe McNally then stepped up to split the posts, further fueling the Sarsfields revival. Although McDonnell pointed again to bring his team’s tally to 3-05 against Sarsfields’ 1-10, the Ballymena outfit couldn’t fully stifle the hosts’ relentless pressure.

In the dying moments of the game, with the Paddies battling fiercely for every breaking ball, their persistence finally paid off. A dramatic late Declan Barr goal shattered All Saints’ resistance, sealing an incredible comeback and etching a historic win into the Sarsfields history books. After a quarter of a century away from the Antrim Football League’s top flight, the Bear Pit erupted, celebrating a victory built on pure heart and resilience.

All Saints: 1. Ryan Stewart, 2. Ryan Thom, 3. Michael Read, 4. Sean McDermott, 5. Patrick Ferris, 6. Connell Lemon, 7. Matthew Downey, 8. Emmet Killough, 9. Peter McNicholl, 10. Darach Bradley, 11. Cal O’Brien, 12. Charlie Metrustry, 13. Sean O’Brien, 14. Brendan McDonnell, and 15. Ciaran Campbell.

Sarsfields 1. Michael Brady, 2. Kevin Barry McArdle, 4. Martin McPolin, 6. Liam Mitchell, 7. Joe McNally, 8. Conor Moley, 9. Cormac Murray, 10. Connor Laverty, 12. Jay Maguire, 13. Conor Glenholmes, 14. Niall Mac an Lia, 17. Fionntan McCallan, 18. Philip McPeake, 19. Garry Lennon, and 20. Daragh Gorman.

Referee – Paul Burns

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ACFL Division 1

Creggan 0 – 15     Portglenone 0 – 08

The hard fought encounter that many expected between two of the only three unbeaten sides in this year’s division one contest failed to materialise, and after sixty minutes Creggan are the team that still retain full points and extend their impressive opening sequence with a solid performance that was just too good for their opponents on this occasion.

Playing with the wind at their back it took Liam Quinn less than a minute to open the host’s account. Young Odhran Doherty replied a few moments later to keep things on the level, but despite having a ten-minute spell when they were on the front foot, it would be a full quarter until Casements would raise their second flag of the game.

During that period Casements were comfortably holding their own, and two well worked movements created clear goal scoring chances, but the experienced Oisin Kerr made himself large and Ronan Kelly and Aidan McAleese both placed their efforts wide of the posts and that danger was averted.

Creggan were clinical in their response, and six scores, from Teddy McKeown, Liam Quinn and McCann siblings Shay and Jamie, with 2 x two pointers, opened up a sizeable gap on the scoreboard. Odhran Doherty and Aidan McAleese did raise a brace of white flags in between, but on Ray Matthews half time whistle it was the home team who took a seven-point lead to the changing rooms.

Casements supporters have witnessed several spectacular comebacks this year and coming out with the wind at their back most in the crowd were anticipating a full blooded second half that could go to the wire.

What transpired was the opposite, as Creggan upped their game completely and controlled this contest pretty much on their own terms. Kevin Small bossed the midfield exchanges along with his midfield partner Jamie McCann who carried on where he left off by opening the scoring almost immediately after the restart.

Portglenone just couldn’t get their hands on the ball, and although Ronan Kelly knocked over a good point from distance, it was just token resistance as the men in green and gold cruised through Casements defence at will to put this contest well and truly to bed. Shay McCann was involved in everything good and kept the scoreboard ticking over, whilst stalwart half back Sam Maguire opted for a point with a goal at his mercy.  Liam Quinn was another who looked lively and he too had a goal bound effort well saved by Casements stand in netminder Brian McManus.

Sean Duffin marked his introduction with a good point too, as the game filtered out to its inevitable conclusion. A trio of late scores from Casements only served to take the bad look of things but for the Portglenone men it was a night to forget.

Creggan looked good all over the pitch and Joe Cassidy will be well pleased with how his charges performed. They had many excellent individual performers and look like a very well-balanced team that know what they are about.

This certainly wasn’t Casements finest hour and a below par second half which saw them raise little resistance is one they will look to put behind them.

Scorers.

Creggan; Jamie McCann 0 – 05, Shay McCann 0 – 04,  Liam Quinn 0 – 03, Teddy McKeown 0 – 01, Sam Maguire 0 – 01, Sean Duffin 0 – 01

Portglenone; Odhran Doherty 0 – 04, Aidan McAleese 0 – 01, Dermot McAleese 0 – 01, Ronan Kelly 0 – 01, Stephen Kelly 0 – 01.

Referee – Ray Matthews.