Fielding a team containing six members of the All Ireland winning side of 2012 Loughgiel had too much guile and know-how for St Paul’s in Tuesday night’s Senior Reserve Shield final at Dunsilly. The Shamrocks played with the wind in the opening half and lead by 3-12 to 1-04 at half time. When St Paul’s started the second half well with a penalty goal from centre forward Sean Og McLaren it looked like there might be a comeback on the cards, but the Shamrocks veterans shut up shop and went on to win with a bit to spare.
Fielding a team of ‘auld fellas, and boys of a brave age’ the Shamrocks made their experience tell from the start and former club and county great, Eddie NcCloskey hit 1-01 to add to points by Odhran McGrath and Aodhan McFadden.
St Paul’s too had an All Ireland winner in their team and centre-forward Sean Og McLaren, former All Ireland U16 Poc Fada champion, got his team back in the race with a goal and he added a point soon afterwards to keep his team well in contention, but two quick goals from Tomas McIntyre and Benny McCarry in the tenth and eleventh minutes left the Shaw’s Road men with a mountain to climb.
The Shamrocks raced on from there adding a series of great points, four of them from Benny McCarry, two from Eddie McCloskey and one each from Tomas McIntyre and Cathair McGrath to reach half-time with a 3-12 to 1-04 lead, all the St Paul’s scores coming from Sean Og McLaren.
McLaren gave St Paul’s a bit of hope with his penalty goal early in the second half but they were unable to keep up the challenge and with Benny McCarry leading the line up front Loughgiel went on to claim the trophy with a twelve point win.
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Match report and photos from Michael Corcoran in Pearse Park
Tuesday’s thrilling encounter between Dunloy and Cushendall might have been won at the toss. An astute decision by Dunloy’s captain, Katie Laverty, on winning the toss to switch around and play the first half into the wind was a fortuitous decision, helping to keep the Dall from scoring into the strengthening wind for all of the second half. An all too familiar blast of autumnal air ran the full length of Pearce Park and made pointing into it from range, a thing of rarity.
Despite an early goal from Dunloy’s Aine Magill in the first five minutes, Cushendall carved a lead of four points at the short whistle, mainly due to the accurate free taking of Eva McNeill in challenging conditions. It could have been better for the Dall when on the twenty eighth minute, Kady McNeill was pulled to ground on a goal run and rather than take the point on the edge of the square, the Dall’s Eva McNeill opted for the goal with no success. The second half was full of frantic rucks and physical encounters, that had the supporters in an equally frantic state but despite being awarded a dozen fouls, the Dall couldn’t combat the wind and had to watch Dunloy eke out the win from an additional six points.
In less than two minutes from referee Paul O’Neill’s throw-in, two over carry infringements handed two points to Cushendall from Orlaith McAllister and Eva McNeill. A buoyant Dall crowd would have to tolerate a super clinical goal from Aine Magill from a mid field pass from sister, Bronach but that one point lead dissolved away quickly as Cushendall’s markswoman, Eva McNeill dropped three consecutive frees over the bar, whilst Dunloy replied with a free from McAtamney and a point from Katie Molloy from a Cassie McArthur assist.
Dunloy’s Aine Magill rattled the back of Cushendall’s net for the only green flag in the game
Cushendall would dominate the remaining fifteen minutes and clocked up another four points coming from Siobhan McKillop and Orlaith McAllister before team mate, Eva McNeill, cruised two more frees over the bar due to Dervla Cosgrove and Orlaith McAllister being infringed, Cosgrove’s foul attracting a yellow card for Bronach Magill well into added time. As the short whistle blew, Dunloy remained at 1-02 whilst Cushendall ran in with a four point lead, 0-09.
Six points for Dunloy in the second half was good enough to secure the win but the formula for success was also dependent on Cushendall not being able to make something happen from their twelve frees. Eleven of those were probably on the margin of ‘makeable’ given the wind but an uncharacteristic wide from Eva McNeill on the twenty second minute will have been one that could have changed the game.
Dunloy’s Eimear Johnston was a powerhouse in every corner of Pearce Park
Early points from McAtamney (2 off), Aine Magill and Katie Molloy allowed the Dunloy ship to pull alongside the Dall at nine apiece, and then when Aine Magill dropped to the ground in another goal run attempt, Cassie McArthur was there to point the remnant. The point of the night clearly fell to McAtamney as she struck her free from the clubhouse dugout in added time, splitting the uprights as the light fell rapidly under the heavy clouded sky, ending the game Dunloy 1-08 Cushendall 0-09.
On Sunday, Dunloy should have better odds against Ahoghill, and assuming they earn those three points, Loughgiel need to at least draw with Cushendall on Sunday to remain at the top of the table and earn a place in the final. What a finale in the last of the round robin stages.
After a pulsating sixty plus minutes of top-class hurling from both sides, it was Ard na Rí who managed to hang on for a two point win by a scoreline of 6-13 to 2-23.
Ard na Rí flew out of the blocks and had the perfect start when Barra Bellew won a breaking ball in the Dunloy defence before rounding his man and finishing to the top of the net. The roar from the supporters died as quickly as it began as the 31 point defeat from the league encounter hadn’t been forgotten.
Padraig Kelly and Conall Dempsey followed up with points from play before Dunloy raised their first white flag with a free in the 8th minute and the crowd anticipating that this was the start of the tide turning. But Ard na Ri dug in again and hit back with a further goal and three points to leave it 2-5 to 0-01.
Damien McMullan then began to dominate the Dunloy half back line with Pody O Kane making things tick around the middle. PJ and Eunan Molloy getting on the end of good attacks and within a 6 minute spell they had added three points before Jamie McGarry raised Dunloys first green flag. But as was the run of the game, Ard na Ri immediately went on the attack and Padraig Kelly got on the end of a high ball to finish to the net. Points from Fionn Smith and Padraig Kelly were answered by scores from the Molloys and Pody O Kane as this game met the full pelt of championship and which was assisted by an excellent refereeing performance from Seamus Shannon.
The second half set off just like the first. 100 mph. Oliver McClements and Conall McFerran shored up the Dunloy full back line. Jack McQuillan, Darragh Cunning and Jamie McGarry began orchestrating attacks from deep. But every attack was met with Bellew and Cairbre McAdaimh in defiant mood, matched by the heroics of goalkeeper Eoin Rodgers, as the Ard na Ri defence stood firm. The young Cuchullians managed to find a vein of form as they rattled over three points – but in keeping with the game, back came Paudi Kelly with a goal.
Just over ten minutes into the second half,Kelly went to flick a ball overhead and in the process caught the helmet of the onrushing Dunloy goalkeeper. By the new rules, the referee was left with no option but to issue a red card to the disappointment of both sets of supporters. There was no protest from the Ard na Ri line, but things were rejigged immediately and both teams went back to battle. Dunloy were finding a lot more space now and were attacking at pace with every opportunity. Young Elliott bagged a goal from corner forward and it was game on. Ard na Ri were hanging in but their defence was standing up to everything thrown at it. Seagh McEwan and Dan McAuley were beginning to feel the pressure of the man down in midfield but time after time won the dirty ball around the middle and found their targets in the forward line.
With 5 minutes left, Ard na Ri were hanging on and Dunloy were in full flow when Conor McIlhatton turned over an attack for the home side. He was caught in a loose tackle by the number 12 who was having an outstanding evening and again by the letter of the law, a red was shown. Again, a no malice tackle but the referee left with no option. Dunloy down to 14 men and game on. With three minutes left Conall Dempsey found a gap in the Dunloy defence and shot to the net. Breathing space with 5 points to the good. But that was not to be it. The teams traded points to keep the two point gap in favour of Ard na Ri. Dunloy, with time up, went all in. Three brilliant attacks were met by McAdaimh again – body on the line – and Rodgers in goal.
With seconds of the 3 mins of injury time left, Odhran Bellew drove a free from his half back line into the corner forward slot. The Ard na Ri forwards managed to hold the ball in the corner and beat the clock to an outpouring of emotion at the full time whistle.
The humility and grace of both sides in victory and defeat were a credit to all involved. Supporters of both teams paying tribute to all involved. A massive credit to the thirty plus young men who gave their all.
Erin’s Own Cargin 2-13 Casement’s Portglenone 1-18 (a.e.t)
Portglenone based Casement’s move onwards into the next phase of the minor football championship at the expense of Cargin when they gained passage with a hard earned win over the Erin’s own lads before a big attendance in Toome on Sunday.
The visitors recorded a victory over the Erin’s Own outfit in their earlier meeting in the league and although they started this championship encounter as firm favourites they had to work hard and it took extra time to separate the protagonists in the end.
Casement’s arrived in Toome burdened with the ‘favourites’ tag and indeed they were smartly out of the start traps and seemed on the way when split the posts twice without reply from their hosts in the opening quarter with Ryan McKeever and Oran Doherty credited with the scores.
The visitors enjoyed the assistance of a strong southerly breeze in the first period but such was soon to be negated by the home side with Jack O’Neill leading in the engine room.
Cillian Scullion opened their account from the right hand side to settle his side and although a further point from Oisin Doherty insured a three point lead, the home side had settled to the task in hand.
The home side should have regained parity shortly after when Fiontan O’Donnell grabbed a scuffed kick out but after racing clear on the target his fisted finish went agonisingly wide of the post.
In the event Erin’s Own were to finish the opening period on the positive with Jack O’ Neill and his mid-field partner Fiontan Hardy getting to grips in the central zone and a free kick for a foul on Hardy was firmly punished when Cillian Scullion despatched the ball between the posts.
The centre half forward was equally precise shortly thereafter as a foul on Carl McCann was similarly despatched between the posts to bring the sides closer together at the break with the wind assisted Casements 0-05 to 0-04 ahead.
The home side started the second period aided by the breeze which was soon accompanied by a heavy shower and the visitors were first away with a smart Ryan McKeever point and it was 0-06 to 0-04 to the visitors.
In the event the scoreboard was to read differently shortly after as a Dara Mc Auley assist aided Jack O’ Neill to send over the goal line and the Toome lads were 1-04 to 0-06 ahead.
It was game on a few minutes later as Fiontan Hardy added a fisted point which was soon negated at the other end as Oran Doherty added a point to the Casement’s total.
A Cillian Scullion point increased the home side’s lead to a couple of points when he was again unerring from a 40 metre free kick at the end of the third quarter but despite the wind in their face, the Casement’s replied with back to back points from Tom Doughard and Oran Doherty to leave it all square again.
Tom Duffin added a goal for the visitors after being set up by Oisin McAtamney assist and the game seemed to have swung in favour of the Portglenone side and questions were being asked of the home side.
In the event the Cargin lads had the answers and a Cillian Scullion point worked the trick and it saw Erin’s Own dominate for a period as Dara O’Boyle and Cillian Scullion added points.
Cargin were now calling the shots and when Jack O’ Neill’s and Fiontan Hardy combined to set up Dara Mc Auley to finish to the net, only a point separated the sides.
Casements added a point to their slim lead through the excellent Oran Doherty and when the home side lost the services of a player to a red card the home side looked in trouble.
When Ryan McKeever and Tom Doughart added points apiece to the Casements lead the home side looked in big trouble as full time approached.
In the event the home side rallied to the cause for one last effort and when youngster Conor Mc Cann fired to the net the sides were level and extra time required.
The first 10 minute of extra time ended with nothing separating the protagonists with Carl McCann raising white for the home side and Francis McAleese replying for for Casement’s.
A point from Fiontan Hardy in the opening minutes of the second half gave the Cargin support hope but back came Casement’s and three quick points from Oran Mc Atamney, Pheilim Mc Cluskey and Cillian McDonnell in answer to a Cillian Scullion point for the home side saw them cross the winning line 1-18 to 2-13 ahead to set up a meeting with St Brigids in the next round.
Cargin: Oisin Laverty, Eoin Scullion, Sean Mc Peake, Niall Quinn, Sean og Bovill, Fiontan 0’ Donnell, Patrick O’ Neill (0-01), Niall Quinn, Conleth Hamill, Jack O’ Neill (1-00), Fiontan Hardy (0-02),Cillian Scullion (0-09), Eamon Mc Cann (1-00), Dara O’ Boyle (0-01). Daragh Mc Auley
Subs:
Dylan Mc Nabb
Casement’s: John Mc Austin, Cillian Mc Kenna, Ciaran Mc Donnell, Conor Morgan Oisin Mc Atamney (0-01)Ryan Mc Keever (0-02), Oran Doherty (0-08 1*), Tom Convery, Francis Mc Aleese, Tom Convery (0-02), Tom Dougart (1-01,Phrilim Mc Cluskey (0-02), Eoin Mc Erlean, J P O’ Kane
The Under 14 B championship certainly did not run to league form with both Saturday’s finalists coming from mid-table.
Brídíní Óga and Gort na Móna however reached the decider on merit. The Glenravel girls had taken out Creggan and St Gall’s on successive Saturdays while Gort beat league champions Sarsfield’s in the quarter-final and then followed it up with victory over St Paul’s on the Shaws Road last weekend.
The Belfast side then got the perfect start in the final as well with Niamh Keenan hitting the north Antrim side’s net in the second minute. Gort na Móna remained on the offensive for the first five minutes before Brídíní Óga settled, helped no doubt by a goal from a Georgie Twigg free after seven minutes.
Twigg tapped over two further frees before Grace O’Boyle burst through after 12 minutes. Her shot was saved by Chloe Devlin but Sadhbh McMullan followed through to find the net.
The Glenravel girls were beginning to take control of the game now despite the best efforts of Alexia Largey, Seana Fryers and goal-scorer Keenan who had to come deeper to forage for possession.
Keenan and Twigg swopped points before Sadhbh McMullan forced home her second goal in first half injury time to leave a gap of 3-3 to 1-1 between the teams at the short whistle.
Within 35 seconds of the re-start Niamh Keenan raced through and hit the net for her second strike. She then added a point from play. As with the first half, Brídíní Óga were taking time to settle but with Caela McCann, player of the match Laoise Carey and Cara McFadden working hard at the back, they began to get a foothold in the game once more and a goal from Molly McKernan put them back in charge.
Niamh Keenan was always a threat however and Niamh Higgins needed to be on her toes on two separate occasions to deny the Gort full-forward who eventually closed the gap between the teams with her fifth score – another point.
At the other end Georgie Twigg popped over a 45. Keenan hit back with a point and Carly Muckian had Higgins stretching to deny her a goal as play quickly switched from end to end.
Sadhbh McMullan and Georgie Twigg (free) extended the Glenravel lead before Gort na Móna through Kaila Walsh and Carly Muckian pulled a couple of scores back in added time.
It was an entertaining and hard-fought final with the winners having to really battle to get over the line. Both teams had some fine players, but Glenravel did the damage in the first half hour and their interval lead was just too wide for Gort na Móna to haul in.
