Antrim Football League – Division 2

Raharkin 1-09 Rossa 1-11 Gor na Móna 2-12

It turned out to be a disappointing day for St Mary’s Rasharkin after defeat to Gort na Mona saw them relegated from Division 2 of the Antrim Football League. The Dreen men had to win their last two games to stand any chance of avoiding the drop but defeat today to the West Belfast side makes their last game irrelevant.

Rasharkin started the game really well and were a goal up after three minutes as Donagh Quigg cut through the middle and fired home and it looked like they were going to double that lead when Oran McMullan got through a minute later, only to be denied by a great block from Gorts full-back Ciaran Donnelly.

However Gort na Mona began to settle and after Tarlacht Enright got their opening point, Eamon Scannell added a 2pointer to level the game. Padraic Mulvenna had the chance to put them in front but pulled a penalty wide of the left upright but they didn’t have long to wait as full forward Patrick McConnell reacted quickest when a ball broke around the Rasharkin ‘square’ and poked the ball past the Rasharkin keeper a couple of minutes later. Ciaran MacGiolla cheara and Conhuir Clarke tagged on points to put them five ahead before the home team got their next score, and three in a row, two by Brian Og O’Neill and one by Caolan McGarrell got them right back into, only to concede a sloppy goal just on half time, Matthew McConnell rising high to take advantage of a defensive slip.

Leading by 2-06 to 1-05 at the start of the second half Enright pushed the gap out to five with an early point, but O’Neill came back with one for the home team a minute later. A 2pointer by Caoimhin Beck stretched the gap out to seven and it was at eight soon afterwards when Dessie McClean fired over.

Hard though they tried during the final quarter Rasharkin could make little progress in clawing back the deficit and though O’Neill and Quigg did find the target Enright was able to match them for the Gorts and they went on to win by six in the end.

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ACFL Division 1

All Saints 3-21  Glenravel 2-14

All Saints kept their league title chances alive with a comprehensive victory over rivals Glenravel in sun drenched Quinn Park on Saturday evening.  

Smarting from a surprise defeat mid-week to lowly Rossa, All Saints wanted to get back into winning ways and indeed the gap between the teams was larger than the score-line suggests. 

The timeless Sean McVeigh got All Saints off the mark after six minutes with a 2-pointer and whilst Ryan McQuillan pulled one back for Glenravel All Saints went on a scoring spree adding six more points from Conor Stewart, Ciaran Campbell, McVeigh again, Brendan McDonnell and two from Paidin Mitchell.

Glenravel’s only reply was an Eamon Fyfe free so with one quarter gone Glenravel trailed by six points but they redeemed themselves with 2-pointers from Eamon Fyfe and Ryan McQuillan and a single point from Fyfe closing the gap to two points after Brendan McDonnell pointed a free to leave the score 0-09 to 0-07 in the home side’s favour.

In truth Ballymena had squandered several goal chances in the opening period and may have started to rue them but in the closing four minutes of the half they recorded 1-03 as Conall Lemon, Kavan Keenan and James McDonnell all got on the score-sheet with points and finally Shaun O’Callaghan goaled with the final kick of the first half to leave Ballymena in a commanding lead 1-12 to 0-08.

All Saints brought on Patrick McAleer in the second half and he signalled his intentions for a starting berth next time out with a well taken point in the opening minute. Sean McKay pulled one back but the game was essentially ended as a contest when Ciaran Campbell found the net two minutes into the half and that was followed up by a brace from Conor Stewart to put Ballymena firmly in the driving seat leading g by 2-15 to 1-09.

Ryan McQuillan did convert some nice scores including an injury time goal but it was all too late and when full back Kavan Keenan netted with twenty minutes left the game was well and truly put to bed as a contest. Both teams exchanged points in the closing quarter but Ballymena were never really troubled. Game ended 3-21 to 2-14 to All Saints. 

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Antrim Football League – Division 1

Dunloy 1-18 Rossa 1-11

Dunloy had seven points to spare over Rossa in Saturday afternoon’s Division 1 Football League game at Pearse Park. The Belfast side went ahead early on with a 2Pointer by Mick Byrne but Dunloy were soon in control and lead by 1-07 to 0-06 at half time. Rossa’s best period came early in the second half when they had a chance to draw level but Dunloy were able to clear the danger and from then on they dominated proceedings  to secure the points.

After Mick Byrne’s early 2Pointer Luke McFerran and Ryan McGarry drew the home side level, before a great length of the field move saw Luke McFerran get through for their only goal of the game on eight minutes. Two points by Deaglan Smith stretched the lead, but Rossa came back strongly with three points from Dominic McEnhill. Deaglan Smith and Tiernan Murphy exchanged points but a pointed free by Karl Fitzpatrick gave Dunloy a 1-07 to 0-06 advantage at half time.

Early second half points by Corey Walsh and Eoin Fleming got Rossa going again, and they came close to getting the goal that would have brought them level, but Dunloy hit back strongly and a point by Keelan Molloy was followed by two 2Pointers from Luke McFerran and Deaglan Smith. Smith stretched the lead and when McFerran and Fitzpatrick added points the home team were in the driving seat.

Rossa came with a late burst through Fleming, Domonic McEnhilll and Dara Cunningham but Dunloy finished strong with points from Jack-Martin McShane and Deaglan Smith to seal the win.  

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ACFL DIVISION 1

Cargin 5-11 St. Gall’s 1-15

A superb individual performance and a personal haul of 2-09 from Sean O’ Neill in a ‘man of the match’ performance saw Cargin collect the points to ensure top spot in the Division One table with a win over St Gall’s before a good attendance in Toome on Saturday evening.

It was the home side who were much the faster out of the start traps and by the 10^th minute they had moved into an early lead.

Jack Harney fired to the net after only a couple of minutes and Jamie Gribbin raised white before a cute PJ Quinn delivery sent corner back Gerard McCorley in for their second goal.

Conditions required a ‘water break’ and after the stoppage the visitors employed the score board attendant as Kirstan Walsh raised a couple of white flags with Niall Faloon adding another.

Sean O’ Neill replied for the home side but the visitors responded as Brendan Bradley and Donal Quinn fired over at the other end.

Sean O’ Neill was sent in to raise white following a clearance at the other end by Kevin McShane and with the score at 2-03 to 0-04 in favour of the Toome men, Nial Faloon and Brendan Bradley conspired to reduce the deficit with back to back points.

The home side were reduced in number in the latter stages of the opening period when net minder John McNabb was shown red with Benen Kelly taking up the role between the sticks in which the wing half band was to excel.

The visitors now with a man advantage rolled up their proverbial sleeves in the latter minutes of the half with Brendan Bradley (0-03), Gerard O’ Neill (with a two pointer) reducing the deficit before Cargin full back Kevin McShane moved forward to grab a superb late goal to leave the home side 3-06 to 0-10 ahead at the break.

Sean O’ Neill added to Cargin’s advantage with an early second half point and replacement net minder Benen Kelly came forward to send  the same player away to add two more.

Cargin were dominant at this stage with the excellent O’ Neill continuing to lead the way as he added a couple of points before following with a major.

A superb clearance from Benen Kelly opened the way for Jamie Gribbin to send O’Neill through and the home side looked in charge but the visitors were quick to provide an answer.

Gerard O’Neill replied with a two pointer with Niall Fallon adding  a point. Sean O’ Neill replied at the other end before a Jamie Gribbin cross opened the way for full back McShane to despatch a superb goal to the net and the Toome men were 3-06 to 0-10 at half time

Cargin opened the second half on the offensive and the impressive Sean O’ Neill added back to back points and then Benen Kelly and Jamie Gribbin combined to send Sean O’ Neill away for his second major and Cargin were 4-08 to 0-10 ahead and looking good.

St Gall’s were not about to throw in the towel  and they were quick to reply and full forward Brendan Bradley finished a good move as he fired past Kelly in the Cargin goals.

Jack Harney and Daniel Quinn exchanged points and Daniel Quinn, Marcus McCrossan, and Brendan Bradley added further points to close the gap further.

The imperious O’ Neill responded with a point at the other end and when he followed with a 33^rd minute major it was all over and it was Cargin who had claimed the points crossing the line 5-11 to 1-15 ahead to maintain top spot in the league.

Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Hugh O’ Donnell, Kevin Mc Shane (1-00),Gerard  Mc Corley (1-00), Benen Kelly, Conan Johnston, Jack O’Neill (0-01), John Carron, Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston, Jack Harney (1-01), Jamie Gribbin (0-01), PJ Quinn, Sean O’ Neill (2-10), Martin Kane

Subs

Niall Quinn

Damian Mc Daid

Cain Scullion

St Gall’s: Niall Mc Curdy, Chris Hale, Eoghan Mc Curdy Tiarnan Keenan, John Mc Caffrey, Gerard O’ Neill (1 2pt), Niall Fallon (0-01), Aodhan Gallagher, Conor Mc Cabe, Conn Doherty, Michael Pollock (0-01), Padraig Og Murray (0-01), Brendan Bradley (1-03), Daniel Quinn (0-05)

Subs

Manus Mc Crossan (0-01)

Conn Doherty

 Referee: Colin Thompson (St Johns)