Senior Football Championship – Group 1

Dunloy 3-15 Naomh Éanna 0-5

Saturday 17 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Hightown

Dunloy made it two from two and safe passage to the quarter final with a comfortable win against Naomh Éanna at Hightown on Saturday.  The Cuchullains were rarely troubled on the evening and despite a slow start, they created scoring chances with a range of attacking threats. 

An impressive total of 10 different scorers and holding the Hightown Road men to just one point in the second half, Dunloy controlled this contest for the overwhelming majority of the hour.

Keelan Molloy would top score for his side, finishing with 1-4 beside his name before the Dunloy management rang the changes.  Further first half goals from Anthony Smith and Caolan Gillan from the penalty spot ensured this game was all but over before half time.

Naomh Éanna started brightly and throughout the first half had an attacking threat in Fiontan O’Connor.  He was proving a handful for the Dunloy defence with his ability to win primary possession while the intelligent runs of Ruairi Hamilton and Conor Maxwell always gave the Glengormley side options.

Naomh Éanna just couldn’t make inwards in a well organised Dunloy defence that was well marshalled by Deaglan Smith and Eoin McFerran while Oran Quinn and Conor Kinsella also shone.

The home side tried various options to try and nullify the Dunloy attack with Philly Curran playing in a sweeping position before having to come off at half time with an injury while Killian Jennings put in a mountain of defensive work.  The Cuchullains did manage to cut through the centre of the Naomh Éanna defence with regular precision however and passed up a number of goal scoring opportunities.

Naomh Éanna made an impressive start to this contest by adding two points in the opening three minutes.  A free from Stephen O’Connor opening the scoring before Lorcan Murray split the uprights with a confident score despite the pressure of the Dunloy defence.  They wouldn’t trouble the scoreboard operatives for another 15 minutes however as Dunloy found some footing in the game.

A super score from Chrissy McMahon was followed some seven minutes later by the opening goal of the game from Anthony Smith.  It came from the visitors pressing high and forcing a turnover in the Naomh Éanna defence.  Oran Quinn and Nigel Elliott combined before finding Smith in space and he finished expertly.

Nigel Elliott split the uprights before Dunloy’s second major.  A long ball was delivered into Molloy and he turned onto his left foot, he got the half yard he needed and while his shot looked to be falling harmlessly into the waiting arms of Sean Nagle in the Naomh Éanna goals, he misjudged the flight and Molloy’s effort dropped into the back of the net.

A Stephen O’Connor free briefly halted the Dunloy charge but further scores followed from Molloy (two) and Seaan Elliott.  Elliott showing his trademark change of direction and burst of pace to evade the Naomh Éanna challenges.

Stephen O’Connor’s third of the half and first from play came in the 25^th minute of the game, cutting in from the left hand side O’Connor split the uprights with an excellent finish but it would be their last score of the half.

Points came from midfielder Ryan McGarry and the impressive Deaglan Smith before some super defending from Oran Quinn denied Fiontan O’Connor when through on goal.

McMahon’s second of the half, this one from distance off his right while the third Dunloy goal followed in the last minute of the half.  Caolan Gillan intercepted a Naomh Éanna restart and was one on one with Sean Nagle.  He tried to go around the Naomh Éanna ‘keeper and Nagle dived at his feet but brought Gillan to the ground.  The Dunloy man dusted himself off and converted the spot kick with what was the last meaningful action of the half to leave the half time score 3-8 to 0-4.

The second half restarted with Dunloy on the front foot once again and could have had another fortuitous goal.  Molloy once again causing problems but Sean Nagle managed to scramble the ball clear with both umpires well positioned to make the call.  A brace of frees from Deaglan Smith and Molloy edged the Cuchullains further ahead before Eoghan O’Hare would score Naomh Éanna’s only score of the half in the 38^th minute.  Sending a long ball into the forward line, it would bounce over everyone and clear the bar.

Dunloy’s attacking ingenuity kept the Naomh Éanna defence guessing with a varied range of threats coming from deep and through the middle.  The home side abandoned their sweeper and went man for man but Dunloy were content to be more methodical in their approach.

Points from Gillan and Molloy (free) took the deficit to 16 before McMahon was unlucky not to score a fourth Dunloy goal.  He saw a snapshot cleared off the line by Conan Lyttle.

As the half progressed, both sides rang the changes and while Naomh Éanna did pose more of an attacking threat, the Cuchullains remained happy to control the game.

Both sides had further goal chances before Dunloy would add to their tally – Anthony Smith fluffing his lines after a precise and patient move found him in space while substitute Paddy Doran’s effort was deflected onto the post.

Substitutes Karl Fitzpatrick and Kevin McQuillan (free) rounded up the scoring in the last five minutes as Dunloy ran out comfortable winners.  They face Lámh Dhearg in two weeks time with the winner topping the group but both sides safely through to the knock out stages with a game to spare.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Conor Kinsella, Eoin McFerran, James Scally; Oran Quinn, Deaglan Smith, Seaan Elliott; Ryan McGarry, Aodhan McGarry; Nigel Elliott, Caolan Gillan, Tom McFerran; Anthony Smith, Keelan Molloy, Chrissy McMahon

Subs: Cathaoir McCloskey for O Quinn (43); Kevin McQuillan for K Molloy (46); Karl Fitzpatrick for N Elliott (46); Ryan McFarlane for R McGarry (50); Ciaran McQuillan for D Smith (53)

Scorers: K Molloy 1-4 (3fs); C Gillan 1-1 (1-00 pen); A Smith 1-1 (1f); C McMahon 0-2; D Smith 0-2 (1f); S Elliott 0-1; R McGarry 0-1; N Elliott 0-1; K Fitzpatrick 0-1; K McQuillan 0-1 (1f)

Naomh Éanna: Sean Nagle; Eoghan O’Hare, Philip Curran, Diarmuid McNulty; Conor Maxwell, Conan Lyttle, Ruairi Hamilton; Niall McKeown, Sean Murray; Lorcan Murray, Cormac Morgan, Sean McBride; Killian Jennings, Fiontan O’Connor, Stephen O’Connor

Subs: Tomás Gilmour for P Curran (HT); Paddy Doran for C Morgan (47); Ciaran McKeown for C Maxwell (53); Colm McCabe for R Hamilton (58)

Scorers: S O’Connor 0-3 (2fs); E O’Hare 0-1; L Murray 0-1

Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgalls)

FOR MORE BRENDAN TAGGART PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/RivW3XM9FrRfX7

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 1

St James, Aldergrove 0-10-0-19 Lámh Dhearg

Kevin Herron reports from Aldergrove

LÁMH DHEARG made the most of their numerical advantage and moved a step closer to the quarter-final of the Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship with a 0-19-0-10 win over Aldergrove in Crumlin on Friday evening.

The turning point came with little over 10-minutes remaining in the aftermath of a Conor Murray score that had opened up a four-point gap, Emmett Irvine was red-carded for an off the ball incident on the full-forward and the four-point deficit would stretch to nine by the conclusion.

Until that point the hosts were had remained in the game, largely thanks to the threat of Seamus McGarry in attack.

Both sides had contrasting fortunes in their opening encounters with Aldergrove losing on the road to Dunloy and Lámh Dhearg accounting for St Enda’s.

Lámh Dhearg were first off the mark after Terry McCrudden sent a high ball towards Pearse Fitzsimons- who was fouled- and Conor Murray converted the resulting free.

Michael Herron then continued a run forward and sent an angled shot between the posts, with Seamus McGarry hitting back in response.

The lead was extended after Declan Smyth clipped over from range and Owen McKeown then swung over a tricky point after a fine link-up with Marc Jordan.

Aldergrove hit back with an angled Ronan Hanna shot crashing over via the large post, but Conor Murray doubled his personal tally from a free and Ben Rice then perfectly shot inside the posts.

The theme of the half continued as Cormac McGarry took a pass from Emmett Irvine to drop over, only for back-to-back points in response from a brace of Conor Murray free’s that had opened up a 0-08-0-03 gap.

Things could have better for the visitors after Declan Lynch continued a probe forward and let fly with a low that crashed off the base of the post and out.

Successive scores from Seamus McGarry (free) and Brian McQuillan narrowed the deficit and the sides traded the last two scores of the half, Seamus McGarry doubling his tally from the placed ball after Conor Murray had kicked his first from play as Lámh Dhearg went in with a 0-09-0-06 lead at the midway point.

The Lámhs extended their lead upon the resumption through a Shaun McManus point on the turn, though their lead was halved with McGarry kicking his third free and then dropping over his second from play.

Owen McKeown eased the pressure on side with his second score of the evening and Conor Murray notched his fifth placed ball of the evening to move his side 0-12-0-08 ahead with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Aldergrove’s penultimate score of the evening came in the form of a Ronan Hanna free but just moments later their discipline that kept them in the contest until that point let them down.

Despite the best efforts of Declan Gough , Conor Murray saw his deflected shot rise of the bar and in the aftermath, Emmett Irvine caught Murray off the ball and in the presence of referee Colm McDonald- who issued Irvine with a red-card that brought his evening to a premature end.

Thereafter the visitors made the most of the extra-man and tagged on four-points unanswered.

Terry McCrudden swung over a magnificent point and Marc Jordan fisted over after a breakaway move involving Daniel and Conor Murray.

Talisman Murray kicked his third from play and substitute Adam Murray would get in on the act as his side moved 0-17-0-09 ahead.

A converted Ronan Hanna free in the closing stages briefly halted the Lámhs momentum but Calum Lappin fisted over in injury time and Declan Smyth popped over to finish the evenings scoring and ensure that Lámh Dhearg made it two wins from two and are on the brink of a place in the last eight.

ST JAMES, ALDERGROVE: C Totten, A Irvine, E Irvine, C O’Toole, E Gough, C McVeigh, D Gough, O Graham, B McQuillan (0-01), A Flood, C McGarry (0-01), G Mallon, P Burns, R Hanna (0-03, 0-02f), S McGarry (0-05, 0-03f). SUBS: C McSteen for C McGarry (42), D Aiken for C O’Toole (54), C Fogerty for P Burns (56).

LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth, B Rice (0-01), M McGarry, F Mervyn, O McKeown (0-02), D Lynch, D Smyth (0-02), P Fitzsimons, M Jordan (0-01), D Murray, S McManus (0-01), E Matassa, M Herron (0-01), C Murray (0-08, 0-05f), T McCrudden (0-01). SUBS: C Fegan (0-01) for S McManus (38), A Murray (0-01) for D Murray (55), D Martin for O McKeown (57), N McGarry for E Matassa (59), C Boyd for C Murray (60+1).

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (ST GALLS)

Antrim Senior Football Championship

St. Mary’s Aghagallon 0-5 Kicham’s Creggan 1-8

A goal from Matthew Rodgers in the 24^th minute of the second half ended this Group 4 SFC opener as a contest as a well organised Kickham’s Creggan proved too good for a disappointing St. Mary’s Aghagallon in Aghagallon on Sunday evening. Rodgers took advantage as the home side made a mess of an intended short kick-out and in the scramble that followed the big number 15 finished to Luke Mulholland’s net.

There was little to separate the teams during a cagey opening half where the visitors employed a slow methodical build up as they dominated possession for long periods with St. Mary’s looking dangerous on the break. Aghagallon trailed by the minimum at the end of a low scoring first half but might well have been ahead but a Padraig Gowdy shot crashed back of an upright when a goal looked eminent.It was St. Mary’s who were first off the mark when Jack Lenehan pointed them ahead after 30 seconds but Jamie McCann replied with an equaliser for the Kickham’s with six minutes on the clock.

Keeper, Luke Mulholland briefly restored the home side’s lead with a well struck long range free in the 8^th minute but Creggan replied with three on the bounce through Sean Duffin, Matthew Rodgers and Jamie McCann to lead 0-4 to 0-2 by the 21^st minuteThe home side had been under pressure for a time but broke effectively at speed and Padraig Gowdy looked certain to score but his well struck shot cannoned of an upright and was cleared to safety. Johnny Hannon closed the gap to the minimum when he converted a long range free in the closing minutes as the driving wind and incessant rain that fell throughout continued.

 HT Aghagallon 0-3 Creggan  0-4

 When Gareth ‘Dinkey’ Magee pointed a free at the start of the second half to level the contest the home crowd must have felt that they were well in with a chance but in truth it never looked like materialising.  Instead it was visitors Creggan who took control with Ruairi McCann pointing a difficult free and then adding another from a well struck ‘45’ to sandwich a Kealan McCann point from play. County man Ruairi McCann brought his personal contribution for the evening to three with another after 20 minutes and when Matthew Rogders punished a misguided kick-out, four minutes later it was all over. Tiernan McAteer was the man who created it as he intercepted Luke Mulholland’s misguided kick and he found Rogers with an astute pass and the big striker made no mistake from close range. Jack Lenehan, who put in a good shift for the home side at mid-field, replied with a point for Aghagallon a minute later but it would be the game’s final score and the visitors will be delighted with this opening day win in what has been labelled the group of death

Aghagallon: 1 Luke Mulholland, 2 Kieran Hamill, 3 Aidan Mulholland, 4 Daryl McAlornan, 5 Ciaran Maginnis, 6 Jamie Lamont, 7 Eunan Walsh, 8 Jack Lenehan, 9 Padraig Gowdy, 10 Pauric Maginnis, 11 Enda McCartan, 12 Johnny Hannon, 13 Gareth Magee, 14 David McAlornan, 15 Jack Hannon

Subs: Adam Loughran

Creggan: 1. Oisin Kerr, 2. Conor Mc Cann, 3. Ricky Johnston , 4. Aiden Maguire, 5. Ethan Carey-Small, 6. Ruairi Mc Cann, 7. Jamie Mc Cann, 8. Kealan Mc Cann, 9. Patrick Mc Auley, 10. Sean Duffin, 11. Conor Mc Cann, 12. Tiarnan Mc Larnon, 13. Dominic Mc Ateer, 14. Tiernan Mc Ateer, 15. Mathew Rodgers,

Subs: Joe Mc Ateer for 9, Sam Maguire for 12, Jake Mc Ateer for 2 

Referee: Colm McDonald

SEE MORE OF BERT TROWLEN PICS BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/LoK78VMpYz7D9d/?invite=852d5acb-e751-4d89-95f3-e3049ed7e229

Antrim Senior Football Championship Group

St Brigids 1-13 St Galls 1-10

Paul McIntyre reports from Musgrve Park

St Brigids got their championship campaign off to the best possible start with a three-point win over St Galls at a rain battered Musgrave Park on Sunday afternoon.

Patrick Finnegan’s 6^th minute goal was the cherry on top of a scintillating opening quarter as the South Belfast side aim to add a first senior championship to their recent league success.

Ruairi McErlean impressed with five-points in the opening half as St Brigids threatened to run away with the tie, and at one point the Biddies enjoyed a ten-point lead. However, a Niall Burns goal on the stroke of half-time helped ignite the fire that was missing from the bellies of the St Galls players, and despite a much improved performance in the second half, and the fact that the home side managed just two points in the second half, St Gall’s fightback fell just short.

St Brigids wasted no time in working the scoreboard. Only 35 seconds had elapsed when Conan McNicholl scored from play, following a quick ball inside from Patrick Finnegan.

Jack Dowling and Mikey Cummings added points in the opening five minutes before the games opening goal arrived a minute later. Patrick Finnegan’s run through the heart of the St Galls defence wasn’t tracked, and when he collected James Smith’s pass, Finnegan blasted past Chris Kerr to give his side a six-point advantage.

A Daniel Quinn point in the 7^th minute eventually gave St Galls something to cheer about but by the time Ruairi McErlean converted a free in the 11^th minute, it gave St Brigids a commanding eight-point advantage at 1-6 to 0-1.

 Quinn and Niall Burns tried their best to take the fight to their hosts, and when Burns landed his second of the game in the 22^nd minute, it left six between the sides with half-time approaching.

But a Shea Downey effort, two from McErlean and a James Smith point left ten between them before the visitors received a much-needed lifeline in the final minute of the half.

Following a defence slip Conor Ryan got in behind the St Brigids full back line and managed to pick out Quinn, who unselfishly passed the ball on to Burns who finished neatly to the net to cut their arrears to seven-points at the break, 1-11 to 1-4.

When the sides emerged for the second half, they were welcomed to the field to a downpour of biblical proportions, and it was the visitors who handled the worsening conditions better.

After Burns converted two frees, Brendan Bradley kicked two from play, and from a position of strength, St Brigids were fighting hard to hold on to a three-point lead with just ten minutes remaining.

Burns, who was St Galls standout player on the day, got in behind the home defence, but his pass across the face of the St Brigids goal failed to find a blue shirt, and the home side survived the scare.

Shea Downey settled the nerves for St Brigids, and as the game ticked into injury time, the contest threatened to boil over. 

With time against them, St Galls kept up the pressure and a further Burns free left three between them again, but St Brigids did just about enough to hold on for an opening day win.

Teams & Scorers:

St Brigids: Declan Heery, John Toner, Joe Finnegan (0-1), Ronan Boyle, Reuben Carleton, Shea Downey (0-2), Shay Campbell, Mikey Cummings (0-1), Jack Dowling (0-1), Niall Duffy, Patrick Finnegan (1-0), James Smith (0-1), Conan McNicholl (0-2 1 Mark), Conor McAleer, Ruairi McErlean (0-5 3f).

Replacements: Ben Doherty for Duffy 13 mins, Callum Downey for McErlean (45), Deaghlan O’Hagan for Dowling (64), Brian McGurk for Doherty (65).

St Galls: Chris Kerr, Marcus Donnelly, Tiarnan Keenan, John McCaffrey, Ruairi Wilson, Conall McGirr, Conall McCabe, Marcus McCrossan, Aodhan Gallagher, Callum Walsh (0-1), Brendan Bradley (0-2), Conor Ryan, Niall Fallon, Niall Burns (1-5 0-4f), Daniel Quinn (0-2).

Replacements: Liam Lynn for Wilson (HT), Niall O’Neill for Fallon (49), Conor Burke for Walsh (53), Caolan Chada for Ryan (57).

Referee: Mr Mark O’Neill.

TO SEE THE PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/qJ7ysGZ2fCgKC3/?invite=02132790-4376-414c-b273-a88665ac092a