Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship – Group 4

Moneyglass 1-13 Aghagallon 3-10

With a good crowd assembled for this winner takes all contest, it was the beaten finalists from the last two years who settled to the poor underfoot conditions better, getting the first score from corner forward Gareth Magee, and things were to get better for the away side when Magee sent an intercepted moneyglass kick to the net to give his side an early four point lead with less than 5 mins gone.

Not the start the Moneyglass men were wanting but credit to the home side who settled into the game taking next two scores through a Colm Duffin free and one from play by Tiernan McCormick.  With both teams now up to pace and mistakes aplenty the scoring continued with teams trading points through Stephen Devlin and Pauric Maginnis for Aghagallon and Colm Duffin for Moneyglass to leave the score  0-03 to 1-02 after ten hard fought minutes.

Aghagallon again turned the screw reeling off three in a row through Gareth Magee, Eunan Walsh and Marc McAfee and things got a lot worse for the home side when a scramble in the box ended up in the back of net, Adam Loughran getting the vital touch for the visitors to leave it 0-03 to 2-05 with 12 minutes gone.

Moneyglass now had a real battle on their hands to get back into the game, but they showed they weren’t about to throw in the towel and two quick points from Colum Duffin and Pat McCormack steadied the ship. The next phase of play would see the game turned on its head when following a fine move the Marrion Hill men hit the net through midfielder Sheanachan Duffin to cut the gap back to just three after 20 minutes. (1-05 to 2-05)  

With questions now been asked of the away side Moneyglass upped the pressure even more when they reeled off the next two scores through Colum Duffin and Aidan McErlean to leave the bare minimum between sides with just five minutes of the first half left to play. However just when it looked like the home side were starting to dominate proceedings another turned over ball from Aghagallon was sent inside, leading to a penalty which was dispatched to the net by Adam Loughran for the visitirs first score since the 11^th minute. More importantly it gave the Aghagallon men a four point lead, though Colum Duffin pointed an injury time free to cut the gap back to three by the time the half time whistle sounded.

With the pitch starting to cut up due to the heavy rain conditions were not ideal, but Moneyglass made a bright start to the second half, winning loads of possession, but unfortunately for them it didn’t register on scoreboard as a few good chances were missed.

 It was the St Marys side who would register the next score through Marc McAfee to restore his team’s four point lead to ease the pressure a little but  the St Ergnet’s men continued to create chances and two points, one from a Colum Duffin free and one from play by substitute Jimmy McMeel brought the gap down to just two with twenty minutes still to play.

The teams then traded points with Magee pointing a free for  St Mary’s and Conor Boyd finding the target for Moneyglass, as the tension grew by the minute. Aghagallon steadied the ship again and restored their four point lead as Magee and midfielder Jack Lenehan found the target. With eight minutes left to play they stretched that advantage to five when substitute Niall McShane found the target, but it was to be their last score of the game.

The travelling fans had to endure a few nervous episodes as Moneyglass closed the gap with pointed frees from Conor Boyd and Colum Duffin to close the gap to three, but Aghagallon held on to book a quarter final meeting with champions Cargin in two weeks’ time, a repeat of last year’s final.

Overall an absorbing game of football which was added to no doubt by the fact that it was winner takes all, and both teams must take credit for the sporting manner in which it was played, considering how much was at stake.    

MONEYGLASS

Danny McErlain, Fearghal Duffin, Peter McCormick, James McCormick, Tiernan McCormack, Paul Duffin, Patrick McCormick, Colum Duffin, Seanchann Duffin, Kevin McCann, Dermot McErlain, Conleth McCann, Sean Boyd, Aidan McErlain, Conor Boyd.

SUBS – Kevin McErlain for Kevin McCann; Ronan Campbell for Jimmy McMeel; Conor O’Kane for James McCormack.

AGHAGALLON

Luke Mulholland, Ciaran Maginnis, Aidan Mulholland, Kieran Hamill, Padraig Gowdy, Jamie Lamont, Stephen Devlin, Jack Lenahan, Pauric Maginnis, Enda McCartan, Adam Loughran, Marc McAfee, Eunan Walsh, Ruairi McCann, Gareth Magee.

SUBS – Patrick Brannigan for Enda McCartan; Niall McShane for Marc McAfee

REFEREE – Kevin Parke (Naomh Eanna)

Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship – Group 3

Dunloy 0-11 Creggan 1-11

Sunday 27 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

Creggan held off the gallant challenge of Dunloy on Sunday afternoon to ensure they topped the group going into the quarter finals.  With just three points separating the sides at the end of the hour, it was Aiden Maguire’s early major that proved to be the difference between the sides.  The clock had just ticked into the third minute when Sean Duffin stole in behind the Cuchullains defence to create the chance that Maguire eventually squeezed over the line.

It was another stern test of the senior championship credentials for the Cuchullains.  Making the step up from intermediate is never easy but Anthony McQuillan’s side were a match for their south-west counterparts for long periods of the game.  With pace and trickery coming from deep, they asked plenty of questions throughout the hour but Creggan kept them at arms length during a ding-dong second half.  The visitors led by three points at the short whistle and while Dunloy got to within two points on three separate occasions, Creggan had enough experience to keep the Cuchullains at bay and get over the line.

Keelan Molloy top scored for the home side, two of his six points coming from play in another strong performance while Nigel Elliott was at his enigmatic best in attack.  Deaglan Smith and Ryan McGarry were hugely competitive in the middle of the park on a day where neither side were willing to conceded kick outs.  The pressure was on both Oisin Kerr and Sean Doherty from the restarts but both ‘keepers will have been content with how they performed.

The marauding runs of Sean Duffin and Tiarnan McAteer proved to be hugely problematic for Dunloy with both men using pace and power on numerous occasions to break the line and create space for a side that had Liam Quinn playing close to his impish best and a solid return of two points will have pleased the Kickhams management.  With Martin Johnston, Quinn, Conor and Kevin Small all making timely returns from injury, the Staffordstown Road side look to be getting the band back together at the right time of the season.

The home side made two changes from the side that defeated St Galls two weeks ago with Tom McFerran and James Scally both coming into the starting 15 but it was the visitors who started best.  Duffin down the left hand side cut inside his marker and passed to Paddy Coey in front of goal.  His shot was superbly saved by Dunloy ‘keeper Doherty but Aidan Maguire was on hand to lash the rebound to the back of the net.

The Dunloy response was instant with Tom McFerran firing over from distance but the Kickhams were finding joy down the left with Quinn’s opening point of the match coming from a similar scenario as their goal.  His riffled effort went over the bar from an acute angle in the seventh minute but that was to be their last score until the 28^th minute of the half as Dunloy began to find their feet in the game.

Frees from Coby Cunning and Keelan Molloy preceded an outrageous score from Seaan Elliott.  In front of the posts and fully 45 yards from goal, Elliott pinged the ball over the bar with the outside of his boot that had the Dunloy crowd purring.  A super score that brought the sides level for the first time in the game but stung the Kickhams into life.

While they didn’t have much joy in front of the Dunloy posts during that 21 minutes, they could have had a second major but Scally to clear Quinn’s effort off the line.  Duffin did finally add to their score with a well-constructed move saw him cut in from the left hand side and fire over after some more patient play from his side.  A Ruairi McCann free and point from Tiarnan McAteer followed to leave the half time score 1-4 to 0-4 in favour of the Kickhams.

Dunloy opened the scoring after the restart with Cunning’s second free of the game reducing the deficit to two but a quick-fire double from Coey (one free) extended the Creggan led to four just five minutes into the second half.

The Dunloy charge was led superbly by Keelan Molloy in the second half though and he fired over a brace to keep the home side in touch before Quinn’s second of the match ensured Maguire’s goal still separated the sides midway through the half.

The home side turned to the bench with Kevin and Ciaran McQuillan coming into the fray and it was the Cuchullains captain who raised the next white flag.  Kevin McQuillan certainly had more on his mind when he found himself in front of Oisin Kerr’s goals and looked to have done enough when he showed super composure with ball in hand and while he beat the Kickham’s ‘keeper, Conor McCann was on hand to deflect his effort over the bar.

Dominic McAteer and Molloy swapped frees before substitutes Sam Maguire and Matthew Rodgers combined for Rodgers to fire over.

With less than 10 minutes of the game remaining, the home side were reduced to 14 men with referee Darren McKeown sending off Ryan McGarry to derail the Cuchullains charge.  McAteer’s second free left four between the sides with three minutes of the hour remaining but Dunloy rolled the dice one more time.

Playing Molloy inside on his own, they used his ability to win ball superbly and he scored his fifth and sixth points of the game in quick succession to leave the game finely poised as the clock ticked into injury time.

The home side continued to pour forward in search of the goal that would give them another senior championship shock but Creggan and Joe McAteer had the final say as he kicked the last score of the game after a swift counter attack.

Creggan now look ahead to the quarter finals and a meeting with Portglenone while Dunloy will face Lamh Dhearg in two weeks time.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Oran Quinn, Eoin McFerran, James Scally; Chrissy McMahon, Conor Kinsella, Seaan Elliott; Ryan McGarry, Deaglan Smith; Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning, Tom McFerran; Eoghan McGrath, Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill

Subs: Ciaran McQuillan for T McFerran (45); Kevin McQuillan for E McGrath (45)

Scorers: K Molloy 0-6 (4fs); C Cunning 0-2 (2fs); S Elliott 0-1; T McFerran 0-1; K McQuillan 0-1

Creggan: Oisin Kerr; Ethan Carey-Small, Ricky Johnston, Conor McCann; Aidan Maguire, Martin Johnston, Joe McAteer; Ruairi McCann, Kevin Small; Sean Duffin, Conor Small, Tiarnan McAteer; Liam Quinn, Paddy Coey, Dominic McAteer

Subs: Matthew Rodgers for P Coey (45); Sam Maguire for M Johnston (47); Odhran McLarnon for L Quinn (51); Conor McCann for T McAteer (58)

Scorers: A Maguire 1-00; P Coey 0-2 (1f); L Quinn 0-2; D McAteer 0-2 (2fs); R McCann 0-1 (1f); J McAteer 0-1; S Duffin 0-1; T McAteer 0-1; M Rodgers 0-1

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)

Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship, Group Two-

Lámh Dhearg 0-10 Naomh Éanna 0-10

Lamh Dhearg sealed their place in the quarter finals of Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship as group winners when they fought back from three points down in the last ten minutes to earn a draw with St Enda’s in Hannahstown. The result denied the Glengormley men passage to the last eight, that and the fact that Casements won their game against local rivals Ahoghill in Portglenone.

When they were three up with ten minutes to go it looked like Naomh Eanna were going to go through to the exclusion of their hosts, but the 2017 champions showed some character to battle back and earn the draw that gives them top spot with Casements finishing second.

Conditions at Hannahstown were not ideal of good football and mistakes were common in the opening quarter as both sides missed chances to take the lead. Lamh Dhearg looked the more likely after having the Lion’s share of possession in those early stages and it was Naomh Eanna who were first to trouble the scoreboard operator when Fionn Nagle swung over a great point from play and seconds later top scorer Odhran Eastwood took advantage of a defensive error to put the visitors two clear.   

However the home side were always dangerous and they opened their account soon afterwards when Conor Murray tipped a high dropping ball over the St Enda’s crossbar and the evergreen Paddy Cunningham, who was to end with seven to his name, brought them level with the first of his six pointed frees. Odhran Eastwood briefly restored the visitors lead, but the Lamhs were starting to dominate and two quality points from Murray and Cunningham saw them push on to lead by 0-5 to 0-3 by the time referee Ray Matthews sounded the half time whistle.

Still the Hightown outfit must have been fairly pleased with their position as they turned to play with the breeze at their backs in the second half and their optimism appeared to be justified as early scores from Odhran Eastwood and centre back James McAuley brought them. When midfielder Michael Morgan pointed them ahead things looked good for the St Enda’s and when Eastwood tagged on two excellent points, and McAuley shot a second they looked nailed on to make it through to the knock out stages with just ten minutes of normal time to play.  

To their credit Lamh Dhearg showed great character when the chips were really down and Paddy Cunningham rolled back the years as he started the comeback with pointed free, before being involved in the move that lead to March Jordan’s point which cut the deficit to the minimum. Cunningham drew his side level before putting them back ahead, and though the excellent James McAuley brought St Enda’s level again entering injury time, their great efforts came up just short and the Hannahstown men controlled matters in the dying minutes to secure top spot.

LÁMH DHEARG: J Finucane; Ross Murray, P Mervyn, M McGarry; E McKeown, D Lynch, B Rice; M Jordan (0-1), P Fitzsimons; D Smith, S McManus, E Matassa; P Cunningham (0-7, 6 frees), D Martin, C Murray (0-2).

Subs: A McAufield for E Matassa (44), A Murray for D Martin (46), F Mervyn for B Rice (50).

NAOMH ÉANNA: T Gilmour; C McKeown, D McNulty, K Jennings; C Lyttle, J McAuley (0-3), R O’Neill; M Morgan (0-1), F Nagle (0-1); R Carr, D Walsh, C Morgan; E O’Hare, S O’Connor, O Eastwood (0-5, 2 frees).

REFEREE: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

Northern Switchgear SFC Group 2

Casements 1-16 Ahoghill 1-9

Casement’s Portglenone recovered from their defeat to Lamh Dhearg to secure a place in the Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship quarter-finals when they defeated neighbours, Naomh Muire Ahoghill in a hard hitting encounter at Kelly Park on Saturday.

Any notion that the Clooney side were there to just fulfil a fixture were quickly dismissed as both sides went at it tooth and nail from the throw in and the visitors giving as good as they got for most of the hour.

Casement’s went into an early two point lead through Odhran McGarry and Oisin Doherty but Ahoghill replied with points from Conor Crossey, Eamon Brady and an excellent score from James O’Connell to edge ahead with only nine minutes gone.

Paddy Kelly with his first point of the night levelled matters with Ronan Graham replying immediately to move the visitors ahead once more before a fisted point from Kelly tied the contest again at the end of the opening quarter.

The exchanges were fast and furious and not for the faint hearted as these old rivals continued to produce a contest worthy of any championship encounter as James O’Connell restored the visitors lead for the third time.

Back came the Portglenone side and Caolan Tierney fired over to leave it 0-5 to 0-5 and Ruairi Hagan edged them ahead for just the second time in the game with a great point in the 18^th minute.

There was absolutely nothing between the sides at this stage and James O’Connell brought them level yet again as both sets of supporters roared their approval at what they were witnessing on the field.

Slowly the home side began to get on top and Paddy Kelly pointed a couple of frees to move them two in front but Conor Crossey set up Martin Graham for a good point at the other end to bring back to one with five minutes remaining to the break.

Those final minutes of the half would see John McKeever’s side put a bit of daylight between themselves and the opposition as Odhran McGarry, Oisin Doherty with a superb effort and Paddy Kelly from an injury time free moved the Casement’s three in front at the break, the Ahoghill reply coming from James O’Connell.

The league champions introduced Kevin O’Kane for Daniel McNicholl at the start of the second half and Paddy Kelly converted his fifth free and sixth point of the game within 45 seconds to move his side four in front.

Ahoghill responded and a strong run from Dan O’Neill through the heart of the Casement’s defence looked like producing a goal but Ryan O’Neill came off his line to smother the Ahoghill man’s effort.

Paddy Kelly had been faultless with his free taking and he continued to punish indiscretions by the visitors defence as he extended his side’s lead to five in the 7^th minute and it looked to be slipping away from Chris McGlone’s side.

Ahoghill were having none of it however with Paddy Graham charging through the centre of the home defence but his well struck shot sailed over when a goal looked eminent.

The visitors were enjoying plenty of possession at this stage and Ryan O’Neill had to claw away a tantalising delivery with his namesake, Fionnbar O’Neill challenging.

It had been  nine minutes since either side raised a flag with Ahoghill looking the more likely to break the duck but it was Portglenone who would go some distance to putting the game to bed in the minutes that followed.

Paddy Kelly and Conor Magee fired over points and then a defence splitting move culminated in Oisin Doherty firing left footed to the corner of Cahair O’Kane’s net and suddenly there was nine points between the sides with ten minutes remaining.

Paddy Kelly increased that lead to ten but St. Mary’s quite simply refused to give up and when Ryan O’Neill spilled a James O’Connell delivery into his own net the visitors had been handed a lifeline.

It would prove to be the game’s final score however and a further 8 minutes failed to produce a score but certainly didn’t lack intensity with the hits going in fast and hard.

Portglenone finish their Group 2 fixtures in second place, despite a mighty effort up the road by St. Enda’s at Hannastown which saw them draw 0-10 to 0-10 to eventual Group winners, Lamh Dhearg.

Northern Switchgear SFC Group 1

Erin’s Own Cargin 5-12 St John’s 2-09

Goals prove the key to success for Cargin as they hit five on the night to see off the challenge of the visiting Johnnies in Toome on Friday evening to finish top of Group 1 and claim a place in the quarter finals.

The visiting St Johns got off to a good start with a 2^nd minute Patrick McBride point but their lead was short lived as back to back goals from Conhuir Johnston and Pat Shivers saw Ronan Devlin’s men in charge by the 6^th minute.

The visitors were under the cosh in the opening phase as the home side moved the ball around confidently but they responded with the aid of a fresh northerly breeze as ace marksman Patrick McBride replied with four unanswered points.

St. John’s looked to be back in contention but it took a smart save from their keeper, Patrick Nugent to deny Pat Shivers after a trademark dash from defence to attack from Kevin ‘Kobo’ O’ Boyle sent the big man in on target.

Further points from Paddy McBride and Conal Quinn saw the city side draw level but Cargin were to dominate the remainder of the opening half.

Pat Shivers grabbed a 23^rd minute point following a foul on Conhuir Johnston and Cargin finished the half on the positive as David Johnston sent Pat Shivers in for his second major and James Laverty grabbed a fourth in the 27^th minute to put the home side 4-03 to 0-09 ahead at the interval.

The home side started the second half as they had finished the first and Tomas Mc Cann, Conhuir Johnston, and Pat Shivers, with a fine long range effort added points to move the reigning champions 11 ahead but it brought a response from the Whiterock Road side.

Conor Johnston was fouled as he raced through on goal with a penalty awarded and Conor Hand took responsibility for the spot kick and delivered in style to the back of the net to give his side a boost.

Cargin were soon back in control however as a foul on Eunan Quinn inside the square saw Tomas McCann fire confidently to the back of the net and ensure the home side were back in control.

It was backs to the wall for the city men as the second half progressed with the home side dominant in defence and slick in attack as Pat Shivers and Tomas McCann 0-3 added points and with the issue resolved Ronan Devlin introduced Paudie Mc Laughlin, Ciaran Bradley, and Sean Og Quinn to the action.

Eunan Quinn added a point to the Cargin total as the rain returned with Pat Shivers following suit before Conor Johnston found the net with a consolation score for the ‘Johnnies’ with time almost up.

An excellent win for the reigning champions and one that will make other possible contenders to the title sit up and take notice. St. Johns gave it everything and on another day 2-9 would have put them in contention with most sides but on the night they had no answer to a slick Cargin side.

Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Sean Og O’ Neill, Kevin Mc Shane, Kevin O’ Boyle, Justin Crozier, Paul Mc Cann, Cahir Donnelly, Gerard Mc Cann, James Laverty (1-00), David Johnston, Tomas Mc Cann (1-05), Conhuir Johnston (1-02), Pat Shivers (2-04), Mark Kelly, Eunan Quinn (0-01).

Subs

Ciaran Bradley

Sean Og Quinn

Ronan Gribbin

St John’s: Padraig Nugent, Jack Bohill, Ryan Mc Nulty, Ciaran Garland, Liam Laverty, Ciaran Johnston, Andy Mc Gowan, Simon Mc Donagh, Conor Hand (1-00), Ronan Lindsay, Patrick Mc Bride (0-06), Conall Gough, Conor Johnston (1-01), Conor Bohill (0-01), Conall Quinn (0-01)

Subs

Adrian Oliver

Conor Dyson

Stephen Tierney

Louis Boyd

Referee: Patrick Nolan (Lamh Dhearg)