Northern Switchgear SFC Group One

Erin’s Own Cargin 1-19 Tir na nOg 1-09

Defending county senior football champions Erin’s Own Cargin advanced to the quarer finals of this year’s championship when they recorded a 10 point win over South West neighbours, Tir na nOg in Portglenone on Saturday evening.

The Toome men went into this game as firm favourites and they went on to justify the favourites tag thanks to the guile of Tomas McCann, James Laverty, Justin Crozier and the fire power of Conhuir Johnston to secure passage to the quarter finals.

A darkening sky overhead threatening the rain which duly arrived threatened a poor damp evening for those who had gathered for the latest round of the senior football championship as Erin’s Own Cargin lined out to meet Tir na nOg.

Caomhinn Duffin opened the scoring with an early point for the Whitehill side with Paul McCann replying in kind at the other end a few minutes later to square the contest.

That theme continued during the opening period which saw the sides at 0-03 apiece after ten minutes in a strong breeze carrying rain which came down as pellets.

Tomas McCann started positively and he and Pat Shivers raised whites in the Cargin cause as Eamon Og Mc Allister and Darragh Feagan replied in kind for the Randalstown side.

Conditions improved at the end of the opening quarter and Jamie Gribbin and Tomas McCann combined to open the way for Eunan Quinn to find the net.

Cargin had nipped ahead and Kevin O’ Boyle came forward to add a point but the Randalstown men were quick to reply as a strong run from Eamon Og McAllister saw the centre forward plant the ball in the corner of the Cargin net despite the best efforts of net minder Shea Laverty.

The Toome side responded as James Laverty, Conhuir Johnston (2), and Tomas Mc Cann raised white flags at the other end.

Conhuir Johnston and Oliver Mc Atamney swapped points in the latter stages of the half to see the sides take the respite offered by the short whistle with Cargin leading 1-09 to 1-04.

The second half started with the strong wind again carrying rain and Pat Shivers increased the Cargin advantage with an early point before Darragh Fagan and Eamon Og McAllister replied with points for the Whitehill side to keep their hopes alive.

Conhuir Johnston responded with a point at the other end with the impressive Ciaran O’ Neill making quick reply but Cargin were beginning to take command and hit back with points from Tomas McCann and Eunan Quinn.

The reigning champions had moved 1-16 to 1-08 ahead as the clock ticked onward with Ronan Devlin sending several replacements into the fray and Kieran Close added a point to punish a foul on fellow replacement Paudie McLaughlin.

The impressive Conhuir Johnston added back to back points in the latter stages with the Randalstown men returning fire with a point at the other end but the last score came from the hugely talented Tomas McCann.

Tir na nOg gave it everything but in the end it was not enough despite the best efforts of Eamon Og Mc Allister, Ciaran O’ Neill, and Darragh Fagan and will now turn their attentions to the Intermediate Hurling Championship.

Cargin: Shea Laverty, James Laverty (0-01)Kevin Mc Shane, Kevin O’ Boyle (0-01), Justin Crozier, Paul Mc Cann (0-01), Sean og O’ Neill, Mark Kelly, Gerard Mc Cann, Jamie Gribbin, Tomas Mc Cann (0-05), David Johnston, Pat Shivers (0-04), Conhuir Johnston (0-06)

Subs:

Ciaran Close (0-01)

Paudie Mc Loughlin

Ronan Gribbin

Ciaran Bradley

Tir na nOg: Sean P Mc Atamney, Brandon Mc Larnon, Ciaran O’ Neill (0-01), Barry Mc Cormick (0-01), Caomhinn Duffin, Oliver Mc Atamney (0-01), Sean Duffin, Aaron Mc Neilly, Eamon og Mc Allister(1-03),Kevin Sheerin,  Darragh Feagan (0-04), Christy Sheerin, Kevin Sheerin, Daniel Martin, Conor Hastings,

Subs:

Barry Magee

Referee: D McKeown (St. Gall’s)

Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship

Group 3

St Gall’s 2-10 Dunloy 2-11

Saturday 12 August

Brendan McTaggart reports from De La Salle Park, Belfast

Forever known throughout the county as a championship team, Dunloy showed their pedigree once more.  Written off in all corners apart from the village, the Cuchullains shocked St Galls in their own backyard to make it a winning return to the senior championship.

Playing at this level for the first time in 14 years, Dunloy overcame a two point half time deficit and had St Galls on the backfoot for long periods in the second half.  Using the pace and power of Keelan Molloy, Deaglan Smith and Nigel Elliott from deep to create chances throughout but it was the performance of Seaan Elliott that shone.  He would finish with 0-4 for the hour, one of those from a different postcode and bewildering footwork making little of the tough underfoot conditions, Elliott led the Dunloy charge.

St Galls will look at the last ten minutes of the hour at when this one got away from them.  The brilliant Niall Burns had just scored their second goal of the game to give them a two point lead in the 49^th minute but they wouldn’t raise another white flag until injury time and the Cuchullains had taken a stranglehold of the game at that period.

They drew level only for Keelan Molloy to convert the winning score deep into injury time with a free from wide on the right. 

This was a game that had pretty much everything a neutral would want in a game of football and the warning signs were there right from the first whistle that Dunloy weren’t there just to make up the numbers.  Smith carrying the ball from the throw in through the St Galls defence.  He found Nigel Elliott in a yard of space but his ferocious effort rattled the crossbar.

The first score of the game came in the fourth minute, Conal Cunning splitting the posts but St Galls began to take control in midfield with their ability to win breaking ball giving them the upper hand.  Any Dunloy attacks were fleeting with St Galls dominating possession and with Niall Burns, Dubhaltach Wilson and Brendan Bradley pulling the strings, they went about building a substantial lead. 

Three points from Burns, two from placed ball and scores from Conn Doherty and Bradley giving them a deserved four point lead by the 23^rd minute.  Bradley’s score in particular the highlight of the opening scores for the Milltown Row men.

Dunloy finally added to their score in the 25^th minute, Seaan Elliott converting a free from 35 yards out with a swing of his right leg and the Cuchullains began to find some joy in the middle third.  Further scores followed from Keelan Molloy (free) and Cunning’s second of the half followed after a period of patient play from the visitors left just one between the sides.

St Galls had the final say of the half when Burns converted another free but it could have been better for the home side.  Eoghan McCabe looked to have carved his way through the Dunloy defence only for Ryan McGarry taking him down before he could pull the trigger for goal.

With the wind at their back and having done the most of the attacking play in the half, St Galls were well worthy of their two point lead.  That two point lead soon became three soon after the restart with Bradley firing over from an acute angle.

It sparked a remarkable period of play however that saw three goals scored in the space of two minutes.  The first came from a Karl Fitzpatrick penalty when Eoin O’Neill was felled by Eoghan McCurdy to bring the sides level.  Fitzpatrick sent Louis McCormick the wrong way with a cool penalty.  Winning the resulting kick out, Coby Cunning found Fitzpatrick and he looked to have the half yard needed but passed to Nigel Elliott and he fired home from close range to give Louis McCormick no chance in the St Galls goals.

The goal rush finished when St Galls broke at the other end of the pitch.  McCabe at the heart of the move and passed to Ryan Irvine, the St Galls midfielder had a deft touch to deflect the ball past Sean Doherty in the Dunloy goals.

The game was played at a frenetic pace but it was the home side who began to find some patience among the mayhem.  Bradley giving his side the lead once more in the 41^st minute after a concerted period of St Galls pressure. 

The Dunloy response came from a Keelan Molloy free and a gargantuan point from Seaan Elliott.  Judging the elements to perfection and with a swing of his right foot, Elliott had the Dunloy support purring.

The home sides second goal came in the 49^th minute and had the Dunloy management team fuming.  They had just made a substitute with Niall Fallon coming on for Conn Doherty but the Dunloy defence never realised and followed Doherty to the side line and created space in the heart of their defence.  St Gall’s took advantage and when the ball fell to Burns on the right hand side, he drilled to the bottom corner of the Dunloy net to give his side a two point lead.

The Dunloy response was the winning of the game however.  A brace of scores from Seaan Elliott (one free) and Coby Cunning (one free) gave them a two point lead with the time running out.  Dunloy continued to push for scores and when Eoin O’Neill raced through on goal in the last minute of the hour, he had the game at his mercy.  McCormick did enough to put ‘Sammy’ off his stride however and the Dunloy man fired wide.

St Galls went through the gears and again began to put the Dunloy defence under pressure.  A free from Burns left the minimum between the sides and from the next attack they found Wilson in space with the St Galls man electing to hand pass the ball over the bar.

With the game going into the third minute of injury time Dunloy beat the St Galls full press and Keelan Molloy was making his way to the scoring area.  He was felled by Tiarnan Keenan with the St Galls man given a black card for his efforts.  Molloy dusted himself down to convert the free and give his side a famous victory.

The result means the Milltown Row side are out of the 2023 championship while Dunloy will host Creggan in two weeks’ time to see who tops the group.

TEAMS

St Galls: Louis McCormick; Cormac Flannery, Tiarnan Keenan, Eoghan McCurdy; Conor Ryan, Conall McGirr, Conaill Murray; Ryan Irvine, Tommy Bunting; Niall Burns, Brendan Bradley, Dubhaltach Wilson; Callum Walsh, Conn Doherty, Eoghan McCabe

Scorers: N Burns 1-5 (4 fs); B Bradley 0-3; R Irvine 1-00; D Wilson 0-1; C Doherty 0-1

Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Oran Quinn, Eoin McFerran, Conor Kinsella; Chrissy McMahon, Ryan McGarry, Seaan Elliott; Ciaran McQuillan, Deaglan Smith; Nigel Elliott, Conal Cunning, Tom McFerran; Karl Fitzpatrick, Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill

Scorers: S Elliott 0-4 (2 fs); C Cunning 0-4 (1f); K Molloy 0-3 (2fs); N Elliott 1-00; K Fitzpatrick 1-00 (pen)

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship,

Group One

O’Donovan Rossa 0-11 Erin’s Own, Cargin 3-11

Reigning champions, Erin’s Own Cargin got their Antrim Senior Football Championship campaign off to a winning start when they proved too strong for Rossa at Rossa Park on Saturday.

Hugh McGettigan’s Rossa provided the only blemish in last year’s championship campaign when they defeated Cargin in the group stages at the same venue but the Toome side arrived in Belfast determined that lightning wouldn’t strike twice at the same venue.

The reigning champions put themselves in a strong position with two goals in the opening half to establish an eight-point advantage at the half way stage and finished the job in the second period with Pat Shivers getting his second goal of the day to leave them convincing winners in the end.

With a strong wind at their backs it was Rossa who opened brightly and directly from the throw in Thomas Morgan pointed them ahead but Cargin were quick to settle and slowly they began to dominate.

The visitors were patient in their build up play as they prodded, looking for an opening and Thomas McCann provided it when he fired over after six minutes.

Pat Shivers and McCann again would add further points from frees before Rossa replied through Gerard Walsh but the home side quite simply couldn’t get their hands on the ball as Cargin kept possession.

The visitors struck for the opening goal in the 19th minute and there was an element of good fortune about it as Pat Shivers found Eunan Quinn with an excellent pass and Quinn’s shot deflected of full-back Patrick Moyes before ending in the net.

Cargin goalkeeper John McNabb then fired over from play and after Dominic McEnhill narrowed the gap with A pointed free, Cargin added two more from Thomas McCann to stretch their lead.

The home side were living on crumbs but Rory Grant fisted over as the half entered stoppage time, but from the resulting kick-out, Gerard McCann fielded before finding Quinn with a long pass.

Quinn played a one-two with McCann before squaring to Shivers who finished to an open net and put the visitors into a 2-6 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

Rossa looked to have it all to do as the second half got under way but to their credit, they fought hard to get themselves back into contention but they were finding the target difficult to negotiate as they now faced the stiff breeze.

Goalkeeper Mick Byrne kicked a couple of frees but Cargin replied through Jamie Gribbin and Pat Shivers as the visitors continued to hit on the break.

The Champions continued to control matters and Patrick Moyes made a good interception to deny Quinn but the killer blow arrived in the 48^th minute as Shivers gathered before racing through to finish to the net.

Shivers goal put the final nail in the Rossa coffin though they kept going to the final whistle with McEnhill landing a number of frees and Thomas Morgan bringing his personal tally to four.

It proved too little-too late as David Johnston, Conan Johnston and Conhuir Johnston replied with points for the visitors to see them safely through the opening Group 1 fixture and avenge last year’s defeat.

Ronan Devlin will be pleased by his side’s performance and they seem to be running into top form just as the championship gets underway but the Cargin manager will be hoping that an injury to John McNabb, which saw the keeper hobble off, is not too serious.

Next up for Cargin is Tír na nÓg at Kelly Park, Portglenone on the 12^th August, while Rossa find themselves needing a result against St John’s at Lamh Dhearg on the same date.

O’Donovan Rossa: M Byrne (0-2, both frees); P Moyes, C McGuinness, M Mallon; J Morris (0-1), G Walsh (0-1), R Gowdy; C McGettigan, E McMenamin; N Crossan, D McEnhill (0-3, all frees), R Grant; D Grego, S Beatty, T Morgan (0-4).

Subs: C Orchin for R Grant (HT), A Devlin for P Moyes (49), C Fleming for D Grego (52), D Rogan for J Morris (52), J McGurk for M mallon (55).

Cargin: J McNabb (0-1); J Laverty, K McShane, K O’Boyle; J Crozier, P McCann, S O’Neill; G McCann, J Carron; D Johnston (0-1), T McCann (0-4, 2 frees), J Gribbin (0-1); P Shivers (2-2, 0-1 free), E Quinn (1-0), Conhuir Johnston (0-1). 
Subs: S Laverty for J McNabb (45), R Gribbin for J Carron (49), Conan Johnston (0-1) for P McCann (50), C Bradley for D Johnston (52), T Shivers for P Shivers (56).

REFEREE: Cathal McDermott (Tír na nÓg)

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 2

Naomh Eánna 1-8 Portglenone 3-8

Paul McIntyre reports from Hightown

Pre-game favourites Portglenone were forced to dig deep for an opening day win in Group 2 of this year’s Northern Switchgear senior football championship against Naomh Eánna.

First half goals from Ruairi Hagan and Paddy Kelly looked to have set this year’s league winners on the road to a comfortable win but the homeside rallied in the third quarter and Fionn Nagle’s well taken major brought Naomh Eánna roaring back into the contest.

But when the game was there to be won, it was the Casements who stood up and Odhran McGarry’s late penalty helped to steer John McKeever’s side over the line for a deserving win.

Portglenone will be happy to be heading back up the road after avoiding a tricky opener and will be boosted the next day by the return of Niall McKeever. However, if they are to claim a first ever senior title, it looks like they will have to do it without the services of Dermott McAleese.

Their talismanic half-back went through shoulder surgery during the week and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.  

The opening half was a very cagey affair and there was little to talk about in the opening exchanges as both sides shared the opening two-points.   

Francis Cassidy kicked Portglenone into a 7^th minute lead before Fionn Nagle levelled from a mark just three minutes later.

The game’s first goal arrived in the 12^th minute when following a patient build-up, Ruairi Hagan managed to get in behind the home defence to fire high past Michael O’Boyle to give his side a three-point lead.

Only six-minutes had elapsed when O’Boyle was picking the ball out of his net again.

Paddy Kelly managed to get in front of Killian Jenings and his first-time effort of a point dipped at the final second to nestle in the corner of the net.

It was a strike that caught everyone by surprise and it helped his side to a five-point lead.

Naomh Eánna battled gamely and a second Donal Walsh score and an effort from midfielder Michael Morgan saw the home side trail by just three-points at the break.

Half time Naomh Eánna 0-4 Portglenone 2-1

Odhran Eastwood cut the gap to three six minutes into the second half but a beaut from the left wing from Oisin Doherty kept the Casements noses in front.

Naomh Eánna started to enjoy large spells of possession and were well on top at midfield. But in a ten-minute spell of dominance, they only returned two-points through an Eastwood free and an effort from replacement Stephen O’Connor.

Doherty’s effort on the break was just what Portglenone needed in the 47^th minute but the game was turned on its head just a minute later.

O’Boyle’s kick-out was won in midfield by Michael Morgan who released O’Connor down the left. He picked out Nagle who delicately lobbed the ball over the advancing Ryan O’Neill for a sweetly taken goal.

It gave Naomh Eánna the lead for the first time, but this advantage lasted only for a minute as Aidan McAleese quickly restored parity.

It was also the signal for Casements to step up a gear. Doherty then kicked his third score of the evening as momentum swung back in favour of the visitors and with just four minutes remaining came the games defining score.

McAleese’s run towards the Naomh Eánna goal came to an abrupt halt in the square, and from the resulting penalty, Odhran McGarry sent the ball crashing to the corner of the net.

Portglenone then went on to close the game out expertly with McAleese adding two frees to his tally while Michael Hagan wrapped up the win with a free deep into injury time.

Teams & Scorers:

Naomh Eánna: Michael O’Boyle, Conor Maxwell, Killian Jennings, Eoghan O’Hare, Conan Lyttle, James McAuley, Diarmuid McNulty, Michael Morgan (0-1), Sean Murray, Ronan Kalla, Donal Walsh (0-2), Tómas Gilmour, Ronan O’Neill, Fionn Nagle (1-1M), Odhran Eastwood (0-3f).

Replacements: Owen Kennedy for McAuley (22), Stephen O’Connor (0-1) for Kalla (43), Cillin Gilmour for Kennedy (59).

Portglenone: Ryan O’Neill, Ronan Delargy, Daniel McNicholl, Jonny Convery, Caolan Tierney, Francis Cassidy (0-1), Conor McGhee, Stephen Kelly, Ciaran McKenna, Ruairi Hagan (1-0), Michael Hagan (0-1f), Ronan Kelly, Oisin Doherty (0-3), Paddy Kelly (1-0), Odhran McGarry (1-0 pen).

Replacements: Aidan McAleese (0-3 2F) for P Kelly (38), Ciaran McAleese for R Kelly (41), Conal Delargy for McNicholl (53), Shane Delargy for McKenna (53), Kevin O’Kane for Convery (59).

Referee: Mr Colm McDonald (St Galls)

Northern Switchgear SFC – Group 3

Creggan 1-12 St Galls 0-10

Saturday 29 July

Brendan McTaggart reports from Creggan

In a game dictated more by the elements than anything, it took a goal from Joe McAteer with eight minutes remaining to decide who would earn the championship points.  Creggan would run out five point victors at the end of the hour, a scoreline that was probably harsh on the travelling St Galls team who had held a three point lead at the short whistle.

Having won the toss, St Galls played with the elements at their back in the first half but it was the home side who controlled the majority of the game.  Creggan held onto possession, sucking the life out of the game and were happy to keep St Galls at arms length, negating the St Galls wind advantage. 

The first score of the game came in the fifth minute, Conaill Murray splitting the posts for the Milltown Row blues.  Creggan continued to dominate possession and while efforts on goal were few and far between, they did drop three attempts short before Callum Walsh doubled the St Galls lead in the 13^th minute.

A patient move and a sustained period of play in the Creggan half yielded a point from Dubhiltach Wilson at the midway point of the half as St Galls began to dictate play on their own terms.

The first Creggan score of this years championship came in the 22^nd minute through the right foot of Dominic McAteer.  A super strike with the outside of his foot from distance, riffling the ball into the wind and dissecting the posts.  With the home side beginning to press St Galls higher up the pitch, the game began to open up in the time that remained of the first half with Niall Burns and Brendan Bradley influential for St Galls.

A free from Burns preceded Callum Walsh’s second score of the game to open the gap to four points but scores from Conor Small and Dominic McAteer either side of Burns’ second of the game left St Galls 0-6 to 0-3 ahead at the short whistle.

With the wind showing no signs of calming, Creggan would have been confident of reeling in the St Galls lead and inside five minutes of the restart, they had restored parity to the score line.  A brace of frees from Paddy Coey and a long range free from Ruairi McCann.

St Galls were using pace to try and break the Creggan defensive wall but it was a piece of individual brilliance from Burns that yielded the first St Galls score of the half.  Down the left hand side, Burns twisted one way and another before creating the half yard he needed to split the posts.  A super score from a player who was giving the home side plenty to think about.

He took his tally to four points for the afternoon in the 39^th minute, converting a free after Niall Fallon was fouled by Ruairi McCann to open a two point lead once more before the Creggan captain split the posts from a free to leave the minimum between the sides.

St Galls restored their two point advantage when Bradley was on the end of a patient move that pulled the Creggan defence from one side to another, creating the yard he needed.  It would be their last score for 15 minutes however as Creggan turned the screw in midfield.

With Creggan employing a high press, Conor McCann turned over possession before finding Dominic McAteer.  Despite the presence of two St Galls defenders, McAteer split the posts before a Coey free tied the scores with nine minutes remaining.

Creggan were well on top in midfield and the defining score of the game came from a brilliant piece of fielding from Dominic McAteer in the middle third.  Leaping highest, he caught the ball from a Lewis McCormick kick out and found his brother Joe in space.  Despite having the chance to raise another white flag, he took the ball in another couple of yards before finding the bottom corner of the St Galls goal.  An emphatic finish as the heavens opened at the Staffordstown Road pitch.

Further scores followed from Conor Small and Joe McAteer to leave five between the sides with just three minutes of the hour remaining.  St Galls went in search of the goal that would bring them back into the tie but all they could muster from their efforts was another Niall Burns free while Paddy Coey had the final say to dissect the uprights for his third point of the game.

St Galls will welcome 2022 Intermediate Champions Dunloy to the Milltown Row in two week’s time while Creggan will travel to the Cuchullains in four weeks with the hope their injury list begins to clear.         

TEAMS

Creggan: Oisin Kerr; Ethan Carey-Small, Ricky Johnston, Conor McCann; Dylan Hinfey, Ruairi McCann, Aiden Maguire; Kealan McCann, Kevin Rice; Tiarnan McLarnon, Conor Small, Joe McAteer; Paddy Coey, Dominic McAteer, Odhran McLarnon

Subs: Sam Maguire for O McLarnon (19); Kevin Small for T McLarnon (29); Liam McCann for E Carey-Small (59); Dermott McCann for K Rice (60)

Scorers: J McAteer 1-1; D McAteer 0-3; R McCann 0-3 (3fs); P Coey 0-3 (3fs); C Small 0-2

St Galls: Lewis McCormick; Jack Hopkins, Tiarnan Keenan, Eoghan McCurdy; Gaireach MacAdhainn, Conal McGirr, Conaill Murray; Tommy Bunting, Ryan Irvine; Ruairi Wilson, Brendan Bradley, Niall Burns; Dubhiltach Wilson, Niall Fallon, Callum Walsh

Subs: Con Doherty for N Fallon (53); Michael Hopkins for J Hopkins (56)

Scorers: N Burns 0-5 (3fs); C Walsh 0-2; D Wilson 0-1; B Bradley 0-1; C Murray 0-1

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Eanna)