SFC Group 1

St. John’s 0-16 Tir na nOg 1-9

St. John’s gained revenge for their double league defeat to Tir na nOg when they produced a strong second half performance to beat Friday night’s opponents in the opening Group 1 game of the Senior Football Championship.

The Corrigan Park side made a raft of changes to the side that fell heavily to the Whitehill men in a game that Tir na nOg needed something from to ensure their division 1 survival and the home side got off to a great start.

Paddy McBride, one of the changes raced through to open with a point after 30 seconds and Stephen Tierney, Conchur Adams and McBride again had St. John’s 0-4 ahead after five minutes.

Aaron McNeilly got the visitors off the mark from a 7^th minute free and a minute later they were back on terms when Eamon Og McAllister fired home from the penalty spot after Sean Duffin was brought down.

McBride restored the Corrigan Park side’s lead with a point in the 10^th minute but Tir na nOg were beginning to grow into the contest and Caoimhin Duffin screwed over a good point from out near the left hand touchline.

The momentum was now with the visitors as Fagan pointed a free to put them ahead for the first time and the big full-forward was proving quite a handful for Jack Bohill and the Johnnies defence.

The Johnnies replied from a great point from Conall Gough to square matters once more but Tir na nOg responded through a Darragh Fagan free to edge ahead once more with 7 minutes remaining to the break.

Back came the city side and Conchur Adams pointed a free and then sent over a good point from play to restore their lead but the visitors came storming back and had claims for a penalty waved away when Eamon Og McAllister went down in the area.

The Whiterock Road men came back with another fine point from the sweet striking Adams with the final score of the half falling to Darragh Fagan who’s converted free left just one in it at the break.

It looked once again to be swinging in favour of Tir na nOg when Darragh Fagan pointed in the opening minute of the second half to level matters once more but they wouldn’t raise another flag for 25 minutes as the home side began to assert themselves on the game.

The introduction of Conor McEvoy, Ronan McCafferty and Conall Quinn certainly added impetus to their cause as Paddy McBride pointed a 9^th minute free to give them a lead they would not again lose.

The visitors came close to getting a second goal at this stage when Aodhan Toland made a great interception to set up Emmet Murray but the corner forward shot wide from close range.

Ryan McNulty increased the gap to two for the home side and Conchur Adams moved them three in front with another sweet effort at the end of the third quarter and the Tir na nOg fluency that had been so prominent in the first half was now deserting them as pass after pass went astray.

Young Adams was giving an exhibition of point taking as he added another sublime score before the Johnnies lost McNulty to a straight Red but they failed to panic.

Keeper Padraig Nugent came forward to strike a 40 meter free between the uprights in the 24^th minute and Paddy McBride followed with another from play to put the Corrigan side six in front with four minutes of normal time remaining.

It looked all over at this stage but Emmet Murray finally kicked the visitor’s second point of the half with the clock ticking down and two more from Aaron McNeilly closed the gap to three but it came too late to affect the result.

Indeed the final score of the game would fall to St. Johns as Conor Johnston fisted over and with Paddy McBride pulling the strings the home side ran down the clock for a deserved opening day win.

A good win for St. John’s who, at least for now, top a group that includes Cargin and Rossa who meet on Saturday in Belfast with last year’s champions, Erin’s Own hoping to get off to a good start after losing in the group stages at the same venue last year.

Ulster Club football championship semi-final

Glen Maghera v Erin’s Own Cargin

Healey Park Omagh-Sunday 1-30pm

Following an excellent win over Naomh Conaill of Donegal in the quarter-final of the Ulster football club championship Antrim champions, Erin’s own Cargin face what looks like an even more formidable task when they take on Glen, Maghera in this Sunday’s semi-final in Omagh.

The Toome men displayed tremendous character a fortnight ago at Corrigan Park as they staged a number of comebacks before beating the Glenties side in a penalty shootout.

The Donegal champions led 0-6 to 0-3 at half time and despite a strong second half comeback by the Toome side, still led by three as the game crept into time added on. Cargin pressed hard in the closing minutes and won a ‘45’ with Michael McCann hitting a short kick to brother Tomas and his inviting lob ended in the Naomh Conaill net as Kevin McShane rose brilliantly to fist the ball home.

McShane was to make another telling contribution at the end of extra time when he came up to show his forwards how it was done by firing over the levelling score to bring the game to penalties.

John McNabb, who has been in inspired form for Cargin this season became the Cargin hero when he saved two of the Naomh Conaill penalties while Michael McCann, Tomas McCann and youngster Cahir Donnelly tucked away their spot kicks to send Cargin through to Sunday’s semi-final.

It hadn’t been the first time this season that the Toome side were forced to dig deep into their reserves of character as it took extra time to separate them and neighbours Creggan in the Antrim semi-final and again against Aghagallon in the final.

The win over Naomh Conaill will surely have tasted the sweetest as it got the Monkey of Ulster first round defeats finally off their backs and they will go into Sunday’s semi-final against the Derry champions with absolutely nothing to lose.

They will start that one as massive underdogs in the eyes of most punters as they face a Maghera side who collected their second Derry title in succession with a win over former Ulster champions, Slaughtneil and their performance in that game was impressive.

Their1-12 to 0-07 victory over Slaughtneil was every bit as emphatic as it sounds. Watty Graham’s were in charge from first whistle until last, but whereas 12 months ago Glen were celebrating history, this felt like an important step on a road that they will hope will lead to an Ulster title.

Cathal Mulholland led the way for Glen with 1-1 while Michael Warnock 0-2, Conleth McGucKian 0-2, Jack Doherty 0-2, Ethan Doherty 0-2, Eunan Mulholland, Conor Glass and Emmet Bradley were all on target for the Derry champions.

Glen were drawn against Errigal Ciaran in the first round of their Ulster campaign and were forced to dig deep against the Tyrone champions before shading a tight contest.

The Tyrone men were the better side in the opening half and went into half-time leading by four before Glen stormed back to outscore them by 2-09 to 0-4 in a second half that was always in the melting pot.

Ethan Doherty, who was superb throughout, grabbed the game’s crucial score. His 36th minute goal tied the game at 3-03 to 1-09 and the Maghera men never looked back after that.

The introduction of substitute Stevie O’Hara gave Glen an added boost, the forward helping himself to two superb points as Malachy O’Rourke’s men edged into a four-point lead in the final quarter.

There was late drama as Errigal had the ball in the back of the Glen net when Ruairi Canavan’s shot came back off the Glen crossbar before Eoin Kelly appeared to bundle the ball over the line.

Errigal’s joy was short lived however as the score was ruled out and so it was on to a place in the semi-final where they will face Ronan Devlin’s Cargin in a game where they will be expected to advance.

That certainly won’t worry the Balliderry man or his management colleagues, Kevin Doyle and Fabian Muldoon. Devlin has stepped up to the management role after assisting former manager, Damian Cassidy for a number of successful years and has certainly impressed in his first year in charge.

Kevin Doyle eats and breaths Cargin football after a long and distinguished career and I spoke to him after the Antrim final and asked him about the draw against Glen Maghera. Doyle was in the side who defeated Carrickmore in Cargin’s last first round success back in 1999 and was clearly delighted to put a series of first round Ulster defeats behind him.

“Glen are a really good side and rightly so will start the game as firm favourites. They beat St Eunan’s last year, a team I rate highly and then Scotstown and probably should have beat Kilcoo so we know what we are up against.

We are no strangers to each other and I’m sure come Sunday week we will know everything there is possibly to know about each other. I’d say I’ve been to 6 or 7 of their games in the last couple of years in the Derry championship. I think it’s a matter of getting the match ups right and going from there and executing the game plan we’ll have in place. We are really looking forward to it and it’s another step to where we want to be” said the Cargin man. 

While Glen Maghera have a side riddled with household names with Conor Glass perhaps the best known and the Doherty’s Ethan and Jack, Conleth McGuckian, Emmet Bradley and Cathal Mulholland all likely to feature prominently on Sunday.

Erin’s Own have their own star men and a number who have performed at the top level with both club and county and who will not be overawed by the task facing them in Omagh.

Leading the way will be Michael McCann who has given a lifeline of service to the Toome club and was still performing consistently with Antrim last year and Mick will be relishing Sunday’s challenge and urging his colleagues to greater efforts.

John McNabb in goals, James Laverty, Justin Crozier, Gerard McCann, Kevin O’Boyle, Paul McCann, Kevin McShane John Carron and ace marksman, Tomas McCann have spearheaded the Cargin challenge while county players, Pat Shivers and Jimmy Gribbin are joined by a rich vein of emerging talent that includes, Sean Og O’Neill, Cahir Donnelly and Benen Kelly in the present side.

Erin’s Own have a strong bench to call upon if needed and Ciaran Close epitomised that fact when the 40 something Ciaran Close came off the bench to score a vital goal against Glenties the last day.

The Toome side and their loyal support will travel to Healey Park on Sunday relishing the tag of underdogs and underdogs do win matches and if it comes down to a dogfight going down the home straight then this scribe is certainly not writing of their chances of gaining a win that would be a massive boost to Antrim football.

By Paddy McIlwaine

Kevin Doyle wore a smile as wide as the famous Lough Neagh that sweeps down to the edge of Toome after Cargin’s extra time and penalties win over Naomh Conaill of Donegal in the first round of the Ulster club championship at Corrigan Park on Sunday past.

As the Blues of Glenties trudged off the Corrigan pitch to the relative silence of their supporters who had been magnificent throughout the game, Corrigan had turned into a sea of Green as the Cargin supporters embraced their heroes as if they had already won Ulster.

The fact that they had got through the first round in Ulster for the first time in a number of years probably added to the elation.

Kevin Doyle has given a life of service to Erin’s Own, both as a player and now the in-house man and brings a wide knowledge of the game to the management team.

I spoke to Kevin after the game and as always, found him accommodating and willing to give his thoughts on Sunday’s game, the performance of his side and how he felt about the semi-final draw against Watty Graham’s, Maghera.

Paddy: A great result on Sunday and the scenes after were wonderful. I saw you being embraced by supporters and friends after the game. Tell me how you felt through what was a very nerve racking game and how you felt at the end?

Kevin Doyle: Believe it or not Paddy I was very calm throughout the game. I always believed in the team’s ability to hold possession well, limit mistakes and wait for the right moments to score, some of our running off the ball and support play was fantastic. 

The end of the game was great, a mixture of relief and sheer elation. I was just really happy for this group of players to play close enough to their potential. When you see people after it with tears in their eyes you know it’s something special. 

Paddy: You had a long and distinguished career with Cargin and Antrim. How many championships did you win and what years were they?

Kevin Doyle: I won four championships with Cargin in 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2006. Obviously I’d have loved to have won more and probably should have. We let a few slip that we really should have won to be honest, but I was happy enough with the four back then in that era. 

Paddy: Can you remember who you played against in those Antrim finals and who beat you in the Ulster games that followed those years. What games stand out in your memory?

Kevin Doyle: we beat St John’s in 95, St Paul’s in 99 (after a replay) and again in 2000 and Lamh Dhearg after extra time in 2006. Mullaghbawn beat us in Ulster in 95 and they went on to win it. In 99 we beat Carrickmore in Casement and we lost out to All Ireland champions Crossmaglen in Clones after a great battle. They went on to win the All Ireland again that year. We didn’t get to play in Ulster in 2000 unfortunately and then in 2006 we got beat by Clontibret in a replay again in Clones after a drawn game in Casement. Conor McManus was just starting to star for them at the time but the stand out game for me was in Casement against Carrickmore. We played them off the pitch that day in a typically physical Ulster club championship game with great respect even to this day between the two sides. A young cub called Conor Gormley marked me that day. It’s fair to say he went on to have an unbelievable career with Carrickmore and Tyrone. 

Paddy: You have been involved in the Cargin management now for a number of years, firstly with Damian Cassidy and now with Ronan Devlin and Fabian Muldoon. Cargin won three Antrim championships under Damian but this year under Ronan they have taken it a step further in winning an Ulster opener. What do you think has made the difference and what has Fabian Muldoon brought to the table?

Kevin Doyle: firstly Damian Cassidy was top class and just what Cargin needed in 2018. He brought us to a different level really in every sense on and off the pitch and a different approach and style of play we have kept to this day and worked on and improved on.

Ronan has really stepped up this year. He’s probably as good a young manager as there is anywhere in Ulster at the present time and he’ll not like me saying that as he’s so modest but it’s the way I see it.

Probably the difference is hunger really and how it drives the players on after suffering a defeat to our neighbours Creggan last year. It goes without saying that really got under our skin and we wanted to right a wrong big time.

As for Fabian he’s been excellent from the very first session we had back in February. I saw right away he was a player’s man and every player loved his sessions from the start. He has an infectious enthusiasm for football and strives to get the very best out of everyone. He’s a football man through and through as you’d expect coming from Ballinderry. Very knowledgeable and a deep thinker about every aspect of the game, he’s been absolutely top class and a better fella you couldn’t meet.

Paddy: A number of young players have made the step up to a regular starting place on the Cargin team this year and have performed well. I was impressed by Cahir Donnelly and his coolness in taking a point in the first half and then tucking away his penalty. The management obviously had confidence in him too when they nominated him as a penalty taker. Tell me a wee bit about him and the other youngsters who have stepped up to claim a starting place?

Kevin Doyle: Cahir is a great lad. We were surprised to be honest how well he’s stepped up to senior football considering he’d be a minor if it was still U18. He’s done really well and pops up with vital scores and he’s a serious athlete as are all the young boys on our panel.

We didn’t even have to nominate anyone for penalties as they stepped up themselves and wanted to take them. Cahir said I’ll take one no problem and stuck it in the top corner. It’s great when you’re young players are like that and have no fear.

Sean O’Neill is another young lad but what a player he is, as good as there is about. Then you have Benen Kelly, Eunan Quinn, Conan Johnston, Tom Shivers, Odhran Molloy, Shea Laverty, Paudie McLaughlin and Sean Og Quinn. They are all great lads with a seriously good attitude and a willingness to work and learn. They will be the backbone of Cargin for years to come I’m sure. 

Paddy: Watty Graham’s will probably start the semi-final as odds on favourites but that shouldn’t worry you too much. Tell us your thoughts on Glen and what you know about them.

Kevin Doyle: Glen are a really good side and rightly so will start the game as firm favourites. They beat St Eunan’s last year, a team I rate highly and then Scotstown and probably should have beat Kilcoo so we know what we are up against.

We are no strangers to each other and I’m sure come Sunday week we will know everything there is possibly to know about each other. I’d say I’ve been to 6 or 7 of their games in the last couple of years in the Derry championship. I think it’s a matter of getting the match ups right and going from there and executing the game plan we’ll have in place. We are really looking forward to it and it’s another step to where we want to be. 

Paddy: having covered Cargin for many years and attended all those Antrim championship finals that they won, the ones they lost and those heart breaking Ulster first round defeats it was great to witness the euphoria after Sundays win over Naomh Conaill. How important was that win to a club like Cargin?

Kevin Doyle: Very important in a way of gaining a bit of respect on the Ulster stage. We were totally disregarded in the media on most fronts and I don’t think anyone bar the Saffron Gael tipped us. I guess you’re trying to inspire the younger generation also and days like Sunday always will do that. We knew Glenties would be tough, as any side that has won three out of the last five Donegal titles and been in six finals on the bounce would be.

We knew we had it in us to beat them and I was fully confident we would. You could see yourself the emotion afterwards and the amount of young and old greeting the team on the pitch was great All the players and children on the pitch too will always remember days like that and shows we are all in this together and long may that continue. 

Paddy: I was at Casement Park covering the win over Carrickmore back in 1999 and it was good to see players like Martin McAuley and Martin Logan, who played in that game out on the field after Sunday’s game. It clearly meant a lot to these players. What do you remember of that win in 1999?

Kevin Doyle: Those two men were with me a good bit of my career and I have to say looked after me too a fair bit, both on and off the pitch and remain good friends as are all the team from that era. There is always an unspoken bond with teams like that.

I’ve touched on the Carrickmore game earlier. It was just one of those tough games and something to look back on and say you know what we weren’t too bad a side.

 I always remember we came out first and were doing the warm up as Carrickmore came out and Casement erupted.

 I turned to Logie and said we will silence that lot today and we did too. We had fellas like Brian McCann playing out of his skin and he was only a young fella of 18.

 He was some player for Cargin throughout the years. Dermot McPeake, Blondie Gallagher, Ciaran O’Neill were all fantastic footballers. It was nice to see them all in the new clubhouse on Sunday past to welcome us home and show their appreciation for this Cargin side after a good day at the office. 

Paddy: Has there been a venue announced yet for the semi-final meeting with Glen Maghera, I’ve heard Omagh being mentioned. Any thought or preferences on where it should be played?

Kevin Doyle: it’s in Omagh and we are happy enough with Healy Park to be honest. 

Paddy: Finally Kevin the Saffron Gael will be there wherever the venue to carry a report and photographs and hoping to see you advance to the final. Good luck to you and the team!

Ulster SF Club championship quarter-final

Erins Own Cargin 2-13 Naomh Conaill (Donegal) 2-13 aet

Cargin win 4-1 on penalties

John McNabb became the Cargin hero when his two penalty saves sent his side through to the semi-final of the Ulster Senior Club championship after 20 minutes of extra time failed to separate them and the men from Glenties in a thrilling contest at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

The Donegal champions led 0-6 to 0-3 at half time and despite a strong second half comeback by the Toome side, still led by three as the game crept into time added on. Cargin pressed hard in the closing minutes and won a ‘45’ with Michael McCann hittiing a short kick to brother Tomas and his inviting lob ended in the Naomh Conaill net as Kevin McShane rose brilliantly to fist the ball home.

McShane was to make another telling contribution at the end of extra time when he came up to show his forwards how it was done by firing over the levelling score to bring the game to penalties.

It was Naomh Conaill who were first to register as Charles McGuinness pointed them ahead from a 25 meter free in the 6^th minute and MacCeallbhui made it 2-0 in the 12^th minute of a cagey opening half as both sides pulled men behind the ball.

Cahir Donnelly got the Antrim champions on their way following a good build up but Glenties replied through Marty Boyle to restore their two point advantage by the 17^th minute.

Erin’s own were playing into a fairly stiff breeze but Mick McCann closed the gap once more and Pat Shivers then saw his well struck effort come off an upright as they enjoyed a period of supremacy.

The visitors took advantage and Jeaic McCeallbhui and Leo McLoone moved them three clear before Shivers kicked his first point of the afternoon after good work from Kevin O’Boyle and Sean Og O’Neill.

The final score of the opening half fell to Naomh Conaill however with Ciaran Thompson sending a 60 meter free between the uprights to leave it 0-6 to 0-3 for the visitors at half time but the Cargin management would have been fairly satisfied, given the strength of the breeze.

Naomh Conaill increased their lead to four on the restart from a Charles McGuinness pointed free but points from Jimmy Gribbin, Pat Shivers and Tomas McCann  had it back to one by the 12^th minute and the momentum was very much with the Erin’s Own at this stage.

Jeaic MacCeallibhui eased the pressure with a point for the Glenties side, their first for 16 minutes but John McNabb pointed a long range free in the 20^th minute and it was back to one again as the Cargin support started to find their voice.

Just when it looked like the Toome side were getting on top they were split wide open by a fast counter attack with Odhran Doherty placing John O’Malley for a clinical finish for the Donegal champions.

It looked as good as over at this stage but Cargin quite simply refused to accept defeat as Pat Shivers and Ciaran Close, with his first touch, after being introduced for Ciaran Bradley, made it a two point game.

Ciaran Thompson edge Glenties three in front with a free in the final minute as ‘Come on you boys in blue’ rang out from the big travelling support, but Corrigan erupted as McShane and Shivers rose highest towards Tomas McCann ‘Hail Mary’ ball into a crowded goalmouth with McShane claiming the final touch to take the game to extra time.

The momentum appeared to be with the Antrim champions as two ten minute periods of extra time got underway but it was Glenties who started added time on the front foot as substitute, Stephen Molloy pointed them ahead in the first minute and when the towering Kieran Gallagher climbed to palm the ball to the net in the 5^th minute it looked a long way back for Erin’s own.

Once again the character, determination and never say die attitude that had marked their challenge throughout this whole campaign,came to the fore and they might have had a goal of their own but Sean Og O’Neill’s palmed effort from a Kieran Close cross sailed over.

Back came Cargin and a blistering run from Kevin O’Boyle saw him find Mick McCann who’s tantalising delivery from near the bye-line was palmed to the net by substitute Close to leave it all square again at the halfway stage.

Despite their best efforts Cargin had not been in front throughout the contest and once again Naomh Conaill took the lead from an excellent point from their brilliant midfielder Jeaic MacCeallbhui after 45 seconds with Tomas McCann tying matters again with an equally impressive effort in the second minute.

Glenties responded and Kieran Gallagher found himself on a one on one with John McNabb but fired over as the big Cargin net-minder advanced.

Both sides had emptied their bench at this stage and it was one of Cargin’s replacements, Eunan Quinn who struck a superb equaliser before McNabb had an opportunity to seal it but his ‘65’ sailed wide of the target.

The superb Jeaic MacCeallbhui looked to have clinched it for the Donegal champions with time almost up when he soloed through to fist over the bar, but Kevin McShane became his side’s saviour for the second time in the contest as his equaliser sent the game into a penalty shootout.

Mick McCann was calmness personified as he stepped up to fire low past Stephen McGrath with the first penalty of the allotted shoot-out and it was now the turn of John McNabb to face Donegal county player, Ciaran Thompson.

McNabb stood with his hands behind his back as Thompson ran up to take the kick but the big net-minder got down to deny his opponent with a smart save and the momentum was very much with the Antrim champions.

Tomas McCann emulated his brother, Mick’s effort with another clinical finish and McGuinness got Glenties off the mark before Pat Shivers made it three from three for Cargin.

The spotlight was now very much back on McNabb and he didn’t disappoint as he got down again to deny Stephen Molloy and when Cahir Donnelly made it four from four for Cargin with another excellent finish from the spot, Cargin were through to face Derry champions Glen in their first semi-final since 1999.

Erin’s Own, Cargin: J McNabb (0-1 free); K O’Boyle, K McShane (1-1), C Donnelly (0-1); J Crozier, J Laverty, S O’Neill (0-1), J Carron, G McCann; C Bradley, J Gribbin, (0-1) P McCann; M McCann (0-1), P Shivers (0-3), T McCann (0-2) Subs: M Kelly v P McCann (12), C Close (1-1) for C Bradley (51), B Kelly for G McCann (56), E Quinn (0-1) for M Kelly (62), R Gribbin for J Crozier (71), R Devlin for S O’Neill (77),

Yellow card: S O’Neill (22)

Naomh Conaill: S McGrath; K McGettigan (0-1), AJ Gallagher, J Campbell; E O’Donnell, M Boyle, E Wade; C Thompson (0-2 frees), J Mac Ceallbhuí (0-5); K McGill, O Doherty, E Doherty; J O’Malley (1-0), C McGuinness (0-2 frees), L McLoone (0-1) Subs: U Doherty for M Boyle (50), D Molloy (0-1) for J O’Malley (56), K Gallagher (1-1) for O Doherty (61), O Doherty for L McLoone (70), D Gildea for O DOherty (71), L McLoone for E Waide (77)

Black cards: K McGill (50-60), C McGuinness (62-72)

Referee: K Faloon (Armagh)