Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final 

Cargin 0-13-0-09 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly 

Cargin bounced back from defeat to Rossa in their last Group game and laid down a marker for the later stages of the Championship with a 0-13-0-09 win over Lámh Dhearg in Friday evenings quarter final at Dunsilly. 

The Toome outfit never fell behind over the course of the evening and could have had a much larger margin of victory, but they failed to find the goal that they threatened from the off. 

There was much anticipation of a thrilling Championship classic that the sides have served up over recent years. 

Cargin began as slight favourites having won six of the last eight Championship meetings since the Lámhs last got the better of them back in 2011. 

Pat Shivers opened the scoring early-on with a point that could so easily have been a goal after a long pass forward picked out the towering corner-forward, but his shot rose over the bar. 

Lámh Dhearg should have restored parity at the very least in the aftermath and had created various opportunities – but Ryan Murray dropped back-to-back frees short of the target, shot wide from play and older sibling Conor saw a promising attack shut-down.

Instead, the Toome men doubled their lead through goalkeeper John McNabb- who joined their attack up field and steered an effort between the posts. 

Ryan Murray atoned for his earlier free misses and got his side off the mark after cutting in along the by-line and thumping an angled shot high between the posts. 

Cargin moved 0-04-0-01 ahead as Jamie Gribbin dropped a shot over the bar from wide of the right and Justin Crozier followed-up with another a few minutes later.  

Murray’s burst of speed was causing a few problems and he sent over a further angled score before swinging a fantastic point from the opposite side to bring the Lámhs back into things. 

Points from Cahir Donnelly and a simple fisted point from John Carron restored Cargin’s three-point lead- though Ben Rice slipped a nice score in reply. 

Pat Shivers had a second opening on goal when he cut inside and waited for John Finucane to make his move, the veteran goal-keeper didn’t panic and delayed the inevitable and Shivers instead opted for a fist pass to Paul McCann to pull the trigger – but Declan Lynch somehow deflected the shot behind for a 45’ – which McNabb converted. 

Declan Smyth produced a fine score in response before danger-man Shivers wound-up and kicked his second score of the half. 

Just before the break Terry McCrudden landed an impressive score to ensure that two-points separated the sides at break (0-08-0-06). 

Lámh Dhearg were first off the mark at the beginning of the second period as Owen McKeown showed his pace and trickery to burst through, but he drove his shot over the bar to reduce arrears. 

Shivers converted a free in response and Paul McCann kicked a magnificent score to extend their sides half-time advantage. 

The Hannahstown men introduced Shaun McManus, Declan Dunne and Paddy Cunningham from the bench to try and turn the tide. 

There was a glimmer of hope that they might make the use of a numerical advantage after Gerard McCann halted the forward momentum of Marc Jordan and was shown a black card by referee Mark O’Neill. 

The 14-men had a further goal chance in the aftermath with Shivers flighting a marvellous pass on-top of Tomas McCann, McCann was able to steer the ball down and fire a low shot between Finucane and Marc McGarry – but the Lámhs shot stopper parried his dangerous effort. 

Jamie Gribbin moved his side four-points ahead moments later with his second score of the evening, but substitute Paddy Cunningham kept his side in touch through a converted free. 

Shivers and Cunningham trade further scores from play in the aftermath as the game ticked towards injury-time. 

Lámh Dhearg tried in vain to find a goal that would have forced extra-time – but nothing was forthcoming from their late pressure and there was almost a sense of déjà vu to 12-months earlier when Portglenone countered them and found a goal to secure victory in their quarter-final meeting at the same venue. 

This time around substitute Benen Kelly was happy enough to fire over the bar with time quickly elapsing. 

It proved the insurance point as Cargin ran out 0-13-0-09 winners at the conclusion to advance to the last four and a meeting with the winners of Sundays tie between Rossa and Champions Creggan. 

Cargin: J McNabb (0-02, 0-01f), K O’Boyle, J Crozier (0-01), C Donnelly (0-01), J Laverty, S O’Neill, R Gribbin, J Carron (0-01), G McCann, C Bradley, P McCann, T McCann, P Shivers (0-04, 0-01f), M McCann (0-01), J Gribbin (0-02). Subs: B Kelly (0-01) for R Gribbin (38), K Close to T McCann (56), K McShane for C Donnelly (59), D Johnston for J Gribbin (60+4). 

Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, F Mervyn, M McGarry, M Hynes, D Smyth (0-01), D Lynch, B Rice (0-01), P Mervyn, M Jordan, R Murray (0-03), O McKeown (0-01), C Maxwell, T McCrudden (0-01), C Murray, K Quinn. Subs: S McManus for B Rice (41), D Dunne for K Quinn (46), P Cunningham (0-02, 0-01f) for T McCrudden (50), A Byrne for C Maxwell (55), M Herron for M Hynes (60+4). 

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

Northern Switchgear SFC Group 2

St. Ergnat’s 1-7 Portglenone 2-24

Casement’s Portglenone powered their way into the quarter-finals of the Northern Switchgear SFC when they travelled to Moneyglass on Sunday and proved too strong for Division 2 league winners, St. Ergnat’s in this final Group 2 game.

The impressive Bann-siders were well on their way to victory at half time when they led by 0-13 to 0-5 but a goal from Paddy Kelly early in the second half and another from Niall McKeever in the 41^st minute put the game out of reach of their opponents.

Niall McKeever pointed Casement’s ahead with a point in the 2^nd minute before Seanchann Duffin replied from a ‘45’ to get the Marian Hill side off the mark.

The visitors soon settled into a rhythm as Paddy Kelly, Aidan McAleese 0-3, Ruairi Hagan and Paddy Kelly edged them six ahead at the end of the opening quarter as the St. Ergnat’s defence struggled to deal with the pace and movement of a fluent Casement’s attack.

Conleth McCann from a free and Tiernan Duffin with St. Ergnat’s first point from play in the 19^th minute closed the gap to four to the approval of the home support but it brought another flurry from the visitors as Ruairi Hagan, Dermott McAleese, Paddy Kelly (f) and Conal Delargy hit four on the bounce to extend the visitors lead to 8 with 8 minutes remaining to the break.

The home side were fighting hard to get their own game going but to no avail but Shay Madden rasised his side’s fourth white flag in the 22^nd minute but again the visitors responded with points from a Paddy Kelly ‘45’ and another from Aidan McAleese.

The final score of the opening half went the way of the Marian Hill side as Colum Duffin pointed a free in the 30^th minute but it was going to take a massive turn around in fortunes if St. Ergnat’s were going to salvage anything from this game in the second half.

Colum Duffin for Moneyglass and Conal Delargy for the visitors exchanged early points as the second half action got under way but when Delargy got through for the game’s opening goal in the 33d minute Casement’s already looked on their way to the quarter-final.

Paddy Kelly added a point before Niall McKeever made victory secure when he fired home his side’s second goal in the 41^st minute with Oisin Doherty following with his first point of the evening a minute later.

Shay Madden replied with St. Ergnat’s second point at the end of the third quarter but the Portglenone pressure continued as Paddy Kelly continued to punish any indiscretion from the home side.

To their credit St. Ergnat’s battled right to the end and Dermot ‘Buggsie’ McErlain got some reward for his efforts when he fired past Ryan O’Neill in the 51^st minute but it was Casement’s who finished as they had started with points from Oisin Doherty 0-2, Conal Delargy, Paddy Kelly (f) and Dermot McAleese.

Portglenone now go forward to meet Gort na Mona in the quarter-final and on present form look favourites to win that one but they will get nothing easy from a Turf Lodge side who will feel they are going into this one with nothing to lose.

Moneyglass: 1 Danny McErlain, 2 Callum McStocker, 3 Peter McCormick, 4 James McCormick, 5 Jack McCoy, 6 Conor Boyd, 7 Patrick McCormick, 8 Tiernan Duffin, 9 Colum Duffin, 10 Seanchann Duffin, 11 Dermot McErlain, 12 Fearghal Duffin, 13 Shay Madden, 14 Conaill Prenter, 15 Conleth McCann. Subs: Tyler Cassidy for Conleth McCann, Luke O’Donnell for Jack McCoy

Portglenone: 1 Ryan O’Neill, 3 Johnny Convery, 19 Shane Delargy, 4 Ronan Delargy, 5 Caolan Tierney, 6 Dermot McAleese, 7 Ryan Convery, 8 Niall Delargy, 9 Niall McKeever, 10 Ruairi Hagan, 13 Aidan McAleese, 14 Conal Delargy, 22 Paddy Kelly, 15 Oisin Doherty, 24 Michael Kelly. Subs: Kevin O’Kane for Shane Delargy, Daniel McNicholl for Michael Kelly, Ciaran Mckenna

Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)

Northern Switchgear SFC Group 3

Tir na nOg 0-15 Aghagallon 4-13

St. Mary’s Aghagallon topped Group 3 of the Northern Switchgear SFC Group 3 following this comprehensive victory over Tir na nOg at Whitehill on Sunday, eliminating Seunday’s opponents in the process with Gort na Mona joining Sunday’s winners with a superior score difference to the Randalstown side

Before the game a minutes silence was observed for Seamus Walsh, father of South West committee member Colum Walsh and grandfather of Eunan Walsh and a lifelong Aghagallon man and it was fitting that Eunan got his side off to a flier with a goal after 30 seconds.

The visitors to Whitehill dominated the opening quarter and struck with a second goal from Niall McShane after 11 minutes with Paul Mulholland Gareth Magee and McShane all to the fore with some fine points.

Tir na nOg recovered from a slow start and came back with points of their own through the impressive Darragh Fagan 0-5, Aaron McNeilly, Christy Sherrin and Aodhan Tolan but it was Aghagallon who led by 2-5 to 0-8 at the break with all still to play for in the second half.

Ruairi McCann increased the visitors lead with a point on the restart before Damien O’Hagan in the Aghagallon goals brought off as great save as Tir na nOg attempted to make a quick response.

McCann moved the visitors five ahead by the 6^th minute but Tir na nOg came back strongly with points from Sean Duffin, Darragh Fagan and a great long range effort from Aodhan Tolan to bring themselves right back into it with 16 minutes gone.

The visitors replied with a goal from Ruairi McShane to put themselves back in control and when Adam Loughran got through for their third goal in the 14^th minute it looked a long way back for the Whitehill side.

The home side pulled one back through Aaron McNeilly but the momentum was now very much with the visitors as Sean Paul McAtamney got his fist to a Gareth Magee rasper at the expense of a point and Ruairi McCann added another following a mark.

It was starting to go wrong for the home side as Enda McCartan punished a bad kick out to add another point for the Aghagallon men and a long range free from Gareth Magee and Loughran’s second goal of the game put it out of reach with seven minutes still remaining.

Ciaran Dobbin, Barry McCormick with a great long range effort and Aaron McNeilly 0-2 added consolation points for the home side with Magee and Jonathan Hannon concluding the scoring for St. Mary’s.

St. Mary’s now advance to the quarter-finals, a remarkable comeback for last year’s beaten finalists who have struggled throughout this year’s league campaign and indeed face a relegation play-off with All Saints, who finished second in division 2, later in the year.

A long list of injuries and absentees was a contributing factor to that poor league form and on the evidence of Sunday they are a side no one will be looking forward to meeting with most of the missing now back in action.

Tir na nOg: 1 Sean Paul McAtamney, 2 Oliver McAtamey, 3 Brandon McLarnon, 4 Peter Cullan, 5 Ciaran O’Neill, 6 Barry McCormick, 7 Aaron McNeilly, 8 Christy Sheerin, 9 Joshua Higgins, 10 Sean Duffin, 11 Eamon Og McAllister, 12 Darragh Fagan, 13 Aodhan Tolan, 14 Kevin Sheerin, 15 Ciaran Dobbin, 24 Daniel Martin, 21 Conor Mckenna, 20 Conor Hastings, 23 Ryan Crilly, 19 Kevin Kerr, 18 Caopimhin Duffin, 22 Deek O’Kane 17 Ethan Higgins.

Aghagallon: 1 Damien O’Hagan, 2 Paddy Brannigan, 3 Aidan Mulholland, 4 Daniel Donnelly, 5 Eunan Walsh, 7 Ciaran McGinnis, 8 David McAlernon, 10 Jonathan Hannon, 11 Padraig Gowdy, 12 Paul Mulholland, 13 Gareth Magee, 14 Ruairi McCann, 15 Niall McShane, 16 Gavin Baine, 17 Seanan Donnelly, 18 Stephen Devlin, 19 Jack Hannon, 20 Aaron Doherty, 21 Puric Maginnins, 22 Enda McCartan, 23 Adam Loughran, 24 Ruairi McShane, 25 Marc McAfee, 26 Daryl McAlernon, 27 Michael McStravick, 28 Jonathan Harbison, 29 Jack Nelson

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 1

St Johns 0-09-0-09 Creggan Kickhams 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

2021 championship winners Creggan edged through to the quarter-final of the 2022 series despite 13-man St Johns levelling with the last kick of the game in 0-09 apiece draw at Corrigan Park on Sunday evening. 

Ruairi McCann kicked half of his sides six first half scores, which at one stage had them five to the good- though St Johns- who relied heavily upon the free-taking of Paddy McBride over the course of the evening; battled their way back. 

Needing a win to ensure progression the hosts lost Conor Hand and Bam Neeson to red cards in the final quarter but were able to earn a share of the spoils following a late Joseph Garland point. 

The permutations were simple for both sides heading into the eagerly awaited encounter. For St Johns- only victory would see them take a place in the last eight, while Champions Creggan needed to avoid defeat at all costs and would progress with a share of the spoils- though they very much had their eyes set of top-spot. 

Eunan McAteer fisted his side in front in the early stages on the Whiterock Road, but Paddy McBride drew the hosts level with a shot that bounced over Oisin Kerr and the crossbar. 

Creggan regained the lead through a converted Ruairi McCann free- the first of five successive scores that had the County Champions in control of the half. 

They increased their lead through a fine Dominic McAteer score, the full forward would land another effort in-between back-to-back frees from McCann as the Staffordstown Road outfit were 0-06-0-01 to the good. 

The Johnnies were largely second best but halved the deficit at the interval thanks to successive converted frees from Paddy McBride to ensure it was a three-point game at the midway point. 

St Johns started the second period brightly as Luke Pedan found the run of Paddy McBride to swing over his second point from play of the evening. A third converted free followed from the talisman and just a single point separated the sides. 

Ruairi McCann replied for the Champions with a free- their first score since the 25^th minute, but McBride kicked his third score since the break to make it a one-point game yet again. 

Further scores were traded as the game entered the final quarter very much on a knife-edge, Kevin Rice made an immediate impact upon his introduction as he sent a neat pass to Martin Johnston to drop an effort over the bar. 

At the other end St Johns substitute Conor Hand was felled and it gave Paddy McBride the opportunity to hit back, which he took to make it 0-08-0-07. 

With ten minutes remaining and game almost delicately poised the hosts decided to spring Matt Fitzpatrick from the bench and as part of a double substitution- sub keeper Matthew Leydon entered proceedings, allowing Bam Neeson to join the attack in a bid to turn the game in their favour. 

The hosts hopes of victory were dealt a blow when substitute Hand was adjudged to have kicked out off the ball and referee Darren McKeown issued a red card. 

Despite being a man light the Johnnies restored parity thanks to an angled effort from Conal McGlade that dropped over the bar. 

Creggan moved into the driving seat for the final time courtesy of a score from captain Kevin Small. 

They should have wrapped the game up when Jamie McCann broke the resulting kick-out down to Eunan McAteer and he slipped in Ruairi McCann to race through on the Johnnies goal, though Matthew Leydon produced a fantastic save to keep his side in contention. 

As the game ticked into added time St John’s were reduced to 13-men after Bam Neeson was shown red for what appeared to be an off the ball incident, though Creggan substitute Kevin Rice was also shown the line for a pull down that saw him black carded. 

It looked as though Creggan would see the game out and finish on top of the Group 1 standings- however St John’s hit back with the final play of the game ensured they would bow out with a share of the spoils thanks to a splendid Joseph Garland point. 

There wasn’t enough to seek a winner that would have sent the hosts through as Darren McKeown brought proceedings to a close. 

The result meant that Creggan finished level on points with Lámh Dhearg at the top of the ‘Group of Death’ but scoring difference saw them take second spot and sets up a quarter-final meeting with Rossa. 

St John’s will meanwhile turn their attention to the hurling Championship and a clash with Cushendall next-week that could see them advance to the semi-final with a victory in North-Antrim. 

St Johns: B Neeson, C Kerr, C Garland, J Garland (0-01), R Hannigan, P Nugent, P Donnelly, S McDonagh, P McBride (0-07, 0-05f), R McNulty, C Johnston, A McGowan, C McGlade (0-01), L McCrudy, L Pedan. Subs:  C Hand for R Hannigan (42), L Heenan for P Donnelly (45), M Leydon for L Heenan (53), M Fitzpatrick for L McCurdy (53). 

Creggan Kickhams: O Kerr, EC Small, R Johnston, E McAteer (0-01), A Maguire, M Johnston (0-01), J McCann, K Small (0-01), K McCann, T McAteer, F Burke, O McLarnon, L Quinn, D McAteer (0-02), R McCann (0-04f). Subs: Blood sub: S Duffin for O McLarnon (27-30) C McCann for E McAteer (60+4). K Rice for F Burke (46), S Duffin for L Quinn (54), K Burke for J McCann (60+1). 

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)