Aghagallon delivered a clinical and composed performance to see off St Paul’s, finishing with a 13-point victory that underlined their championship credentials.
The visitors were in control from early on and never let up, with a second-half blitz putting the result beyond doubt.
In a more characteristic performance, Ruairi McCann wrapped up the scoring for Aghagallon, with a point from play as they cruised to the finish line. James Farrell’s goal, for St Paul’s, minutes earlier, showed the attacking potential of the losing team, but it came after Johnny Hannon and Adam Loughran had already inflicted serious damage.
Adam Loughran fires to the net during Aghagallon’s championship win over St. Paul’s on Friday night
Loughran was unstoppable, netting twice and adding a point, while Eunan Walsh ran riot in midfield, contributing five points in a dominant spell. Enda McCartan had one of his best performances of the season for Aghagallon.
In defence, St Paul’s struggled to contain the waves of pressure, with only brief moments of resistance. Conall Duffy converted a penalty and managed to score points, but the home side couldn’t stem the tide.
The first half saw Aghagallon build a solid platform, with Johnny Hannon sharp from frees. Marc McAfee (17), Adam Loughran, and Eunan Walsh all chipped in with scores from play.
St Paul’s had a bright start, taking an early lead through Conall Duffy, but were soon pegged back. Hannon’s accuracy from frees brought the sides level before Aghagallon began to pull away
Aghagallon’s blend of pace, precision, and power proved too much for St Paul’s, who were second best across the pitch. With this commanding win, Aghagallon send a clear message: They are here to challenge for honours.
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Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship Group 3
Lámh Dhearg 1-16-4-11 St Galls
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
ST GALLS joined group favourites Creggan at the summit of Group 3 of the Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship after seeing off Lámh Dhearg 4-11-1-16 at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.
The Milltown outfit would have been hoping for improvements from last season’s Championship campaign, that saw them take part in the relegation Play-Offs, whilst Lámh Dhearg were hoping to build upon a campaign that saw them reach the last four.
It was the visitors who quickly set the tone for the afternoon earning an early free that Niall Burns converted.
Roving goalkeeper Kevin Niblock kicked a two-pointed score and Gerard O’Neill squeezed an angled attempt inside the posts to extend their advantage.
It took eight minutes for Lámh Dhearg to get up and running for the afternoon through a Declan Smyth point, but they found themselves further behind when Niall O’Neill took a pass from Conn Doherty and guided his shot past Gerard Smyth to make it 1-4-0-1.
Adam Murray shot over his sides second of the afternoon midway through the half, and it would prove to be their last of the first period as St Galls continued to dominate with ease.
A point from Brendan Bradley was almost followed by a second goal- though Gerard Smyth parried Gerard O’Neill’s goal bound effort.
Instead further points arrived, Niall Burns kicked his second free and Dubhaltach Wilson popped over before being forced off through injury before the break.
A second 2pointer score was swept over by Niblock and on the stroke of half time, Burns added a further free after Lámh Dhearg were pulled up for a two-man infringement as St Galls held a 1-10-0-2 advantage at the halfway stage.
Kevin Niblock contributed two two-pointed scores from play in the opening half
Playing with the wind in the second period, Lámh Dhearg would have been seeking a fast start to the second period, but instead their task was made much harder when Niall Burns surged forward and thumped home his side’s second goal to make it 2-10-0-2.
After Mark Finnegan replied in the form of a two-pointed free, the hosts began a revival and cut the deficit.
With little over a quarter of an hour remaining Paddy Mervyn kicked a magnificent 2pointer from play, Finnegan landed a 45’ and after seeing his initial attempt blocked; substitute Terry McCrudden palmed the loose ball into the empty net to have the Hannahstown natives within six with 12 minutes remaining (2-10-1-7).
Any hope of a comeback was dealt a huge blow when St Galls replied with their third goal of the game, as Brendan Bradley was afforded far too much space and he pulled the trigger from distance to make it 3-10-1-7.
The Lámhs kicked successive 2pointers in reply through Adam Murray and McCrudden, though Niall Burns clipped over his fourth free and the killer score came on the 58th minute when Gerard O’Neill got in behind and shot low to the net at the near post to give his side a 4-11-1-11 lead.
Mark Finnegan kicked three frees in closing stages, one from inside the arc and the other two were two-pointers from the outside, it was scant consolation however as St Galls ran out 4-11-1-16 winners at the conclusion to join Creggan at the top of the table after the first weekend of action.
LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth, Ross Murray, P Mervyn (1×0-2pt), F Mervyn, D Smyth (0-1), B Rice, O McKeown, E Matassa, P Fitzsimons, M Jordan, R Murray, D Murray, M Finnegan (0-8, 3×0-2ptf, 1×0-1f, 1 45’), A Murray (1×0-2pt), C Fegan. SUBS: D Martin for D Murray (25), R Diamond for E Matassa (25), T McCrudden (1-2, 1×0-2pt) for F Mervyn (45), J Quinn for A Murray (53), C Boyd for M Jordan (56).
ST GALLS: K Niblock (0-4, 2×0-2pt), G Mac Adhaimh, C McGirr, R Wilson, G O’Neill (1-1), E McCabe, L Lynn, C Ryan, A Gallagher, D Wilson (0-1), B Bradley (1-1), N Burns (1-4, 0-4f), C Doherty, N O’Neill (1-0), D Quinn. SUBS: N McCurdy for D Wilson (27), C Murray for A Gallagher (54), M Murray for R Wilson (60). REFEREE: Kevin Parke (NAOMH EANNA)
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy laid down a statement of intent on Sunday afternoon as they swatted aside the challenge of St John’s in the opening round of the Antrim Senior Football Championship. 22 points was the difference at the end of an hour that saw the home side hit nine two-point scores from five different players and have nine scorers overall.
A look further at the Cuchullains stats will show they hit an eye watering 1-17 in 20 minutes after the half time break that the Johnnies simply had no answer to.
Keelan Molloy top scored with all of his 1-7 coming from play while Tom McFerran and Karl Fitzpatrick shared 14 points equally – Fitzpatrick’s kicking from placed ball outside the ‘Big D’ exemplary on the three occasions the opportunity presented itself.
Their organisation and ability to mix their attacks from deep kept St John’s guessing with Deaglan Smith and Eoin McFerran influential throughout.
Patrick McBride top scored for the Corrigan Park men with four of his six points coming from open play – one two-point score also. Conal Quinn would score their major midway through the second half but it acted as merely a footnote to a second half dominated by the attacking ingenuity of the Cuchullains.
Fitzpatrick opened the scoring with the first attack of the game as the sides sized each other up in the opening exchanges. With the Johnnies playing with whatever wind was blowing at their back, McBride split the uprights to raise the first orange flag of the game to give his side the lead.
That would be their last score for close to 15 minutes as Dunloy played with a mix of patients and precision. Scores from Molloy and Smith (two frees) left three between the sides while Eoghan Rua Lambert was at full length to deny Seaan Elliott a certain goal in the same period of time.
St John’s began to win the middle third and exert some pressure on the Dunloy defence with McBride (two) and Conal McGlade splitting the uprights while a Fitzpatrick two pointed free at the other end of the pitch was the Cuchullains response.
The home side reeled off points from Tom and Luke McFerran and Molloy (two) with a fine effort from Conor McEvoy the only response from the Johnnies. The home side had a couple of goal chances late in the half with Fitzpatrick going close and Lambert denying Molloy but the visitors to Pearse Park had the final say with McGlade splitting the uprights with a ’45 in what was the last kick of the half to leave the half time score 0-10 to 0-7 in Dunloy’s favour.
Dunloy were worthy of their three point lead at half time and with St John’s finding joy in the middle third, it was set up for a tense second half. What transpired couldn’t be further from that, however. By the time McBride spooned an effort over the bar in the 43rd minute, Dunloy had reeled off 1-11 in a period of play that saw Molloy (2), Tom McFerran (2), Fitzpatrick and Smith all fire over two pointers.
The opening goal of the game came in that opening quarter of the second half and while it was Molloy who applied the finish, it was Seaan Elliott’s vision that created the chance. Opening the Johnnies defence with a single handpass, spotting the run of Molloy on the angle and the dual star made no mistake with a precise left footed finish.
The Johnnies major came after McBride’s point in the 43rd minute. Capitalising on a rare Dunloy defensive mistake, Ronan Quinn bore down on goal and passed to Conal Quinn who made no mistake by palming the ball to the back of the net to leave the score 1-21 to 1-8 with a quarter of the game remaining.
While both sides looked to their bench in the final quarter, the Cuchullains remained relentless. Further two pointed scores from Fitzpatrick (free) and Tom McFerran were added to by Seaan Elliott in the space of three minutes.
Odhran Quinn and McBride (free) fired over either side of further scores from Tom and Eoin McFerran (two pointer) as the clock ticked into the final five minutes.
Conor Ferris split the uprights in a rare foray into the St John’s half before substitute Barry McCloskey scored Dunloy’s second major. Reece Cunning leading a counterattack and laying the ball into McCloskey path. Fully 25 yards from goal, McCloskey hit a thunderous drive to the top corner to give Lambert no chance between the sticks.
St John’s had the final say when substitute Conor Adams split the posts in injury time but it acted as scant consolation for the Corrigan Park side.
Both teams now turn their attentions to the small ball next weekend with Dunloy entertaining Ballycastle and St John’s travelling to Naomh Éanna.
TEAMS
DUNLOY: Chrissy McMahon; Reece Cunning, Aaron Crawford, James Scally; Aodhan McGarry, Conor Kinsella, Ryan McGarry; Eoin McFerran, Deaglan Smith; Nigel Elliott, T McFerran, Seaan Elliott; Luke McFerran, Keelan Molloy, Karl Fitzpatrick
Subs: Jack Martin for N Elliott (48), Kevin McQuillan for K Molloy (52), Barry McCloskey for S Elliott (54), Ryan McFarline for E McFerran (58), Paudie McGilligan for D Smith (58)
Scorers: K Molloy 1-7 (2xTP); T McFerran 0-7 (2xTP); K Fitzpatrick 0-7 (3xTPF); D Smith 0-4 (2fs, 2xTP); B McCloskey 1-00; E McFerran 0-2 (1xTP); C Kinsella 0-1; S Elliott 0-1; L McFerran 0-1
ST JOHN’S: Eoghan Rua Lambert; Conor McEvoy, Jack Bohill, Oisin Jackson; Odhran McAuley, Adrian Oliver, Sean Wilson; Padraig Nugent, Enda McGurk; Conal McGlade, Patrick McBride, Ronan Quinn; Conal Quinn, Ryan McNulty, Odhran Quinn
Subs: Ronan Donnelly for O McAuley (40), Conor Adams (0-1) for A Oliver (42), Aaron Bradley for C McGlade (47), Andy McGowan for P Nugent (54)
Scorers: P McBride 0-6 (2f, 1xTP); C Quinn 1-00; C McGlade 0-2 (1xTP); C McEvoy 0-1; O Quinn 0-1; C Adams 0-1
In a pulsating encounter that ebbed and flowed from start to finish, Ahoghill emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, edging past Aghagallon with a final scoreline of 2-13 to 1-17.
The match opened with high intensity, and it was Aghagallon who struck first, Jonny Hannon pointing early to give his side the lead. However, Ahoghill responded swiftly, with their corner-forward James O’Connell proving clinical from placed balls, converting multiple frees to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The first half saw both sides trading blows throughout, but halfway through the first half, Aghagallon’s Adam Loughran finished off a fantastic team move, with a well taken goal.
It was Ahoghill who took a slender advantage into the break, leading by four points thanks to a well-taken goal from their right corner-forward Colla McDonnell and a flurry of scores from frees.
Aghagallon came out firing in the second half, with Eunan Walsh finding the net to swing momentum back in their favour and Jonny Hannon’s accuracy from frees helped the visitors build a three-point cushion midway through the half.
A turning point in the game occurred 10 minutes into the second half, when Aghagallon’s McCann received a second yellow, shifting momentum in Ahoghill’s favour.
James O’Connell, was instrumental in the comeback, notching crucial points from play and frees to level the game. With the clock ticking down, both sides found themselves deadlocked multiple times, but it was Ahoghill who held their nerve in the dying moments.
A late point from play, once again from James O’Connell, sealed the win for the visitors, who showed grit and determination to claw back the deficit and snatch victory at the death. This result will sting for Aghagallon, who hit the woodwork several times and led for large spells, but Ahoghill’s resilience and sharp shooting under pressure proved decisive.
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With half time fast approaching this keenly contested SFC encounter at Quinn Park looked like it might go down to the wire with the sides locked at 0-9 apiece in an evenly contested opening 30 minutes.
Newcomers to the Senior Championship, All Saints were giving as-good as they got when disaster struck. A high challenge by Brendan McDonnell saw referee Ray Matthews reach for Red after consulting his linesman and from the free that followed Jimmy McCann sent a 2 pointer between the uprights.
McCann’s conversion sent the visitors across the road at the interval with a two point lead but it didn’t seem insurmountable and when Patrick McAuley took out Kavan Keenan with a high challenge after 30 seconds of the restart it appeared that parity of numbers might be restored.
This time the card was yellow however and things went from bad to worse for Baker Bradley’s side when Peter McReynolds was sent to the sin-bin after a silly trip with only seven minutes of the second half gone.
The opening exchanges were fairly even as both sides set about gaining advantage on a splendid Quinn Park surface in near perfect playing conditions with Kavan Keenan pointing All Saints ahead after 30 seconds.
Matthew Rodgers squared matters with the game still in the opening minutes and Conor Small moved the visitors two ahead when he raised the orange flag in the 2nd minute.
Two fine points from mid-fielder, Conor Stewart had it back level again by the 7th minute before Small restored his side’s lead again and then Conor McAteer got forward for an excellent point to move Creggan 0-5 to 0-3 ahead with 14 minutes gone.
The home side were battling hard and moving the ball about confidently as Ronan McKillop and James McDonnell struck two in quick reply to level matters for the third time as the game entered the second quarter as two well matched sides went head to head.
Conor Small was in impressive form for the Staffordstown Road side as he restored his side’s advantage again and Shea McCann punished a bad kick-out to increase that lead to two as the pace and intensity of the game increased.
A Ronan McKillop pointed free for All Saints and one at the other end from Conor Small had it still at two with 9 minutes remaining to the break but the Ballymena men hit a purple patch and seemed to be getting on top.
Points from James McDonnell, Conor Stewart and a superb effort with the outside of his boot from Ciaran Campbell saw All Saints hit the front for only the second time in the contest but a Jimmy McCann point saw it tied at 0-9 to 0-9 as the clock ticked down to the break.
McDonnell’s dismissal and McCann’s two point conversion from the resulting free saw the Kickham’s head to the dressing rooms with a two point lead and a one man advantage and the balance of power appeared to have swung decisively in their direction.
Patrick McAuley’s early yellow raised the tempo another level and the second half was only 2 minutes old when All Saints were awarded a penalty which James McDonnell confidently stroked past Oisin Kerr to edge his side ahead once more but the Ballymena side were unable to consolidate that lead.
Instead it was Creggan who began to gain control with Sean Duffin and Matthew Rodgers with a shot that screwed just inside the post, restoring the visitor’s lead.
14 became 13 for the home side after Peter McReynolds’ hand trip in the 7th minute with Conor Small converting the resulting free from close range after the ball had been moved forward for dissent.
Sean McVeigh pulled one back for the men in black but Creggan were now taking full advantage of their numerical advantage as Conor Small, Ruairi McCann and Liam McLernon moved them three clear at the end of the third quarter.
The Kickham’s were now controlling matters as substitute Liam Quinn added two more with his first and second touch of the ball and Jimmy McCann raised another orange flag before a fisted point from Matthew Rodgers moved them 9 ahead with nine minutes remaining.
All Saints continued to fight against impossible odds with corner-back Matty Downey hitting a fine 2 pointer and Conor Stewart added a point in the 28th minute but at this stage it was as good as over.
The group favourites finished in the ascendancy with Conor Small and Sean Duffin taking their total for the evening to 0-24 with substitute, Michael McCarry converting an injury time free for All Saints to conclude the scoring.
Creggan entertain Lamh Dhearg in their next game on Sunday August 3d and on this form look like the side most likely to top the group. The night before All Saints travel to St. Gall’s and anything less than a win is likely to see them facing elimination from the championship.
All Saints: Ryan Stewart, Matty Downey, Kavan Keenan, Cal O’Brien. Joe Rafferty, Shaun O’Callaghan, James McDonnell, Conor Stewart, Emmet Killough, Connell Lemon, Brendan McDonnell, Peter McReynolds, Sean McVeigh, Ciaran Campbell, Ronan McKillop
Subs: Peter McNicholl for Peter McReynolds, Michael McCarry for Ronan McKillop
Creggan: Oisin Kerr, Liam McLernon, Sam Maguire, Fintan Close, Dominic McAteer, Ethan Carey Small, Jimmy McCann, Kealan McCann, Patrick McAuley, Sean Duffin, Conor Small, Ruairi McCann, Shea McCann, Matthew Rodgers, Kevin Small
Subs: Liam Quinn for Dominic McAteer, Joe McAteer for Ethan Carey Small, Conor Johnston for Shea Mccann
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
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