Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship

Cargin 1-7 St Brigid’s 0-7

Sunday 29 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly

When it comes to championship warfare and the experience of knowing what it takes to get over the line, there is no one better than the Green Machine.  Erin’s Own Cargin sealed their place in another county final on Sunday afternoon as they saw off the challenge of St Brigid’s with three to spare.

It was far from a classic encounter between the sides with the elements having a major say on proceedings and while it wasn’t quite a game of two halves, it was a game where we saw the two sides of Cargin.  Electing to play into a strong wind, they dictated the first half for long periods – that may be the understatement of the century.  To further highlight the point, from the first whistle, it was fully six minutes until St Brigid’s finally had some measure of possession. 

St Brigid’s packed their defence and when they look back on this game, they’ll highlight the opening 20 odd minutes for the moment they just got it wrong.  The south Belfast side could barely get a glove on the Toome men as they looked to sap the life out of the game.  Holding possession, playing against the elements and using all the experience they have in their locker.  Cargin were doing what Cargin do best.

Three down at half time, it was job done as far as they were concerned.  It was a massive wind and they had 30 minutes to turn it around and that they did with a mix of tenacious defending, guile from Mick McCann in the middle third and the direct running from his brother Tomás.

We really only saw what St Brigid’s could produce in the last five or so minutes of the first half when Enda Downey produced a sublime dummy before scoring with the outside of his left boot while his brother Calum scored the first score from play before that…. In the 33^rd minute. 

To be fair, their organisation was excellent.  But when it came to creating and putting Cargin on the backfoot, they didn’t do it enough.  This was Cargin’s game, it was being played on their terms and as the second half progressed, there was only ever going to be one winner.

In a first half of few chances, it was fully 10 minutes old before we had a shot of any note.  Enda Downey going close while Cargin should have had a goal moments later.  Conhuir Johnston creating the chance for Jamie Gribbin who ghosted past the St Brigid’s tackles.  His effort was hit true but it went to the wrong side of the right hand post with the goal at his mercy.

Tomás McCann didn’t fare much better when faced with a similar situation.  If there’s one man you would put your house on to find the onion, it’s Mossy but the St Brigid’s defence did enough.

The first score of the game came from the left boot of Enda Downey, a free from distance in the 26^th minute and he would repeat the feat two minutes later.  Cargin’s opening score came from a Tomás McCann free in the second minute of injury time before Calum and Enda Downey added further scores to leave the half time score 0-4 to 0-1 in the south Belfast sides favour.

It was going to take a monumental effort for the Biddies to go one step further than their efforts 12 months ago but when Patrick Finnegan split the posts five minutes after the restart, it left four between the sides and re-energised the St Brigid’s challenge.

St Brigid’s looked to hold onto possession and create the yard of space they might need within the scoring range but in truth, they were playing into Cargin’s hands.  Scores from Jamie Gribbin and a brace of frees from Pat Shivers and Tomás McCann left one between the sides before Conhuir Johnston fisted over in the 44^th minute to bring the sides level.

St Brigid’s continued to look for ways to pierce the Cargin defence but struggled for any inroad.  They did edge ahead again with Enda Downey firing over from an acute angle with his right foot but Cargin turned the screw once more.

Tomás McCann split the uprights with a free from distance before substitute Benen Kelly gave his side the lead for the first time in the game after 49 minutes. 

With the game in the melting pot, the game defining and match winning score came.  The clock ticked into the 55^th minute when St Brigid’s substitute Paul Bradley looked to have been fouled deep in the Cargin half.  Referee Brendan Toland awarded a free in the other direction for overcarrying and Cargin broke.  They took the free quick out to the right before sending the ball into the path of a rampaging Paul McCann.  He had fully 40 yards of grass to run into and time.  He dropped his shoulder and moved to the right as Declan Heery approached before placing the ball below the St Brigid’s keeper and into the net.

With time running out, St Brigid’s looked for the goal that would bring them back into the semi final.  It never materialised.  Cargin were imperious in defence with Gerard McCann superb under the high ball when needed.

Enda Downey split the posts with his third free of the game and fifth point overall but it was too little, too late for the Musgrave Park men.

Cargin proved once again they are the masters of the chess game modern football has evolved into.  It’s now over to Portglenone to see if they can take the top dogs crown from the banks of the Lough in Toome.

TEAMS

Cargin: John McNabb; Kevin O’Boyle, Kevin McShane, Ronan Gribbin; Justin Crozier, Paul McCann, Seán O’Neill; Pat Shivers, Gerard McCann; James Laverty, Conhuir Johnston, Jamie Gribbin; Tom Shivers, Michael McCann, Tomás McCann

Subs: Benen Kelly for T Shivers (41); David Johnston for J Crozier (52); Conan Johnston for P McCann (56); John Carron for P Shivers (59)

Scorers: T McCann 0-3 (3fs); P McCann 1-00; Conhuir Johnston 0-1; J Gribbin 0-1; B Kelly 0-1; P Shivers 0-1 (1f)

St Brigid’s: Declan Heery; Peter King, Joseph Finnegan, John Morgan; Shay Campbell, Shea Downey, Ronan Boyle; Michael Cummings, Jack Dowling; Niall Duffy, Patrick Finnegan, James Smith; Enda Downey, Calum Downey, Conan McNicholl

Subs: Conor Downey for N Duffy (34); Peter Lundy for J Smith (52); Paul Bradley for C McNicholl (52); Rory McErlean for P Bradley (56)

Scorers: E Downey 0-5 (3fs); P Finnegan 0-1; C Downey 0-1

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)

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Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship, semi-final

Portglenbone 1-17 Lámh Dhearg 0-9

Casement’s Portglenone bridged a 25 year gap when they beat Lamh Dhearg in Saturday’s Antrim Senior Football Championship semi-final to reach their first final since 2009. There appeared to be a jinx on the Portglenone men in recent years when they lost the last five semi-finals, all of them games they could, and in some cases should have won, but they made no mistake this time around, compressively beating the 2017 champions Lamh Dhearg by eleven points.

The first five minutes saw both teams suffer from nerves as they struggled to find any rhythm but things began to settle when the veteran Paddy Cunningham pointed the Hannahstown men ahead, but Portglenone hit back straight away and Niall Delargy brought his team level after good work by Niall McKeever. That score really setteled the Portglenone men and they went ahead with a Daniel McNicholl point soon afterwards before striking a telling blow with a goal seconds later, when they took advantage of a slack back pass which let Fergal O’Kane nip in to set up Stephen Kelly to finish to the net.

A very good save by Lamh Dhearg goalkeeper Gerard Smyth denied the Casements another goal soon afterwards and for a little while they looked a bit uncertain again. However they steadied the ship and the run in to half time saw then regain their momentum and two points from Hagan and one from Kelly as they scored freely in those losing minutes to go in at the break with a six point advantage, 1-08 to 0-05.

Points from Enda Lynn and Kelly in the opening minutes of the second half strengthened their confidence and you sensed there was going to be no slip ups this time around, but the Casements followers know not to get too confident and they had to endure a scare when Lamh Dhearg worked a great opening. Declan Lynch appeared to be on goal, but he passed to Conor Murray when a shot at goal appeared the best option and Murray got closed down by the Casements defence and his shot went wide of the target. There was another scare soon afterwards when a Casments kick went straight to Paddy Cunningham, but with the keeper off his line’s Cunningham’s shot towards the empty goal rose over the bar and what proved to be the last real chance was gone

Things went from bad to worse for the men from Hannahstown when they lost two players to red and black cards, which created even more space for Casements to exploit. Substitute Sean Byrne got through to send over a good point which he celebrated with gusto and soon afterwards Stephen Kelly could have had a second goal, only to be denied by Smyth in the Lamh Dhearg goal, but by this stage the result was beyond doubt and Casements had put their semi-final hoodoo to rest.

PORTGLENONE: K Mullan; R Delargy, K O’Kane, C McGhee; D McNicholl (0-1), R Hagan, F O’Kane; D McAleese, N McKeever; N Delargy (0-1), M Hagan (0-2), S Kelly (1-0); O Doherty (0-4, 2f), E Lynn (0-2), R Kelly (0-6, 4f).

Subs: A McAleese for D McAleese (HT), C Tierney for C McGhee (57), S Byrne (0-1) for E Lynn (60), C Delargy for M hagan (60+3)

LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth; Ross Murray, M McGarry, B Rice (0-2); O McKeown (0-2), D Lynch, D Smyth (0-1); P Fitzsimmons, M Jordan; D Murray, T McCrudden, Ryan Murray; P Cunningham (0-4, 3f), M Herron, C Murray.

Subs: P Mervyn for T McCrudden (16), E Matassa for D Murray (HT), F Mervyn for McMcGarry (46), M Lowe for Ryan Murray (49)

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)

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Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC, Relegation Play-off

St Galls 4-18-2-09 Naomh Eanna

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown

ST GALLS ensured that they would continue to ply their trade in the Senior Football Championship in 2025 with a 4-18-2-09 win over Naomh Eanna in the relegation play-off semi-final at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.

It was St Galls who hit the front on a breezy afternoon on the hill with Brendan Bradley swinging over after several missed attempts early on.

The opening goal arrived after four minutes, James McAuley claimed an advanced mark and laid the ball off the shoulder to the advancing Eoghan O’Hare- who rifled past Chris Kerr in the St Galls goal.

Their opening point would arrive in the form of a Odhran McKenna effort that sailed over, but a foul on Niall O’Neill allowed Niall Burns to hit back.

Further points were traded with Ronan O’Neill producing an outstanding point from range, only for Burns to hit back from the placed ball.

Burns clipped over his first from play and he then assisted in his side restoring parity, sending a quick free into the path of Brendan Bradley to double his account for the half.

St Enda’s regained the lead with their second goal on the 19^th minute thanks to a stunning finish from Stephen O’Connor.

It was a lead they would relinquish quickly however as St Galls hit back at the other end, Seanan Nagle kept out Niall O’Neill’s initial and Ruairi Wilson swooped from close range to make it 2-02-1-05.

A third Niall Burns free had St Galls back in the driving seat- though Stephen O’Connor pointed from a free in response.

The fourth goal of the game would arrive before the break and fell to St Galls after an intelligent flowing move that saw Conn Doherty palm home from close range and make it 2-06-2-03.

Points were traded between Brendan Bradley and Odhran McKenna in the aftermath of Doherty’s goal and it was St Galls who would extend their lead prior to the half time whistle with Daniel Quinn steering over to give his side a 2-08-2-04 advantage at halfway.

St Enda’s narrowed the deficit three minutes after the restart as Stephen O’Connor dropped a high shot over in the wind, but Niall O’Neill swung over at the other end after linking up with Marcus Donnelly.

A third goal almost arrived for St Galls, but Conn Doherty flashed a shot inches over the bar following a neat move involving veterans Aodhan Gallagher and Michael Pollock.

The Milltown outfit were moving through the gears as Niall Burns kicked his fourth free of the afternoon, Daniel Quinn produced a fine point and goal-scorer Conn Doherty dropped a shot inside the posts to open up an eight-point gap (2-13-2-05).

Sean McBride powered forward and produced a much-needed score to briefly halt St Galls momentum and the sides then traded points through Michael Pollock and Stephen O’Connor in the aftermath.

The game was moving further away from St Enda’s with Daniel Quinn increasing his personal account and substitute Bara McCaffrey getting on the act.

There was half chance of goal for the Hightown men, though Odhran McKenna had to make do with a point instead.

St Galls finished strongly as Michael Hopkins popped over and back-to-back goals arrived through Bara McCaffrey.

The substitute took a lay-off from John McCaffrey and finished to the net before adding a second moments later after a strong run from Aodhan Gallagher in the build-up.

McBride would land his sides final score of the afternoon and replied with the last kick to ensure that St Galls ran out 4-18-2-09 winners at the conclusion to ensure their senior status is intact for 2025, while St Enda’s still remain in danger of Championship relegation with a decider against Glenravel to come.

ST GALLS: C Kerr, M Donnelly, T Keenan, G Mac Adhaimh, J McCaffrey, C McGirr, R Wilson (1-0), C Ryan, A Gallagher, D Quinn (0-4), M Pollock (0-1), N Burns (0-5, 0-4f), C Doherty (1-2), N O’Neill (0-1), B Bradley (0-3). Subs: C McCabe for M Donnelly (38), C Burke for G Mac Adhaimh (38), B McCaffrey (2-1) for B Bradley (45), M Hopkins (0-1) for C Doherty (54), F Donnelly for R Wilson (55).

NAOMH EANNA: S Nagle, E O’Hare (1-0), D McNulty, K Jennings, R O’Neill (0-1), C Lyttle, R Hamilton, N McKeown, S Murray, R Kalla, C Morgan, S McBride (0-2), J McAuley, S O’Connor (1-2, 0-1f), O McKenna (0-4). Subs: C McKeown for K Jennings (11), J Lewis for R Hamilton (54), P Doran for R Kalla (57).

REFEREE: Brendan Toland (LAMH DHEARG)

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Norther Switchgear Senior Football Championship Quarter Final

St Brigid’s 1-15 Dunloy 2-9

Sunday 15 September

Brendan McTaggart reports from Toome

With two minutes of the first half remaining in this encounter, it looked like it was a foregone conclusion.  St Brigid’s were dominant, Dunloy looked powerless and nine points separated the sides.

There can’t have been many in attendance at the Cargin club grounds who could have predicted what was to come.  The Cuchullains came out a different animal in the second half however and got to within a single score on a couple of occasions but late scores from substitutes Conor Downey and Rory McErlean ensured St Brigid’s were celebrating at the final whistle.

The organisation of the south Belfast side looked to be winning the day against a Dunloy side who struggled to make any inroads in the first half.  St Brigid’s looked to turn over and break at speed but their ability to mix up their point of attack created scoring chances and space.  Their economy in the opening 30 minutes seen St Brigid’s score nine times out of ten chances with seven different scorers. 

It was a slow start to the game with both sides making uncharacteristic errors.  St Brigid’s had the lion’s share of possession and while Dunloy forced turnovers, they couldn’t punish or make inroads in the St Brigid’s defence.  Scores from Michael Cummings, Enda Downey (free) and Conan McNicholl in the opening quarter gave St Brigid’s an element of control.

The Cuchullains got off the mark with a super Seaan Elliott score from distance as he led the fight for his side but St Brigid’s were dictating the game with their organisation and ability to recycle and hold possession.

Scores from Declan Heery (free) and Enda Downey came either side of a free from Conal Cunning to open a four point lead before the Cuchullains carved open a major goal chance.  Seaan Elliott gathered possession wide on the right and 45 yards from goal, he used his speed to go past the St Brigid’s tackles before cutting inside to face Heery in goals.  The St Brigid’s ‘keeper dived bravely at the feet of the Dunloy man and despite Elliott getting his left footed shot away, Heery denied the Cuchullains.

Jack Dowling split the uprights to put five between the sides with six minutes of the half remaining but for all their methodical play, it was a counterattack that seen St Brigid’s score their game defining goal.  The Cuchullains looked to press high on the St Brigid’s defence but they broke the lines and created space.  With more than a hint of a double bounce in the build-up, the Dunloy management were furious as Patrick Finnegan broke through on the Dunloy goals.  The finish was impeccable and the result of pace and power through the middle of the Dunloy defence that was proving to be difficult to defend against.

James Smith’s second of the half followed soon after to put nine between the sides but it was the Cuchullains who finished the half with a mini-flourish with scores from Seaan Elliott and Cunning leaving the half time score 1-8 to 0-4.

It was going to take something special from the Cuchullains to get back into this game and while they started with more urgency and vigour, St Brigid’s extended their lead in the opening five minutes.  They split the uprights from Joseph Finnegan, McNicholl and Reuben Carleton with a brace of scores from Keelan Molloy (one free) the response for Dunloy.

The Cuchullains challenge found another gear however in the 36^th minute and thanks largely to a piece of brilliance from Seaan Elliott.  In possession and faced with a wall of white and blue in front of him, Elliott played an outrageous pass with the outside of his right foot into the path of Keelan Molloy who had stole in behind the St Brigid’s defence.  The angle was far from kind but Molloy found the bottom right hand corner to give his side some hope.

A point from Seaan Elliott followed before Dunloy found the back of the St Brigid’s net again.  Tom McFerran forcing a turnover in midfield and passing to Aodhán McGarry.  The Cuchullains midfielder found substitute Anthony Smith in space and he played a perfect pass into Nigel Elliott.  The Dunloy man showed the required composure to beat Declan Heery and leave the minimum between the sides just 11 minutes into the second half.

The Musgrave Park men looked to regain control and held possession in an attempt to see out the Dunloy resurgence.  A free from James Smith got the scoreboard ticking for them once again but it was Dunloy who were dictating the game now and asking questions of the St Brigid’s organisation. 

The Cuchullains probed, looking for space but the St Brigid’s packed their defence and looked to break if given the opportunity.  Going into the final 10 minutes, two points separated the sides and twice Dunloy reduced it to the minimum.  Molloy and substitute Mickey Smith finding the posts either side of a brilliant point James Smith. 

As the clock ticked into injury time, the Musgrave Park men held firm.  Further scores from substitute Conor Downey and Rory McErlean (free) left Dunloy looking for a major that never came.  St Brigid’s breathed a sigh of relief at full time and look forward to a meeting with reigning champions Cargin in the last four.

TEAMS

St Brigid’s: Declan Heery; Peter King, Joseph Finnegan, Shay Campbell; Reuben Carleton, Shea Downey, Ronan Boyle; Michael Cummings, Jack Dowling; Niall Duffy, Patrick Finnegan, James Smith; Enda Downey, Calum Downey, Conan McNicholl

Subs: John Morgan for S Campbell (HT); John Toner for P King (46); Conor Downey for C Downey (54); Rory McErlean for C McNicholl (inj)

Scorers: J Smith 0-3; C McNicholl 0-3 (1f); P Finnegan 1-00; E Downey 0-2 (1f); J Dowling 0-1; M Cummings 0-1; R Carleton 0-1; J Finnegan 0-1; Conor Downey 0-1; D Heery 0-1 (1f); R McErlean 0-1 (1f)

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

Subs: Anthony Smith for D Smith (39); Michael Smith for E O’Neill (50); Karl Fitzpatrick for C Gillan (50)

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

Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)

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Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC quarter-final (AET)

Lámh Dhearg 0-15 Kickham’s, Creggan 0-13

It took extra time to separate these protagonists at Chapel Hill on Sunday before Lamh Dhearg overcame the challenge of Kickham’s Creggan in a game that hung in the balance right to the final whistle. Nothing separated the sides throughout and at the end of 60 plus absorbing minutes they couldn’t be separated.

Creggan seemed to have it sewn up going down the home straight when they led by four but the Hannastown side found the resolve as they finished strongly as Declan Smyth and Cunningham (free) pointed to cut the deficit to two and late points from another Cunningham free and one from Declan Lynch sent it into extra time.

It was Creggan who started strongly with points from Jamie McCann, who punished a foul on Ethan Carey-Small and the South West side won the resulting kick-out and Martin Johnston returned it post haste between the uprights.

It took Lámh Dhearg eight minutes to get their hands on the ball and their first attack saw Ryan Murray play a teasing ball across the face of goal, but it was turned over and Joe McAteer’s shot at the other end dropped short but bounced over for a point.

Lamh Dhearg finally opened their account from a Conor Murray free in the 14th minute as things began to get physical and the returning Ryan Murray marked his championship debut for the year with a great point.

Jamie McCann and Paddy Cunningham (free) exchanged further points but Creggan were still edging the exchanges and Sean Duffin and Tiernan McAteer added points at the other end to move their side three ahead.

They might have been further in front when Ethan Carey-Small found himself free on goal, but Gerard Smyth made a good save at the expense of a’ ‘45’ which came to nothing.

It was the Hannastown men who finished the half strongly and Paddy Cunningham sent over a superb point with the outside of his boot before setting up Conor Murray for another and the gap had been cut to the minimum at half time.

Half Time Creggan 0-6 Lamh Dhearg 0-5

Creggan started the second half as they had started the first and Ruairi McCann pointed an early free before Ethan Carey Small added another from play but they were off target on a number of occasions when they might have been further ahead.

Paddy Cunningham, who had been guilty of a couple of misses himself, finally found his range to reduce the gap but further scores from Kealan and Ruairi McCann put four between the sides as we moved into the final quarter.

The Kickham’s wouldn’t register again as the Hannastown side finished on the front foot with Declan Smyth, Cunningham 0-2 and a late score from Declan Lynch sent the game into extra time.  

The momentum was now with the men from the Hill and Mark Lowe kicked a ‘45’ and then a free from an identical position, but Creggan hit back to level at 0-12 apiece through a Ruairi McCann free and Tiernan McLarnon from play.

It was nip and tuck and still anybody’s game as the excellent Owen McKeown fired over a great point with Jamie McCann replying for Creggan before a Paddy Cunningham free moved Lamh Dhearg ahead again with six minutes remaining.

Try as they might Creggan couldn’t muster another score as the Lamh Dhearg defence swept up everything that came their way before countering and Callum Fegan-Lappin saw his well struck shot come back of the crossbar.

It didn’t matter in the end as the Kickham’s lost a player to a Red card following a high challenge and Paddy Cunningham converted the resulting free to send his side through to a semi-final meeting with Casement’s in two weeks-time.

Lamh Dhearg: C Smyth; B Rice, M McGarry, Ross Murray; O McKeown (0-1), D Lynch (0-1), D Smyth (0-1); P Fitzsimmons, M Jordan; D Murray, T McCrudden, Ryan Murray (0-1); P Cunningham (0-7f), M Herron, C Murray (0-2, 1f).

Subs: M Lowe (0-2, 1 45, 1f) for T McCrudden (38), F Mervyn for Ross Murray (ET start); T McCrudden for D Murray (ET 10), C Fegan-Lappin for Ryan Murray (ET 12), Ryan Murray for B Rice (ET 20).

Kickham’s Creggan: O Kerr; S Maguire, R Johnston, A Maguire; E Carey-Small (0-1), M Johnston (0-1), J McCann (0-3, 1f); K McCann (0-1), P McAuley; S Duffin (0-1), R McCann (0-3f), T McAteer (0-1); J McAteer (0-1), C McCann, C Small.

Subs: D McAteer for E Carey-Small (52), T McLarnon (0-1) for J McAteer (ET start); J McAteer for T McAteer (ET 13), O Hampsey for S Duffin (ET 15), C Johnston for P McAuley (ET 16)

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy).

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