U20 FC Group 2

St. Enda’s 1-10 Aghagallon 4-8

Goals from Hugh Hannon in the 56^th minute and another from Jonathan Hanna in time added on killed off the challenge of a battling St. Enda’s in the opening round of the U20 Football Championship at Hightown on Saturday.

The visitors made all the early running and led 1-4 to 0-0 going into the first water break with their goal coming from Hugh Hannon following a flowing move from within their own half after 12 minutes and their points shared by Jonathan Hannon, Padraig Gowdy, Michael McStravick and Enda McCartan.

On the restart St. Enda’s struck with their first score in the 22^nd minute and a good build up involving several players saw Omar Beydilli fire past James Hamill in the visitors goal to get them off the mark.

Fionn Nagle followed with a point but Aghagallon responded and Nathan Kerr in the St. Enda’s goal made a smart save to deny the visitors a second goal.

Aghagallon had regained the initiative and Jonathan Hannon added a point but St. Enda’s were playing with a lot more confidence at this stage and Fionn Nagle pointed a free in the 26^th minute to close the gap to three points.

• 

Things were starting to liven up as Adam Lamb received a yellow for the home side but it was St. Mary’s who finished the half strongly and Michael McStravick split the posts before Hugh Hannon finished a great team move to the net in the 30^th minute and his side looked to be taking control again.

The visitors received a setback however when Michael McStravick received a straight Red as half time approached, leaving them to play with 14 men for the remainder of the game but they looked in a comfortable position, leading 2-6 to 1-2 as the short whistle sounded.

Michael Devenny replaced Omar Beydilli in the St. Enda’s side at the start of the second half and they opened brightly with points from Fionn Nagle and Michael Kennedy but Pauric Maginnis replied with a point for the Visitors with 9 minutes of the new half gone.

Liam Russel added another Aghagallon point before Sean McBride replied with a point for the Glengormley side but the visitors cause received a boost when Sean Murray of St. Enda’s received Red and parity in numbers was restored.

The Hightown side were still battling hard for every ball and looking for the scores to get them back into contention and Max Thomas came to St. Mary’s rescue with a great interception as the home side threatened.

Back came St. Enda’s again and an Eoin Nagle pointed free just before the water break closed the gap to five. Nagle added another from play on the resumption of the final quarter as the intensity of the game increased and the hits went in hard and fast and when Conor Eastwood followed with another with ten minutes remaining the momentum was with the Hightown side.

• 

• 

Things took a turn for the worse however as substitute Matthew McAllister was shown Black for cynical fouling but the home side continued to press and when Sean McBride added a point following a ‘Mark’ there was just two in it and the momentum was with the home side.

Aghagallon had been under the cosh for a time but, as good teams do, they responded with those late goals from Hugh and Jonathan Hannon to take the points despite a late consolation point from Fionn Nagle for the home side.

St. Enda’s: 1 Nathan Kerr, 2 Eoghan O’Hare, 3 Owen Kennedy, 4 Oran McRuagain, 5 Callum Morgan, 6 Ronan O’Neill, 7 Colm McCabe, 8 Ryan Kingi, 9 Sean Murray, 10 Omar Beydilli, 11 Conor Eastwood, 12 Jude Stewart, 13 Michael Kennedy, 14 Fionn Nagle, 15 Sean McBride, 17 Matthew McAllister, 18 Ciaran McKeown, 19 Dylan Kingi, 20 John Joe Walsh, 21 Oran Rooney, m22 Adam Lamb, 23 Michael Devenny

Aghagallon: 1 James Hamill, 2 Max Thomas, 3 Stephen Devlin, 4 Kieran Hamill, 5 Jack Hannon, 6 Seanan Donnelly, 7 Jonathan Hannon, 8 Padraig Gowdy, 9 Pauric Maginnis, 10 Hugh Hannon, 11 Enda McCartan, 12 Jack Nelson, 13 Ruairi McShane, 14 Michael McStravick, 15 Liam Russell, 16 Callum Fitzpatrick

Referee Finton McCotter (Sarsfields)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Under-20 A FC Group (round one)

Erin’s Own Cargin 1-1 St Galls 5-11

Erin’s Own Cargin have won the last two minor championships and were tipped by some punters as favourites for this competition but a second half goal blitz from visitors St. Gall’s in Toome today turned that notion on its head.

 In a game played with real championship fervour it was the home side who led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but that was to change shortly into the second half.

Niall Burns, who had featured prominently in the Milltown men’s Reserve Cup semi-final victory on Thursday evening, grabbed a superb 36^th minute goal to see the Milltown Blues hit the front with Paudie McLaughlin replying almost immediately with a goal at the other end.

At this stage it looked anybody’s game but the home side were reduced in number when mid fielder Benen Kelly was shown red at the end of the third quarter and shortly after the impressive Niall Burns got in for the visitors second goal.

St. Gall’s had certainly seized the initiative and they went on to add a further three goals as their busy corner forward Niall Fallon added a couple with Dara Delaney adding the third to put the game out of reach of the home side.

Things got heated in the closing quarter with Cargin’s Pat Shivers (two yellows), Jack Mc Allister (red), and St Galls Kian Cruikshank (red) and Matthew McCaffrey (black) all forced to watch the closing proceedings from the sideline.

The shower which had preceded the throw in had moved onward as Paul Burns initiated proceedings and the home side were first to score as Pat Shivers stroked a 40 metre free between the posts in the second minute.

The opening half was nip and tuck as points at one end soon found reply at the other and the visitors replied to Shivers opener as Conal McCabe pointed and Barry Mc Caffrey sent a free between the posts to give them the lead.

PJ Quinn nipped away to square the issue but the Milltown men went a couple ahead again through Barry and Michael McCaffrey to lead 0-04 to 0-02 after 10^th minutes.

Cargin were edging matters at mid-field at this stage with Pat Shivers prominent as a target man and they replied with three unanswered points to lead 0-05 to 0-04 at the first break.

An opening quarter which was fiercely contested continued in the same vein in the second as Niall Burns split the posts for the visitors with Paudie McLaughlin replying at the other end. Pat Shivers extended the Cargin lead again but a super score from Niall Burns at the other end left just one in it at the break with Erin’s Own leading 0-7 to 0-6.

The second half was just a minute old when the home side increased their lead when Tom Shivers fired between the posts with Barra McCaffrey replying with a point for the Milltown side.

Things were about to change however as Niall Burns drove through the home sides defence to add a super goal to ensure a 1-08 to 0-09 advantage to the city lads.

The home side made an immediate response and Shea Laverty’s kick-out was fielded by Eunan Quinn whose delivery opened the way for Paudie McLaughlin to fire to the back of the net and move Cargin ahead once more.

Their lead was short lived however as the visitors began to take control and Dara Delaney found Niall Murray and he made no mistake as he drove to the corner of the net to give his side a lead they would hold until the end of the game.

A Barra McCaffrey point increased the St Galls lead at the start of the final quarter and Cargin suffered another blow when Benen Kelly saw red.

St Galls were now dominating and Niall Burns sent Niall Fallon in for their third goal and when the latter added another the die was cast.

Cargin tried to response but were finding it difficult to break down a solid St. Gall’s defence and Pat Shivers was shown red before replacement Jack McAllister followed suit and the end was nigh.

The Toome side added a couple of late points through Tom Shivers and PJ Quinn and in a bad tempered finish St Gall’s Mid fielder Kian Cruikshank was shown(red) and Matthew Mc Caffrey (black) but there was to be no way back for the home side.

Cargin: Shea Laverty, Sean Gribbin, Sean og Quinn, Cahir Donnelly, Conan Johnston, Sean og O’ Neill, Malachi Johnston, Eunan Quinn, (0-01), Benen Kelly, Conan Kennedy, Paudie Mc Laughlin (1-02), Sean Mc Auley, PJ Quinn (0-03), Pat Shivers (0-03), Tom Shivers (0-02)

Subs

Shane Gribbon foe S Gribbin

Jack Mc Allister for Conan Kennedy

St Gall’s: Aiden O Maolin, Gerard Achaill, Dualtach Johnston, Fergus Donnelly, Conal Mc Girr, Conor Reagan, Matthew McCaffrey (0-01), Niall Burns (2-04), Kian Cruikshank, Conal Mc Cabe (0-01), Niall Mc Areavey, Dara Delaney (1-00), Niall Fallon  (2-00), Conn Doherty, Barry Mc Caffrey (0-05)

Referee Paul Burns (St Comgall’s)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

U20 B FC Group 1

St. Joseph’s 0-9 Naomh Padraig 0-9

St Joseph’s Glenavy and Naomh Padraig Lisburn fought out an exciting dra in the opening game of Group 1 of the U20 B Football Championship at Chapel Hill tonight but the visitors will feel that they should have taken both points.

Leading 0-9 to 0-7 after 21 minutes, the visitors chances were further boosted when Glenavy’s Shea O’Neill received a Black card and two minutes later they were denied a goal by St. Joseph’s keeper Lorcan Murphy.

They looked to have edged the contest as they led by a point as the game edged into time added on but Chris Grant struck a late equaliser to earn the Chapel Hill side a share of the spoils.

Eoin Dixon, who was excellent throughout gave Naomh Padraig the lead from a pointed free in the 9^th minute with Fergal Henry replying immediately from a Glenavy free. It was nip and tuck throughout the opening half as Niall Dixon for the visitors and Anthony Gallagher for Glenavy exchanged further points to leave it all square for the second time with 11 minutes gone.

The home side then enjoyed a period of ascendancy when Fergal Henry (f) and Tim Honeyford split the posts to move them 0-4 to 0-2 ahead at the first water break but as so often happens, the break came at the right time for the Lisburn side.

• 

• 

Naomh Padraig regrouped with Eoin Dixon pointing two frees to bring his side level by the 22^nd minute but two minutes later Naomh Padraig lost Darragh Doherty to a Black card.

Despite being down to 14 men they matched their opponents in the lead up to half time with Aodh O’Neill giving Glenavy the lead and Eoin Dixon replying for the visitors to leave it 0-5 to 0-5 as the half time whistle sounded.

On the restart the game continued to ebb and flow as two evenly matched sides battled for supremacy and Fergal Henry pointed St. Joseph’s ahead after 30 seconds but that man Dixon replied again from a free in the third minute.

Eoin Dixon from a 12^th minute free and a great point from Colm Burns from play edged Naomh Padraig two in front after 12 minutes and at this stage the momentum appeared to be swinging their way but substitute Ronan Hill replied for the Chapel Hill side to leave just one in it at the second water break.

The pace never slackened in the final quarter with Adam Patterson’s point in the 21^st minute and Ronan Hill’s Black card for Glenavy looking to be enough to give the Lisburn side victory but the final chapter in this intriguing battle had not yet been written.

Lorcan Murphy’s courageous save from a point blank shot and Chris Grant’s late double earned the home side a share of the spoils much to the delight of the home support with Naomi Padraig probably disappointed not to have held out for victory.

On the night Chris Grant was the Glenavy hero while Tim Honeyford was another to excel for the home side while Lisburn had excellent performers in Eoin Dixon and Colm Burns.

Glenavy: 1 Lorcan Murphy, 2 Oliver Brankin, 3 Tim Honeyford, 4 Lorcan O’Neill, 5 Matthew Lawlor, 6 Michael Fox, 7 Callum Crighton, 8 Chris Grant, 9 Darragh Doherty, 10 Fergal Henry, 11 Anthony Gallagher, 12 Matthew Horner, 13 Darragh Armstrong, 14 Patrick Colan-O’Leary, 15 Aodh O’Neill Subs 17 Ronan Hill for Patrick Colan-O’Leary, 21 Shea O’Neill

Lisburn: 1 Daniel Nelson, 2 Jude McMullan, 3 Jack Broderick, 4 Liam McKeown, 5 Calum Loney, 6 Liam McCutcheon, 7 Oisin Gorman 8 Colm Burns, 9 Adam Patterson, 10 James Morgan, 11 Niall Dixon, 12 Luca Mulholland, 13 Rory Kennedy, 14 Eoin Dixon, 15 Sean Burns

Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghall)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

U20 Football League Division 2

St Pat’s 8-11(35)  Lamh Dhearg  2-6(12)  

Photrographs courtesy of Gerard Dixon:

St. Patrtick’s Lisburn put the disappointment of a two point defeat at Portglenone at the weekend behind them to get back to winning ways with a resounding victory over Lamh Dhearg at Kirwoods Park last night.

The Lisburn side were never headed and took the game to the visitors right from the start with Eoin Dixon pointing them ahead from a free and adding a second from play and points from Colm Burns and Che Smyth had them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead with only three minutes on the clock.

Eoin Campbell got the Hannastown side of the mark with a point in the 9^th minute but Naomh Padraig responded and James Morgan got in for the game’s opening goal with 14 minutes on the clock.

Naomh Padraig looked completely in control at this stage but Lamh Dhearg found a response and Adam Murray replied with a goal to put them right back into the game. Things were certainly warming up at this stage with the goals coming thick and fast with Rory Kennedy getting through for a second goal for the hosts in the 18^th minute and Conall McGuiggan replying with the visitors second major, three minutes later.

The same player added a point and when Daire Cunningham added another in the 26^th minute to level the contest we looked to have a real game on our hands.

Naomh Padraig were enjoying plenty of possession but their shooting wasn’t matching their approach play with a number of chances going a begging but a good Rory Kennedy point from play gave the hosts a narrow 2-4 to 2-3 half time lead.

• 

• 

We looked to be in for a close encounter as the sides took the field for the second half but it was Naomh Padraig who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck as they began to dominate possession.

Adam Patterson, Eoin Dixon, Niall Dixon and Che Smyth added points by the 9^th minute and when Conor Ewing got in for a 12^th minute goal the Kirkwoods Park side looked very much in control.

Daire Cunningham finally got Lamh Dhearg off the mark as he pointed a free in the 15^th minute but three goals in the space of three minutes put the game beyond reach of the Hannastown side.

Rory Kennedy started the roller coaster rolling as he fired to the net in the 16^th minute, Adam Patterson followed with another and when the superb Kennedy completed his hat trick in the18th minute it was all over.

The hosts were now running rampant as the Lamh Dhearg resistance collapsed and Oisin Gorman and Jude McMullan, added goals in the run in to full time with Eoin Dixon, Adam Patterson and Jack Broderick adding points and Lamh Dhearg’s only response coming from Daire Cunningham pointed free and another from play by the same player.

This has been a good campaign to date for the Lisburn side in the first year that they have fielded a side in this age group and it should pay dividends in the future. They certainly look to have a number of excellent individuals within their ranks and in top scorer Rory Kennedy, who contributed 3-1 on the night they have a player with great promise.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Today we take a look back at the U21 final of 2006. It was Erin’s Own’s first title at this level and represented a break through with quite a number of those on duty for the Toome club that day were to go on and represent their senior side with distinction in the years that followed.

Under – 21 Football Championship Final 2006

Erin’s Own Cargin 2-10 St John’s 1-05

By Geordie McGuckin

Cargin, under the leadership of a superb Michael Mc Cann, defied the odds and the opinion of the pundits when they claimed their first under-21 title at the expense of St John’s at Casement Park.

The Corrigan lads stared as firm favourites but in the event, and despite holding a marked advantage on physicality such proved of little consequence in deciding the issue.

The South West side did take time to settle in the early phase and it was the Johnnies who nipped away to a better start and a couple of early points via Neil Mc Callan and Brian Neeson and it was only after several opportunities were wasted that Enda Mc Grogan defied an acute angle to get the Toome men on the board.

Cargin did look to have nicked the lead when Cormac Mc Guckin rose above the St John’s defence to fist a precision based Enda Mc Grogan cross to the back of net only to see the major wiped in a decision which found little favour amongst those in the green and white.

• 

• 

Micheal Mc Cann who was dominant in the middle where fully aided by Seamie Mc Closkey added a couple of second quarter points but a late Adrian Oliver reply ensure the Corrigan men a 0-04 to 0-03 advantage as the sides sought they sanctuary of the changing area at the end of an opening period despite being outplayed for most of the thirty minutes.

It the Erin’s Own lads had looked more than a little tentative in the opening period they were to leave such behind in the second portion and such was evident from the outset.

Michael Mc Cann climbed majestically to claim the restart throw in and send his sibling Tomas on his way to split the posts and when the indomitable Justin Crozier to combine with release hard grafting Tomas Mc Cann whose precision based delivery to Cormac Mc Guckin whose onward flick sent Enda Mc Grogan on his way to find the net with a superb finish.

The Toome boys were really finding their feet as the second period progressed, confident in possession and deft in delivery and when Michael Mc Cann raised a further trio of white flags they had earned a 1-07 to 0-03 advantage and looked on their way to victory.

• 

• 

The Corrigan men looked down as the last quarter made progress but when Gerry Rafferty despatched a 49^th minute penalty to the back of the net and Adrian Oliver stroked a 51^st minute ‘45’ between the uprights they looked firmly on the comeback trail.

The Cargin lads did look in some trouble at such juncture as they seemed knocked out of stride and those onlookers in the green and white had been silenced but the South West side led back into positivity by Michael Mc Cann regained composure.

It was a surging run by the mid fielder and a slick combination with his sibling Tomas that sent Cormac Mc Guckin away towards the posts.

The full forward had been denied a major in the opening period by a dubious decision was not to endure such on this occasion as he planted the leather in the back of the net and the die was cast.

Enda Mc Grogan added a 56^th minute point and with the excellent Michael Mc Cann adding a late brace such ensured Cargin breasted the winning line to claim the silverware on a 2-10 to 1-05 scoreline.

• 

• 

Cargin: Colm O’ Reilly, Marty Kane, Kevin O’ Boyle, Ryan Mc Closkey, David Mc Elhone, Justin Crozier, Ciaran Kelly, Seamie Mc Closkey, Michael Mc Cann (0-07), Tomas Mc Cann (0-01), Enda Mc Grogan (1-02), Paul Mc Cann, Conor Mc Larnon, Cormac Mc Guckin (1-00), Ciaran Mc Guckin

St Johns: Ryan Thibodaux, Paul Collins, Gerard Mc Curdy, Kevin Kennedy, Liam Knocker, Donal Hartigan, Kevin Cunningham, John Mead (0-01), Neal Mc Callan (0-01), Brian Connolly, Adrian Oliver (0-02), Liam Boyle (0-01), Brian Neeson (0-01),Conor Maskey

Subs

Gerry Rafferty (1-00)

Referee B Toland (Lamh Dhearg)

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•