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by thesaffrongael

Sarsfield’s back in the championship race

IFC Group 1 Round 2

Sarsfields 3-8 Naomh Eanna 0-13

Division 2 league champions, Patrick Sarsfield’s withstood a late rally from Naomh Eanna to get their IFC Group campaign back on track following defeat to Moneyglass in their opening game on Wednesday night.

Naomh Eanna had opened with a win over Naomh Padraig Lisburn on the same night so it was important that the men from the Bear Pit win this one but it was the visitors who made much the better start.

The Glengormley side led 0-2 to 0-0 after 8 minutes with Michael McKenna kicking both points, his second an excellent effort. At this point the visitors had kicked three wides and were looking the more likely side to claim the points.

Slowly though Sarsfields settled and they were back on level terms thanks to Conor Glenholmes and a Gary Lennon effort that dropped short but bounced over.

The home side were now beginning to take control and a Brian Healey goal in the 14th minute put them in a strong position as he drilled his shot low to the corner of Owen Kennedy’s net.

This score seemed to lift the ‘Paddies’ and Glenholmes added a point to move them five ahead with Eoghan O’Hare for the visitors and Christopher Loughran for the home side exchanging further points.

St. Enda’s were enjoying plenty of possession and creating opportunities but the Sarsfield’s defence were giving nothing away as they repelled attack after attack.

Sarsfields led 1-5 to 0-4 at the short whistle but given the strength of the breeze that they were about to face in the second, it didn’t look an insurmountable lead.

Gary Lennon increased that lead to five on the restart as Caolan McKiernan replaced Sam Walsh in the league winner’s mid-field and when Brian Healey drilled his shot to the net in the 8th minute, the task facing Naomh Eanna suddenly looked a lot more difficult.

A couple of points from Stephen O’Connor and another from Michael McKenna closed the gap to five by the 12th minute but Sarsfield’s continued to hit on the break and Caolan McKiernan cut in from the left to finish confidently to the net and it looked all over with 9 minutes remaining.

The score stood at 3-8 to 0-7 at this stage but to their credit Naomh Eanna kept plugging away with Zac Kyle and McKenna pointing before Stephen O’Connor raised an orange flag to cut the deficit to seven.

The Sarsfield’s scoring threat had dried up at this stage as St. Enda’s continued to press but they really needed goals at this stage and the opposition defence were forcing them to shoot from distance.

The visitors added three further points through Sean McCullagh, a Stephen O’Connor free and a late strike from James McAuley but it was too little-too late.

Group 1 now has four teams on 2 points from 2 outings with Sarsfields, Naomh Eanna, Naomh Padraig Lisburn and Sarsfields each winning one and losing one while St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass are also on 2 points but have played only 1 game to date while Rasharkin are pointless after one outing.

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by thesaffrongael

Cuchullains blitz St John’s in Championship opener

Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship

Group One

Round One

Dunloy 2-30 St John’s 1-11

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

REFEREE: Patrick Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

by thesaffrongael

St. Joseph’s have one foot in quarter-finals

IFC Group 2 Round 2

Glenavy 0-16 St. Teresa’s 1-7

St. Joseph’s Glenavy have one foot in the IFC quarter finals following their second win in 4 days when they overcame the challenge of St. Teresa’s at Chapel Hill on Saturday evening.

On Wednesday night St. Joseph’s travelled to Gort na Mona and recorded a good Group 2 opening day win and they produced some of that good form against the men from the Glen Road.

The home side held the upper hand for most of the hour and raced into an early two point lead through full-forward, James Gallagher who was causing early problems on the edge of the square.

Pierce O’Rawe replied for St. Teresa’s with an excellent point from distance and Fergal Henry and Anto Taylor exchanged further points to leave it 0-3 to 0-2 with8 minutes gone.

Henry extended the St. Joseph’s lead from a free and the number 15 was to have an increasing influence on the game as it proceeded.

John Mallon pulled one back for the Glen Road side as Owen Gallagher limped out of the contest to be replaced by his brother Dominic and the scoring dried up for a spell as the slow build up by the visitors frustrated the home side.

Unfortunately for St. Teresa’s these long periods of possession did not produce the scoring opportunities they were aiming for and it was Glenavy corner-backRuairi Forester who got forward for the next point with 2 minutes remaining.

Those final minutes would prove most beneficial to the home side with the impressive Fergal Henry tagging on two fine points to move his side 0-7 to 0-3 ahead in a low scoring opening half.

It was Henry who once again led the Glenavy charge on the restart as he hit the opening two points of the half to move his side 7 ahead by the 2nd minute and it was difficult to see where the St. Teresa’s score were going to come from.

Come they did however as they began to enjoy a period of ascendancy with John Mallon punishing the breech of the 3 player rule with a point and Anton Taylor followed with an excellent point from play.

The Glen Road side continued to hold the upper hand at this stage of the game and an excellent build up involving several players saw Eoghan Hamill finish to the net in the 10th minute and there was now only two between the sides.

They failed to build on this early period of dominance however as Glenavy slowly regained control with Fintan O’Boyle, Finn Shannon and roving corner-back, Ruairi Forester, with his second of the evening, moving the Chapel Hill men five clear again by the 20th minute.

Both sides rang he changes at this stage as John Mallon responded from a free but it was Glenavy who were calling the shots with |Fergal Henry from a free and James Gallagher putting it out of reach of the opposition whose final point of the game came from Eoghan Hamill.

This win puts Glenavy in a strong position to top the group and an even stronger one to qualify for the quarter-finals while St. Teresa’s might well have to win their remaining two games to ensure qualification.

St. Teresa’s entertain Gort na Mona on Friday 15th August while Glenavy are at home to Daviit’s the following day.

Glenavy: 1 Matthew Lawlor, 2 Timmy Honeyford, 3 Darragh Doherty, 4 Ruairi Forester, 5 Pearse O’Neill, 6 Conor Hamill, 7 Ryan Phillips, 8 Ciaran Loney, 9 Michael Johnston, 10 Owen Gallagher, 11 Fintan O’Boyle, 12 Patrick Gallagher, 13 Finn Shannon, 14 James Gallagher, 15 Fergal Henry

Subs: Dominic Gallagher for Owen Gallagher, Darragh Armstrong, Michael McCourt, Ben McCambridge

St. Teresa’s: 1 Mark Small, 2 Ryan Mallon, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Aodhan Dougan, 5 Pierce O’Rawe, 6 Eoin Connolly, 7 Conor O’Rawe, 8 Darren McCann, 9 Sean Maguire, 10 John Mallon, 11 Paul McGoldrick, 12 Niall McCann, 13 Eoghan Hamill, 14 Anton Taylor, 15 Colm McGoldrick

Subs: Robbie Gallagher, Philip Maguire, Matthew Mallon

Referee: Seamus Shannon, Rossa

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by thesaffrongael

Rampant Rossa reign supreme against Aldergrove in Championship opener

Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship – Group 2 – Round 1

Saturday 2nd August

Report by Niall Kelly from Naomh Séamas

Naomh Séamas 1-06    O’Donovan Rossa 3-14

Rossa opened the chapter of their 2025 Senior Football Championship quest in style with an impressive fourteen points to spare. Three first half goals from Eoin Fleming, Gerard Walsh and shot stopper Mick Byrne, proved to inflict irreparable damage to a battling Aldergrove’s chances of victory. Truth be told, for the majority of proceedings, the men from the Shaws Road exerted a measure of control and their dynamism and pace of attack was just too much for the hosts to deal with. With a few key players back in contention and their county men wreaking havoc, they were very easy on the eye and played some flowing and fluid football.

Gamekeeper turned poacher – Rossa goalkeeper celebrates afer scoring his team’s third goal

During the opening quarter though, they didn’t have it all their own way as it was the hosts who started the brighter with Declan Gough pointing after powering through on the second minute. The hosts then hijacked possession immediately from the Rossa kick-out and Ferghal Burke was on hand to guide over a beautifully caressed effort from the outside of his boot to double the lead.

Rossa, though, were now beginning to stir and the midfield pairing of Gerard Walsh and Oisin McVicker would prove to be pivotal in their change of fortune as they assumed command of the battle in the engine room. They responded in the best possible fashion as a flowing move, which stemmed from their midfield, was finished superbly to the net by Eoin Fleming on the fifth minute.

Aldergrove reacted positively though as Ronan Hanna latched onto a high ball in from Brian McQuillan before throwing his man a nonchalant dummy and blasting over from close range to level matters. But again, Rossa would flex their muscles in the middle third and from the resulting kickout, Gerard Walsh was the first to the breaking ball before rampaging forward with only one thing in his mind. The domineering number eight bided his time before blasting high to the net as the hosts were left shellshocked.

In response to this, the men in red opted to bring Hanna out into midfield perhaps to regain some level of control. In his stead, Seamus McGarry occupied the centre of the inside forward line and this change reaped rewards when a clever move involving Ferghal Burke and Oisin Graham was finished off by their captain McGarry who reduced arrears to two midway through the first period.

However, this would be as good as it got for St James’ for the remainder of the half, and it was perhaps the subsequent fifteen minutes were the game eluded them as Rossa hit free scoring mode. A two pointed free from Mick Byrne was followed in quick succession by an excellent Rory Grant score after some slick build up play. Dominic McEnhill, who was intrinsically involved in all positive aspects of Rossa’s attacks, opened his account minutes later from close range as his goal bound effort just had too much elevation and had to settle for a white flag instead of green.

Nevertheless, the signs were ominous, and the green flag was soon to be brandished for the third time. With five remaining until the short whistle, yet another sweeping and rapid attack resulted in a Rossa major and this time it came from a very unorthodox source. Those familiar with Michael Byrne’s goalkeeping style would be well aware that he likes to make himself known outfield but on this occasion, the Rossa number one was very well advanced up the field and proved to be in prime position to strike on goal with a finish that a full-forward would be proud of. He then followed this up with a perfectly executed forty five.

Aldergrove needed the reprieve of Cathal McDermott’s half-time whistle at this point, but there was just enough time for the visitors to further consolidate their lead as Dominic McEnhill slotted over from a free with the scoreboard reading 0-04 to 3-06 in favour of the men in blue at the interval.

Naomh Seamás faced a daunting task in trying to overcome a sizable eleven-point margin but started the second half with a spring in their step, as Seamus McGarry doubled his tally from the placed ball. The hosts knew that it might take a major of their own to claw this game back into contention and when Declan Gough fed his namesake Eoin, it appeared their wishes could come true. The fleet-footed number seven evaded tackles left and right before drilling a goal-bound shot low to the keeper’s right but was denied by a sea of Rossa defenders who blocked bravely to keep their handsome lead intact.

Just as events unfolded in the first, this seemed to kick Rossa into action as they began transitioning through the gears as scores came in the form of the formidable McEnhill and Fleming again. The Shaws Road men had once again established a stranglehold in the middle third and this would provide the foundation for further scores.

Richard Gowdy fisted over from close range on the forty second minute in what was arguably the move of the match with Rory Grant and Daire Murphy heavily involved. McEnhill would then add to his ever-growing tally before turning provider after winning an excellent fetch in midfield to set up Tiernan Murphy who fired over from range.

Despite the game well from their reach, the men in red continued to battle and managed to raise a white flag of their own through the tireless Eoin Gough. Spurred on by this, Aldergrove sought to push men higher up the field to garner greater reward, but it just wouldn’t stick for them as their opponents always seemed to have an answer. 

With the game reaching its climax, their misery was compounded further as they were down to fourteen men for the remainder as one of their defenders received a black card. Rossa then emptied the subs bench and with many keen to make an impression, they continued to advance on a scoring front as Corey Walsh and Conor O’Neill imparted their respective stamps on the game with well taken scores.

To their credit, the Crumlin side’s resilience never faltered, and it was perhaps just rewards that they managed to find the net themselves, albeit a consolation, thanks to substitute Glen Dunham with the last kick of the game.

Teams:

St James’:

O McGarry; A Irvine, E Irvine, C Lagan; C Fogerty, C McVeigh, E Gough (0-01;) B McQuillan, O Graham; M Burns, S McGarry (0-02,) D Gough (0-01;) F Burke (0-01,) R Hanna (0-01,) S Fay

Substitute Scorer:

G Dunham (1-00)

Rossa:

M Byrne (1-03) (0-01 & 1 t.p;) C Orchin, G McGrath, F McDonnell; T Murphy (0-01,) N Crossan, R Gowdy (0-01;) G Walsh (1-00,) O McVicker, R Grant (0-01,) C McDonald, D Rogan; D Murphy, D McEnhill (0-05,) E Fleming (1-01,)

Substitute Scorer:

C Walsh (0-01)

C O’Neill (0-01)

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by thesaffrongael

Reigning champions forced to dig deep

 (SFC Group One)

Erin’s Own Cargin 1-17 Tir na Nog 0-14

Reigning senior champions Erin’s Own were forced to dig deep to pass the test provided by the men from Whitehill and come from off the pace on Saturday evening before a good attendance on their own sod.

Tir na nOg travelled to Toome in the opening round of the senior championship cast in the role of outsiders on Saturday evening.

In the event, it was Cargin who would claim the win as expected but the reigning champions were forced to dig deep before passing the winning post with a hard earned 1-17 to 0-14 victory.

A good crowd had assembled in Toome as Cargin began their campaign in defence of their hard earned senior championship title and although the Erin’s Own men were to start as very warm  favourites they would be pushed all the way by the Randalstown side.

Cargin started positively with a Tomas McCann point and his nephew Sean Og O’Neill was quick to add another.

Their visitors were soon off the mark with a point from Oliver McAtamney and when mid fielder Mc Allister provided a fine ‘two pointer’ they had nipped into an early lead.

The home support were strangely quiet as the opening period progressed and the men from Whitehill increased their lead as Darragh Fagan added back to back points, one a ‘two pointer’ and further whites raised by Emmett Murray and Oliver Mc Atamney moved them 0-07 to 0-03 ahead.

The home side were struggling to get their game together but Benen Kelly sprang into action and following a fetch at the back by Jack O’ Neill he nipped forward to hoist a white.

 Cargin pressed again and a creative movement involving Sean O’ Neill, James Laverty, and Tomas McCann opened the way for John Carron to find the net.

This score seemed to lift the reigning champions and points from Conhuir Johnston and Michael McCann, aided by a superb fetch from Jack O’ Neill ensured a 1-06 to 0-08 lead for the home side as the short whistle sounded.

There was a lot to talk about in the ranks of the onlookers during the break but the home side opened a three point gap in the 33rd minute when Michael McCann despatched a fine ‘two pointer’ between the posts.

The visitors were quick to respond and opened their second half account with another two pointer as Sean Duffin delivered between the posts.

Cargin introduced Callum Gribbin into the ranks and the big man made a difference with Tomas McCann, John Carron and Conhuir Johnston adding points before another catch in defence by the excellent Jack O’Neill opened the way for Conhuir Johnston to split the posts.

Just back from long term injury the young man was making an impact on proceedings but bad luck denied him a couple of goal opportunities.

The home side had earned a three point advantage 1-11 to 0-11 but saw their visitors return fire as accurate Darragh Fagan added a pointed free to his personal haul.

Cargin were gaining in stride as the second period progressed however and points from Tomas Mc Cann and another from net minder John McNabb increased their advantage.

The visitors replied again through the impressive Darragh Fagan but the home side replied through Conhuir Johnston (2), and Benen Kelly who fired over from long range to move his side 1-17 to 0-13 ahead and the die was cast.

Tir na nOg continued to battle in the latter stages and were rewarded with a close range free from Darragh Fagan but it proved too little-too late and the long blast signalled a 1-17 to 0-14 win for the home side.

Cargin: John Mc Nabb (0-01), Conan Johnston, Kevin Mc Shane, Gerard Mc Corley, Benen Kelly (0-02), James Laverty (0-01), Jack O’ Neill, John Carron (1-02), Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston, Sean O’ Neill (0-01), Jack Harney, Michael Mc Cann (0-03), Conhuir Johnston (0-04), Tomas Mc Cann (0-03)

Subs

Callum Gribbin

Tir na nOg: Sean Paul Mc Atamney, Brandon Mc Larnon, Ciaran Mc Grellis, Daire Martin, Ciaran 0’ Neill, Barry Mc Cormick (0-02), Sean og Mc Allister (0-01), Darragh Feagan (04 2*), Josh Higgins, Sean Duffin, Oliver Mc Atamney (0-03), Aiden Toland, Caleb Smith, Emmett Murray (0-02)

Subs

Ryan O’ Neill

Brandon Devlin

Paul Mc Closkey

Referee: Ray Matthews

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