All County Football League – Division Two

Aldergrove 2-21 | Glenavy 1-13

Prior to throw-in for this eagerly anticipated south-west derby, a respectful minute’s silence was observed in memory of Glenavy’s Eamonn Devereux who died earlier this week.

When the ball was thrown in, it was Aldergrove who found their rhythm early, dictating the tempo and utilizing sharp, efficient breakouts to ultimately secure a commanding victory. Aldergrove hit the ground running, registering their first score within thirty seconds through a point from play by Ryan McCarthy. Seamus McGarry followed up shortly after with a converted free. Glenavy’s James Monaghan offered a swift reply with a point from play at the two-and-a-half-minute mark, but Aldergrove quickly took control of the opening quarter.

Between the 10th and 19th minutes, the St. James’ men dominated the scoreboard. Rónán Ó hAnnaidh and Seamus McGarry fired over points from play, before Aldergrove’s number 17 reliably converted two consecutive frees to stretch the lead. Glenavy battled hard to stay in touch. Leon Lavery was a constant threat, pointing from play and adding a free. James Monaghan executed a crucial two-pointer from a dead ball, while Fiontan O’Boyle added his name to the scoresheet just before the 30-minute mark. Lavery added another under intense pressure, keeping the St. Joseph’s men within striking distance. Discipline frayed slightly as Glenavy’s Ruairi Forester was shown a yellow card in the 31st minute. Aldergrove capitalized on the shifting momentum immediately. After their number 17 tapped over another free, Lughaidh Mac Gabhann broke free to rifle home a brilliant breakaway goal. Glenavy’s Finn Jack Shannon answered with an excellent long-range effort, leaving the halftime score at Aldergrove 1-09, Glenavy 0-08.

Glenavy emerged for the second half with renewed purpose, focusing on intricate team build-ups. Leon Lavery was heavily involved again, hitting three superb points in the opening five minutes—one well-worked team score and another opportunistic point following a save. Aldergrove, however, refused to panic. Seamus McGarry steadied the ship with a massive long-range point. After a substitution that saw their number 17 make way for number 25, Aldergrove orchestrated a beautiful team move finished sharply by Cormac McGarry. At the 14-minute mark, the game burst wide open. Glenavy strung together a magnificent team move that culminated in Michael Morgan finding the back of the net, injecting real belief into the Glenavy sideline.

Yet, the final quarter belonged to Aldergrove. Their dominance around the midfield sector began to tell, and their forwards were ruthless. Seamus McGarry added an individual point, followed by an unbelievable pressure score from Cormac McGarry. Rian Ó hEoghain and Rónán Ó hAnnaidh kept the scoreboard ticking over as Aldergrove found another gear. Despite James Monaghan fighting valiantly for Glenavy with a free and a point from play, Aldergrove’s conditioning and shooting accuracy won out. Seamus McGarry hit another great point under pressure, Rónán Ó hAnnaidh landed a two-pointer from play, and Lughaidh Mac Gabhann capped off the afternoon with the final score of the game.

Ultimately, Aldergrove were on a different level today. They controlled the middle third of the pitch with authority, turning turnovers into sharp, efficient breakouts that Glenavy struggled to contain. Seamus McGarry rightfully earns the Man of the Match honors for his exceptional shooting, vision, and overall control of the game’s flow. For Glenavy, it was a frustrating afternoon. Missed scoring opportunities, particularly in the opening thirty minutes, left them with too steep a mountain to climb. The effort was there, especially early in the second half, but the final message for the St. Joseph’s men as they look ahead to the next round is clear: better pull, boys, better pull.

TEAM LINEUPS

ALDERGROVE: 1. Shane O’ Neill 2. Lonan Magee 3. Corey Fogarty 4. Caden Lagan 5. Chris McVeigh 6. Emmett Irvine 7. Oisin Graham 8. Ryan Owens 9. Conleth Hendron 10. Cormaic McGarry 11. Ryan McCarthy 12. Seamus McGarry 13. Ronan Hanna 14. Fearghal Burke 15. Lewis Smyth

GLENAVY (Naomh Seosamh): 1. Fergal Green, 2. Ruairi Forester, 3. Darragh Doherty, 4. Jonathan Phillips, 5. Pearse O’Neill, 6. Padhraic Mckevitt, 7. Odhran Arthurs, 8. Patrick Gallagher, 9. Fiontan O’Boyle, 10. James Monaghan, 11. Ciaran Loney, 12. Finn Jack Shannon, 13. Leon Lavery, 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Darragh de Brun.

TO SEE MORE OF BERT’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

0https://myalbum.com/album/B8LWdMyizznMK8/?invite=4b7b1108-b699-4975-b4d5-76e6f9a312a9

ACFL Division 2

St. Teresa’s 3-16 Naomh Comhghall 0-19

Following last week’s win over St. James Aldergrove, St. Teresa’s entertained another South West rival on Wednesday night and after a titanic struggle emerged with both points to maintain their position in the promotion chasing pack behind St. Enda’s

The early minutes were pretty even with St. Teresa’s forging into and early 5points to 4 lead with scores from John Mallon, Conor O’Rawe and Niall McCann. The home side hit a purple spell scoring two goals through Zac Morgan and NiallMcCann to lead 2.07 to 0.06 at the short whistle.

Playing into the strengthening wind the hosts scored 7points on the bounce to move 14 clear and looking safe for the league points. Fair play to visitors Naomh Comhghall however who took on the 2 pointers with the wind, scoring 5 of them to close the gap to three at one point.

St Teresa’s used their experience to good affect however and A great move involving 6 players saw the game killed off when home fullback Paul Johnston finished to the net to leave them home with six points to spare.

TO VIEW MORE OF MARTIN BRUNTY’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/onzz4sguoJiFMk

ACFL Division One 

Lámh Dhearg 2-17-5-14 St Brigids 

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown 

Despite being reduced to 14-men for the remaining 10-minutes, St Brigid’s landed two further goals to their three scored in the opening half in their 5-14-2-17 win over Lámh Dhearg at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening. 

The South Belfast outfit were first off the mark when Conan McNicholl laid the ball off to Dara Quinn who found Paul Bradley to side foot over, 

Parity was temporarily restored after Jack Davitt popped the ball to Owen McKeown to drop a shot over. 

The game’s opening goal came after seven minutes. JJ Higgins made a driving run forward before fisting the ball into the path of James Smith, he continued his run towards goal and squeezed a low shot into the corner to make it 1-1-0-1. 

It was all too easy for the visitors in the aftermath and he stretched further clear with another three unanswered scores, Conan McNicholl directed a shot high over the bar with Paul Bradley then swinging back-to-back scores. 

A converted Ryan Murray free was followed by another dead-ball, this time Adam Murray kicked a two-pointer to reduce arrears approaching the midway point in the half (1-4 to 0-4). 

Disaster would strike for the hosts again though as St Brigid’s found their second goal in the 17th minute. 

Carving the Lámhs defence open with a move through the hands, a palmed James Smith shot hit the post and went in off Paddy Mervyn into his attempt to clear the danger. 

Points were exchanged between Terry McCrudden and Smith in the aftermath, whilst Adam Murray kicked his second free of the evening, but the Lámhs were all at sea once again and Paul Bradley took full advantage- blasting home in the 25th minute to make it 3-5-0-6. 

Adam Murray was the Lámhs most attacking threat and hit back to three scores before the break, though a two-pointed Reuben Carleton free had St Brigid’s in control at the break with a 3-7-0-9 advantage. 

The Musgrave Park side continued to show their efficiency after the break with Conan McNicholl and Paul Bradley both registering scores. 

Ryan Murray clipped over in response, though Paul Bradley and Aodhan McNicholl opted for fisted scores to put double figures between the sides (3-11-0-10). 

Lámh Dhearg were offered a glimmer of hope when Paddy Mervyn was sandwiched as he was about to try his luck from close range and referee Ray Matthews signalled for a penalty. 

Responsibility fell upon the shoulders of Ryan Murray- who made no mistake, firing low past Feargus Canning in the St Brigid’s goal. 

Owen McKeown then surged forward and popped the ball off to Adam Murray who lined up a two-pointed effort and steered it over to half the deficit. 

Things got better less than 60-seconds later when Conor Murray side-footed a floated pass into namesake Adam’s path and he struck low past Canning to make it 3-11-2-12) with over a quarter of an hour still remaining. 

The pendulum had swung in the Lámhs favour and Ryan Murray kicked his second point of the half to reduce arrears to a single point. 

St Brigid’s would see out the remaining minutes a man light after Aodhan McNicholl caught Marc McGarry with a closed fist in an attempt to win the ball. 

Lámh Dhearg made use of their numerical advantage and hit the front for the first time when substitute Mark Finnegan kicked a two-pointed score. 

However, St Brigid’s regained the lead shortly afterwards when a mark was brought forward 40-metres for a tackle in the aftermath and Reuben Carleton kicked his second two-pointed free of the evening. 

Substitute Oran Boyle doubled his side’s advantage shortly after entering the fray and after playing a patient game with the ball after winning the resulting kick-out a fourth goal was forthcoming courtesy of Finn McKernan. 

Adam Murray gave his side a glimmer of hope again, kicking his third two-pointer off the evening from a free in injury-time, though midfielder Patrick Finnegan put the game beyond doubt with a palmed finish over the head of John Finucane to seal a 5-14-2-17 win at the conclusion. 

LÁMH DHEARG: J Finucane, Ross Murray, D Lynch, M McGarry, B Rice, P Mervyn, N McGarry, P Fitzsimons, C Boyd, O McKeown (0-1), T McCrudden (0-1), Ryan Murray (1-3, 0-1f, 1-0p), A Murray (1-10, 0-7f, 2×0-2 ptf, 1×0-2pt), J Quinn, J Davitt. SUBS: D Martin for T McCrudden (29), C Murray for J Quinn (HT), M Finnegan (1×0-2pt) for N McGarry (41). 

ST BRIGID’S: F Canning, A McNicholl (0-1), C King, F McKernan (1-0), B McGurk, P King, R Carleton (0-4f, 2×0-2ptf), J Dowling, P Finnegan (1-0), N Duffy, D Quinn, P Bradley (1-4), C McNicholl (0-2), J Smith (2-2), JJ Higgins. SUBS: O Boyle (0-1) for C McNicholl (56). 
REFEREE: Ray Matthews (O’Donovan Rossa)

ACFL Division 2

St. Enda’s 4-16 St. Mary’s 4-13

Division 2 pace setters, St. Enda’s Glemngormley turned in a strong second half performance to pip an excellent St. Mary’s Ahoghill in an exciting ACFL Division 2 encounter at Hightown on Wednesday night.

This top of the table clash had everything and produced some excellent passages of play with the side’s level at the break at 2-5 to 1-8 and it remained all to play for in the second half.

Ahoghill will rue the fact that they kicked 8 wides during a well contested opening half where they edged the exchanges and it was St. Enda’s who pushed on to maintain their place at the top of the table despite losing a player to atright Red with two minutes remaining.

Michael McKenna for St. Enda’s and James O’Connell with a 2 pointer for the visitors exchanged early scores with Eamonn Brady edging Ahoghill further ahead before Odhran Eastwood reduced the gap to the minimum with a pointed free for the Hightown side.

St. Enda’s hit the front when Conor Eastwood fired to the net in the 12^th minute and the same player would add a second in the 16^th minute after Patrick Graham had found the net for St. Mary’s at the other end.

Ronan Graham and James O’Connell brought the Ahoghill points total to 8 by half time, ‘Jimmy’s’ second effort a fine 2 pointer while further points from Sean Nolan, Stephen O’Connor and Sean McBride for St. Enda’s left it all square at the break.

Ahoghill put themselves in a strong position early in the second half with Colla McDonnell finding the net twice in quick succession and St. Enda’s responding through points from Michael McKenna 0-2 and James McAuley.

Mickey Morgan put Glengormley right back into the contest with a goal in the 6^th minute and followed immediately with a point and another from Odhran Eastwood saw the league leaders hit the front as we reached the end of the third quarter.

Donal Graham, Ronan Graham and James O’Connell kept the score board ticking with points for the visitors but an Odhran Eastwood goal for the Glengormley men with 8 minutes remaining left it firmly in the balance and still anyone’s game.

It would be St. Enda’s who would finish the stronger down the home straight however with Cillian Brown, Odhran Eastwood 0-2 (f’s) and Eoghan O’Hare adding points with Fionnbar O’Neill’s goal for Ahoghill with four minutes remaining concluding the visitors scoring.

An excellent game of football with St. Mary’s pushing the hosts all the way but it is St. Enda’s who now move four points clear at the top of the division on 14 points with Ahoghill, Glenavy and St. Teresa’s all on 10 points.

TO SEE MORE OF PHILIP’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/e6bwuqoqCabZHg/?invite=466d2b48-e3f6-48bb-88b2-39cd39780aed

ACFL Division 1

Erin’s Own, Cargin 0-19 St Mary’s, Aghagallon 0-18

Report and photos by Brian Hamill

Erin’s Own, Cargin claimed the points by the narrowest of margins in a gripping Division One contest on Wednesday evening, edging St Mary’s, Aghagallon by a single score in a match that highlighted both sides’ squad depth.

With key players missing on both panels, the game provided opportunities for squad members to step into prominent roles, and it was Cargin who ultimately made their greater control count, even if Aghagallon were the more clinical side when chances arose.

Cargin enjoyed the upper hand for long stretches, particularly around the middle third, where their ability to retain possession and dictate the tempo stood out. Ciaran Bradley was central to that control, finishing with four excellent points from play, while James Laverty drove forward from deeper positions, contributing both a point and a two-pointer.

At the sharp end, Patrick O’Neill produced the decisive performance of the evening. The full-forward mixed sharp movement with composure from distance, repeatedly punishing space and finishing with a series of points and crucial two-point scores that kept Cargin ahead during key passages of the game.

Aghagallon, though, remained firmly in contention throughout thanks to their ruthless efficiency.

The visitors made the most of their scoring chances, particularly from long range under the new two-point rule. Luke Mulholland, Aghagallon’s goalkeeper, was outstanding from placed balls, landing two two-point frees to keep the pressure on the hosts. Enda McCartan and Jack Lenehan also punished any looseness with well-taken long-range efforts, while Jonny Hannon chipped in as Aghagallon stayed in touch despite seeing less of the ball.

The contrast in styles was clear: Cargin controlled possession and territory, while Aghagallon maximised almost every meaningful attack.

The closing stages were tense. Aghagallon reduced the deficit to the minimum late on, again through Mulholland, but Cargin’s game management in the final moments saw them hold on to seal a valuable Division One victory.

While the result went the way of the hosts, both management teams will take encouragement from the performances of squad players who stepped up in the absence of regular starters, underlining the growing depth available to both clubs as the league campaign continues

TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN GILLEN’S PICS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/UKPH4o7gCvVeTb