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by thesaffrongael

Johnnies hold on to secure quarter final place

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 2, round three

St John’s 1-14 O’Donovan Rossa 1-13

Despite appearing to be cruising to a runaway win at one stage St John’s were pushed to the pin of their collar to get past West Belfast rival’s Rossa in Saturday evening’s Senior Football Championship round-robin game at Hannahstown.

When the Corrigan Park side moved seven clear midway through the second half the only thing that seemed to be in question was the size of their winning margin, and double figures seemed a distinct possibility, considering that Rossa were a man short after losing Stephen Beattie to a red card early in the game.

 However games between these two great rivals seldom follow the predictable pattern and this one was no exception as Rossa began to claw their way back.

Dominic McEnhill brought the gap back to six but when the Johnnies were awarded a penalty soon afterwards it looked like Rossa were in for bit of a pasting. However Conor McEvoy was badly off target with the award, but despite that it still looked like Aaron Douglas’s men were safe and sound.

Things began to change when Rossa’s Colm Fleming picked off another point from a free and when a Dominic McEnhill shot for goal spun high in the air off a defender, Rossa corner forward Diarmuid Rogan rose to fist the ball to the Johnnies net.

Soon afterward St John’s were also reduced to fourteen men when substitute Daire King was red carded and suddenly you could sense the tide was turning.

Two more sweetly struck frees from Fleming left just a point between the sides as the game entered injury time and Rossa drew level following a move which saw goalkeeper Mick Byrne come up to join the attack, the county netminder providing the assist for Niall Crossan, and the half back sent over the equaliser.

St John’s were still safe though as a draw was good enough to see them through but to the great relief of their fans they pushed forward looking for a winner, rather than sit back and run down the clock. They were rewarded when their excellent centre back Andy McGowan fired over his third point of the game to secure a quarter final against Portglenone.  

The opening half had been fairly evenly contested, though St John’s held the upper hand in general, and with McGowan, Paddy McBride and left half forward Ronan Donnelly leading the line. Dominic McEnhill, Tommy Morgan and Colm Fleming were keeping Rossa well in touch though and they went in just two adrift at the break, despite the loss of Beattie.

St John’s appeared to have it all in control as they opened the gap during the third quarter, but Rossa showed great fighting spirit to get back in the contest.

As I said earlier in the report games between these two are always entertaining and the good news it we will get a chance to see them again next weekend, in the hurling.

 St John’s E R Lambert; E McGurk (0-1), J Garland, C McEvoy; L Peden, A McGowan (0-3), R Quinn; A Oliver, C Bohill; R McNulty, P McBride (0-3), R Donnelly (0-2, 0-1 free); S Tierney, C Adams (0-4, 0-1 free, 0-1 mark), C Quinn (1-1).

Subs D King for Garland (h-t); R Hannigan for Peden (56); D McKeogh for Tierney (63).

Rossa: M Byrne; P Moyes, G Walsh, C Orchin; D Grego, A Devlin, N Crossan (0-1); R Grant (0-2), O McVicker; C Fleming (0-6 frees), T Morgan (0-1), C McDonnell; D Rogan (1-0), D McEnhill (0-2, 0-1 free), S Beatty (0-1)

Subs R Gowdy for Moyes (inj., 32, first half); J Morris for McDonnell (39); C Walsh for Rogan (57); R Murray for Grego (63).

Referee C McDonald (St Gall’s).

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by thesaffrongael

High scoring Rasharkin bow out

IFC Group 1

Naomh Padraig 1-8 Rasharkin 4-11

St. Mary’s Rasharkin produced their best championship Group 1 performance of the season to comprehensively beat Naomh Padraig Lisburn at Kirkwoods Park on Saturday but their joy was short lived when the news filtered through that St. Paul’s and St. Teresa’s had drawn in Belfast.

That result means that the Belfast pair have qualified for the semi-finals but at least the Dreen side will avoid the relegation play-offs to decide who will drop to Junior Championship for next season.

Eamonn McNeill led the way for a St. Mary’s side who took control from early in the game with a pointed free in the third minute with Naomh Padraig keeper, Ruadhan McKenna equalising from a similar scenario with four minutes gone.

Slowly the visitors began to take control with Shane Hasson firing to the Lisburn net in the 9th minute and further goals from Eamonn McNeill, Donagh Quigg, and Seamus Ellis had the visitors in control when they led 4-4 to 0-5 at the half way stage and it looked as good as over, even at this stage.

Ellis goal came in the 25th minute and from the resulting misplaced kick-out the ball fell to the dangerous McNeill and he returned it post haste to the net.

Oisin Gorman, James Morgan and Conor Ewing were the Lisburn point scorers with McNeill 0-2Killian O’Boyle and Conor McFerran on target with the visitor’s points

HT 0-5 to 4-4

It didn’t get much better for Naomh Padraig after the break as Shane Hasson extended the Rasharkin lead with a point after 30 seconds and he added another from a free with four minutes gone.

Naomh Padraig enjoyed their best spell in the game with Eoin Dixon pointing a free before getting in for his side’s only goal in the 22nd minute after McFerran and mcNeill had added to the visitors point tally.

Eamonn McNeill from another free and Shane Hasson completed the scoring for St. Mary’s with substitute Conor Dixon and Eoin Dixon finishing with two late consolation points for the Lisburn side.

A disappointing evening for St. Mary’s as they bow out of the IFC but many of Saturday’s side are members of the Junior Hurling Championship team who could be serious challengers in that competition.

Naomh Padraig: 1 Ruadhan McKenna, 2 Conor Dornan, 3 Thomas Burns, 4 Paul Law, 5 Jack McMullan, 6 Ben McMullan, 7 Che Smyth, 8 Colm Burns, 9 Eoin Dixon, 10 Rory Kennedy, 11 Josh McMullan, 12 Adam Patterson, 13 Conor Ewing, 14 Oisin Gorman, 23 James Morgan,

Sub: Conor Dixon

St. Mary’s: 1 Tiernan O’Boyle, 2 Pearce Kelly, 3 Emmett McFerran, 4 Conor Higgins, 5 Colm Kennedy, 6 Fergus Quigg, 7 Fearghal Kennedy, 8 Ruairi O’Boyle, 9 Shane Hasson, 10 Donagh Quigg, 11 Seamus Ellis, 12 Oran McMullan, 13 Killian O’Boyle, 14 Eamonn McNeill, 15 Conor McFerran

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by thesaffrongael

Honours even at Glen Road first half goal fest

Intermediate Football Championship – Group 1 – Round 3

Saturday 31st August

Report by Niall Kelly 

St Teresa’s 2-10    St Paul’s 3-07

St Teresa’s and St Paul’s both qualified for the semi-finals of the Intermediate Championship after they ended level in Sunday’s penultimate round-robin game at the Glen Road. Naomh Teresa were thirty seconds away from avenging their defeat in the Division Two league decider between the sides, when the sides met a few weeks ago. However Naomh Pól sharpshooter, Lorcan Phillips, had other ideas and he converted a close range free on the stroke of full time to give both teams a share of the spoils, a result which sees both ot them through to the knock-out stages.

In what was a manic first half, St Teresa’s looked potentially down and out after shipping three goals in a five minute period in the opening quarter. However, spearheaded by chief marksman, Jay Mallon, the Glen Road side clawed away at the deficit as both outfits went hammer and tongs to claim top spot of the group, and both will now go through as first and second in the group.

Trailing by three at half time, the hosts then manufactured four unanswered scores in the closing eight minutes to gain the lead for the first time since the fifth minute. All seemed as though the stars had aligned and the two points looked destined to stay at Pairc ÚiDhoctairtigh. Nonetheless, it was not to be as the concession of a close range free gave the visitors the perfect opportunity to half the verdict.

Today was perhaps August’s last gasp in producing any sort of summer weather. In what were hot, humid and indeed energy sapping conditions, it was Jay Mallon who drew first blood with a well taken free on the fourth minute. All seemed well for the hosts in the opening exchanges as they had the lion’s share of possession and looked bright going forward but failed to capitalise further on the early momentum.

What followed can only be described as five minutes of madness. St Paul’s ability on the counterattack would be devastating as they notched up three goals all stemming from relentless direct runs forward. Niall McStravick was the first to get the green flag waving as his slaloming run left three men in his wake before unleashing an unstoppable bullet across Phil Maguire’s net and into the top left corner.

Moments later, it was midfielder Mark Munce’s turn to get in on the act. The Naomh Pól number eight took flight from the middle third and just couldn’t be stopped as he evaded tackles left and right, driving into the open space in his path before slotting home in a near mirror image to his teammate McStravick.

St Teresa’s were shell-shocked and matters were exacerbated further when Lorcan Philips was the fox in the box blasting home from close range after netminder Maguire had pulled off an excellent save to deny Munce for a second.

Trailing by 0-01 to 3-00 the hosts were in dire need of a score to settle them which came in the form of another Mallon free. They then began to turn the screw themselves, bombing forward to cut into the sizable deficit. Their bravery garnered its reward as they managed to grab their first major on the fifteenth minute as Anton Taylor fired home on the rebound after Luke Cassin’s effort was well stopped by Jack McCaufield.

Buoyed by their change in fortunes, St Teresa’s continued their advances and when Paul McGoldrick’s marauding surge forward was brought to an abrupt halt in the box, Darren McKeown had no other option but to signal for a spot kick. Mallon was calmness personified in his execution, sending the keeper the wrong way. Game on.

As the game ticked closer to the short whistle, it was now St Paul’s who needed a score to gain them a reprieve. Thankfully for them, Lorcan Phillips was on hand to demonstrate his prowess from the placed ball to leave the score 2-02 to 3-02 in favour of the visitors at the half.

John Mallon fires a penalty to the St Paul’s net to start the St Teresa’s comeback

The second period might’ve lacked the same goals as the first, but it wasn’t short in entertainment as the pendulum of momentum swung this way and that. With thirty-six minutes on the clock, the gap had been narrowed to the minimum thanks to two more well despatched frees from the host’s number ten. The ever-dangerous Francis Duggan was unlucky to see his shot kiss the wrong side of the post a few minutes later as the hosts seemingly had their tails up. Stephen Rooney and Mallon traded scores before St Paul’s hit their stride midway through the second half with Philips coming to the fore to bolster his tally by two.

With ten minutes remaining, the game was on a knife edge as both sides battled to gain the ascendancy. Both sets of fans held their breath as once more the teams traded points with Mallon eagle eyed from the placed ball yet again and Conall Duffy adding the gloss to a flowing Naomh Pól attack.

It seemed now that the Shaws Road men had just about done enough but the script was to be flipped on its head as a rampant St Teresa’s fired over four consecutive points. Darren McCann split the posts from range before Francis Duggan flighted his effort perfectly.

One point down with one minute to go, St Teresa’s were inspired and levelled through the trusty right foot of full forward Anton Taylor before talisman Paul McGoldrick fisted over from close range to trigger an almighty roar from the Super T’s supporters in time added on.

It was a backs to the wall job then as the hosts tried to stem the flow of their counterpart’s attacks. The men in red and white came forward in their droves and in the end the pressure took its toll as they were awarded a close range free for their efforts. Lorcan Phillips, who top scored along with Jay Mallon, added to his tally of 1-04 to deadlock the score just before the whistle sounded.

A thoroughly entertaining and intriguing affair where both will feel they could and should’ve gained the verdict. In the end, a share of points was probably the fairest outcome. They now both sit level on 5 points atop the group with only score difference separating them. St Paul’s will hope to finish off with victory at home to winless Ardoyne whilst St Teresa’s will seek maximum points away to Lisburn in what could be a potential banana skin. Nevertheless, it’s clear that both of these sides harbour realistic Championship ambitions and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them in mix in the semis.

Teams:

St Teresa’s:

P Maguire; A Dougan, P Johnston, R Mallon; E Connolly, C O’Rawe, C Mallon; L Cassin, D McCann (0-01;) J Mallon (1-05,) N McCann, P O’Rawe; F Dugan (0-02,) A Taylor (1-01,) P McGoldrick (0-01)

St Paul’s:

J McCaufield; A Kavanagh, S Rooney (0-01,) D O’Sullivan; M Duffy, J Farrell, P Magee; M Munce (1-00,) C McAlea; C Duffy, N McStravick (1-00,) R Hamill; L Phillips (1-05,) L McLarnon, C Duffy (0-01)

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by thesaffrongael

Creggan qualify but must await the outcome of Sunday’s St. Brigid’s v Aghagallon game

SFC Group 4

Creggan 1-15 St. Gall’s 1-4

Kickham’s Creggan qualified for the knockout stages of the Senior Football Championship with a comprehensive win over St. Gall’s in their final Group 4 game at Lamh Dhearg on Saturday afternoon.

Despite falling behind to a Brendan Bradley goal in the 5th minute the Staffordstown Road side never looked like losing this one and by half time they were in control when they led by five, thanks to a goal from Conor McCann.

The South West side would push on to outscore the Milltown side 0-8 to 0-2 during the second half to run out winners by 11 points and must now wait for the result of Sunday’s game between St. Brigid’s and Aghagallon to see whether they finish first or second in the group.

Jimmy McCann, who was to have a major influence on the final result, pointed Creggan ahead in the 4th minute but the visitors were caught with an astute pass over the top as Niall O’Neill placed Bradley who finished to the net from close range with keeper, Oisin Kerr stranded.

Jimmy McCann (free), Marty Johnston and Ruairi McCann replied with points to edge the visitors back in front by the 15th minute and when Conor McCann finished to the net from close range they were in control.

Conor McCann added a point as Creggan’s measured possession football started to create gaps in the St. Gall’s defence and the Milltown side were dealt a blow when Conaill Murray was forced to retire injured to be replaced by Eoghan McCurdy.

Niall Burns, St. Galls and Marty Johnston, Creggan battle for possession

The Belfast side were finding it hard to penetrate a well organised Kickham’s defence where Ricky and Marty Johnston were superb but Niall Burns finally raised St. Gall’s second flag of the evening when he pointed a 25th minute free.

Niall O’Neill fisted over a second before being replaced by Callum Walsh but it was Creggan who finished on the front foot as Ruairi McCann and Ricky Johnston kicked late points to see them head to the dressing rooms leading 1-7 to 1-2.

St. Gall’s were first off the mark in the second half with Niall Burns converting another free to briefly cut the gap to four but Ruairi McCann converted a 50 meter free of the ground to immediately restore the Kickham’s five point advantage.

It was Burns who was again on target with his and his side’s second point in the 10th minute from another converted free but it would be his side’s final score of the evening as Creggan began to turn the screw.

Tiarnan McAteer raced clear for an excellent point and Paddy McAuley added another and the big mid-fielder might well have had a goal with the St. Gall’s defence at sixes and sevens.

Creggan continued to press home their advantage with Jimmy McCann converting three frees in quick succession to move them nine in front with 8 minutes remaining.

The Kickham’s continued to monopolise possession as they ran down the clock with Sean Duffin fisting over after a strong run and Tiarnan McLarnon marking his introduction for Conor Small with the game’s final point.

There’s sure to be a bigger than normal Creggan representation at Corrigan on Sunday for the final game in the group. A five point win for Aghagallon over group leaders St. Brigid’s would see the Musgrave Park side eliminated and St. Mary’s join Creggan in the knock out stages.

A win for St. Brigid’s would mean they finish top of the group unbeaten with Creggan joining them in second place in the play-offs.

Creggan: 1 Oisin Kerr, 2 Conor McCann, 3 Ricky Johnston 4 Aidan Maguire, 5 Ethan Carey Small, 6 Marty Johnston, 7 Jimmy McCann, 8 Kealan McCann, 9 Paddy McAuley, 10 Sean Duffin, 11 Ruairi McCann, 12 Tiarnan McAteer, 13 Joe McAteer, 14 Conor McCann, 19 Conor Small, 25 Odhran Hampsey.

Subs: 17 Tiarnan McLarnon, for Conor Small

St. Gall’s: 1 Chris Kerr, 2 Marcus Donnelly, 3 Tiarnan Keenan, 4 Conaill Murray, 5 John McCaffery, 6 Conall McGirr, 7 Conall McCabe, 8 Aodhan Gallagher, 9 Conor Ryan, 10 Niall Burns, 11 Brendan Bradley, 12 Michael Hopkins, 13 Michael Pollock, 14 Daniel Quinn, 15 Niall O’Neill,

Subs: 17 Eoghan McCurdy for Conaill Murray, Callum Walsh for Niall O’Neill, Barra McCaffery for Brendan Bradley, Con Doherty for Michael Hopkins

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)

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by thesaffrongael

Laochra make the quarter-finals after strong finish over Pearses

Graham Tarmac Antrim Junior Football Championship, Group 1

Laochra Loch Lao 2-12-0-13 Pearses

Kevin Herron reports from Colaiste Feirste

Laochra Loch Lao ended the game strongly despite being reduced to 14-men in the closing stages of their 2-12-0-13 victory over Pearses at Colaiste Feirste on Friday evening.

Pearses reduced arrears to set up a grandstand finish, but Laochra tagged on three-unanswered points to ensure they would join their Belfast rivals in the last eight after St Agnes’ accounted for St Malachy’s in the other Group game.

Without a win in their opening two games, Laochra knew that only victory would give them a chance of prolonging their Championship campaign against the 2022 winners.

It was Pearses who settled quickest and lead through a converted Fionn Grew free- although Kevin Devine restored parity from the hosts first attack at the other end.

Pearses regained the lead after Piaras Donaghy laid the ball off to Liam Deegan to drop a shot over and a quickfire double from Stephen Fitzsimons and Grew moved the North Belfast outfit 0-04-0-01 ahead.

Laochra finally got to grips with things and moved level by the midway point in the half. Sean Mac An Bheatha sent a high effort between the posts and Pearse McAuley blasted over following Rian McShane’s lay-off.

Full-forward Kevin Devine swept over his sides equaliser and doubled his personal tally in the process before his side moved ahead for the first time on the 19th minute through Oisin Crawford’s angled effort.

Things would get better for Laochra as they hit the first goal of the game, Eamonn McKenna’s kick-out was intercepted by Devine and he unselfishly slipped a pass inside for Connor McGucken to blast to the net and make it 1-05-0-04.

Mac An Bheatha doubled his personal tally to make it 1-05 without reply and although Pearses would cut the deficit through a Darren O’Neill point from play and a converted mark from Liam Deegan, Laochra extended their lead in first half injury time.

The hosts worked an opening down the Pearses right hand side and Cathal O Ceadagh took a pop back from the by-line and guided a low shot into the corner of the net to give his side a 2-06-0-06 lead at the interval.

Like the opening half, it was Pearses that started brightly, and they halved the deficit with three unanswered points.

Fionn Grew kicked his second free of the evening, Stephen Fitzsimons pointed after combining with Liam Deegan and was on hand again moments later as the visitors had the early momentum.  

Devine settled Laochra for the half, dropping over a near-post point and Conor McGucken sent an angled shot over a few minutes later.

The sides traded scores between Fitzsimons and Devine, but Pearses would cut the deficit to just two with another three unanswered points.

A fisted Phil Murray score was followed by a converted free from Fitzsimons. On the 53rd minute Pearses would gain a numerical advantage as referee Chris Brown spotted Deaglan McComb throw an elbow in an off-the-ball incident and produced a red card that ensured Laochra would see the game out with 14-men.

Stephen Fitzsimons conjured up his fifth of the half to reduce arrears to two with three minutes plus injury time remaining.

Laochra didn’t panic though, and the 14-men would see the game out on the front-foot. Connla O Coinn converted a close-range free and assisted in Kevin Devine floating over his fifth of the contest.

O Coinn set off on a solo run deep into injury time and finished the evenings scoring as Laochra joined Pearses on the two-points at the conclusion of the Group and join their Belfast counterparts in the last eight.

Laochra Loch Lao: S O hEachain, N Mac Aodha, T Mac Siacais, E O Ceallaigh, S Mac An Bheatha (0-02), O Crawford (0-01), C O Ceadagh (1-00), P McAuley (0-01), C O Coinn (0-02, 0-01f), R McShane, N McAreavey, D Mac Crabhagain, C McGucken (1-01), K Devine (0-05), D McComb. Subs: P O Tiarnaigh for T Mac Siacais (60+3).

Pearses: E McKenna, D O’Neill (0-01), J Collins, A Nugent, N Gorman, A Bannon, A McCavana, T McFarlane, J Smyth, P Murray (0-01), S Fitzsimons (0-06, 0-01f), P Donaghy, F Grew (0-03, 0-02f), L Deegan (0-02), S Moreland. Subs: M Kelly for A Nugent (36), R Bannon for J Smyth (43).

Referee: Chris Brown (St Pauls)

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