St Malachy’s held off a determined second half fightback by Laochra Loch Lao at Cherryvale on Saturday evening to seal their place in the semi-final of the Junior Football Championship. In a no quarter ask or given game both teams gave it their all in perfect weather conditions. St Malachy’s appeared to be cruising when they opened a five point gap midway through the second half, but Laochra Loch Lao fought their way back in the final quarter to close to within three points, but despite creating several good scoring chances that was as close as they would get and the Mal’s excellent free taker Criostoir Devlin sealed the win with an injury time point.
Devlin had struck three of the first four points of the game, two of them from 45s, to put his team 0-03 to 0-01 ahead midway through the opening half, but Oisin Crawford and Kevin Devine brought Laochra Loch Lao back into contention, but Ciaran Vernon struck a telling blow for the Mal’s when he drove a low shot to the Laochra net following a goalmouth scramble.
1-05 to 0-4 ahead at the break Laochra Loch Lao closed the gap to three with an Oisin Crawford point two minutes after the restart, but points from Shea Lynch and Stephen Carson strengthened St Malachy’s position midway through the half. Laochra’s Kevin Devine and St Malachy’s Ciaran Vernon exchanged points to keep the gap at five, but St Malachy’s scoring dried up and despite losing a player to a black card Laochra Loch Lao started to close the gap.
Left half back Dubaltach Mac Crabhagain sent over a very good point for Laochra and on 52 minutes they grabbed another to leave just three between the sides. The kept up the pressure but missed a few good chances to close further, including two twenty metre frees, and St Malachy’s Ciara Devlin finished the contest when he sent over another free in injury time to secure a semi-final spot.
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Senior Football Championship – Relegation semi-final
Tir na nOg 1-11 Con Magees 0-11
A goal five minutes from time by Tir na nÓg right half forward Aodhan Toland secured the Randalstown club’s Senior Football Championship status for next season as it sealed the win over Con Magees in Sunday’s Relegation semi-final at Slemish Park, Ballymena.
After trailing for most of the game things suddenly looked more promising for the Glenravel men when three points without reply in the 21st, 22nd and 24th minutes brought them level. However just when it looked like the door was opening for the men in green it was slammed firmly in their faces when straight from the kick-out Ryan McQuillan’s leveller Tir na nÓg broke downfield and as the Glenravel defence opened up for them Toland raced through and fired to the net to seal the win.
The first half was evenly contested with Ryan McQuillan putting Con Magees ahead in the second minute, but three minutes later Tir na nOg hit back to level as full forward Darragh Fagan, who was to be the games top scorer, fired over the first of his six points.
A minute later Fagan set up right half forward Emet Murray to hit the lead points and though Ryan McQuillan levelled for Glenravel, two more from Josh Higgins and Aaron McNeilly gave Tir na nÓg a two point lead at the end of the opening quarter. Calum Higgins and Aidan O’Donnell brought Glenravel level with just five minute of the first half remaining, and the sides were level again entering injury time after Tir na nÓg’s Oliver McAtamney and Con Magees Ryan McQuillan exchanged points, but Toland tipped the scales back in Randalstown’s favour just before the break to send them in with a 0-6 to 0-5 lead.
Two more from Toland frees just after the restart stretched the Tir na nÓg lead to three, but Con Magees came back with two inside a minute from Aidan O’Donnell and Ryan McQuillan to cut the gap to the minimum. Fagan responded with another pointed free for Tir na nÓg before a great solo point from Glenravel’s Calum Higgins, who ran from deep inside his own half to fire over, left just a point between them once again.
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When Toland and Fagan came back with points for Tir na nÓg they were in charge entering the final quarter, but they scoring dried up for the boys in blue and two points from Ryan McQuillan and one from centre back Cathal Hynds brought the sides level with just five minutes left to play.
The momentum appeared to be with the Glenravel men at this stage but not for the first time this season their hopes were dashed when Tir na nÓg broke straight through the middle from Sean Paul McAtamney’s kick-out and Aodhan Tolan fired to Glenravel net to secure Senior Championship status for his team in 2025. Glenravel on the other hand must face St Enda’s in the relegation final in two weeks’ time in a game that will determine not only their championship status next year but also the Division 1 league status.
Norther Switchgear Senior Football ChampionshipQuarter 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 36th 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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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.
Declan Lynch who’s late point sent the game into extra time
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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Brendan McTaggart reports from Páirc Mhuire, Cushendall
A stunning performance from Padraig Martin helped Dunloy to the minor final on Sunday afternoon as they saw off the challenge of Cushendall with seven to spare. This contest was closer than the final score line would suggest with the Ruairi’s reaching double figures in wides throughout the hour and Dunloy ‘keeper Caolan McFerran with a series of quite brilliant saves but Dunloy were much more clinical and ruthless when they needed to be in front of the target with Martin excelling.
He would finish with an impressive 3-8 with just two points coming from placed ball while the fourth Dunloy major came from midfielder Jack Martin. He would add a further four points to his personally tally and also put in a hugely impressive performance, moreso in the second half.
Cushendall will look at the first half when they played some fantastic hurling but their finishing let them down when it mattered. Fiontan Bradley top scored for the Ruairi’s with all but one of his eight points coming from open play while he had plenty of support from Thomas McLaughlin and Charlie McAuley who also impressed with their scoring. Wing forward Dylan McNaughton grabbed the Ruairi’s major in the first half and was just reward for an excellent hour’s work from the Cushendall forward but they had no answer to the third quarter blitz from the Cuchullains that saw them outscore the Ruairi’s 2-4 to 0-3 and was effectively the winning of this game.
Played in brilliant late summer sunshine, it was a contest between two sides who know each other inside out at this stage. There were no hidden secrets on either side and this was 60 minutes of two sides going toe to toe, putting their wits and skills on the line and seeing where it takes them.
Cushendall had the first sight of goal in the opening attack with Charlie McAuley bringing the best out of McFerran between the sticks for Dunloy. McAuley’s effort looked for all the world to be nestling into the back of the net but the Cuchullains netminder dived at full length to deflect the sliotar away.
The sides were tied on two apiece when Padraig Martin scored the opening major. Oisin McCallin’s effort had dropped short and ‘keeper Liam McGhee looked to clear the danger but Martin showed his predatory instincts and pulled first time.
Cushendall’s response was typical of the Ruairi’s. They fired over three of the next four points with Bradley prominent to leave the minimum between the sides. The Cuchullains were denied a second goal when referee Declan McGarry called for a square ball infringement, much to the dismay of the Dunloy attack. That frustration was further compounded with the next attack. Dylan McNaughton collecting the sliotar after a series of persistent pressure from the Ruairi’s and while he had grass in front of him, McNaughton had a half chance of goal. He took it with both hands with a riffled effort that gave McFerran little chance in the Dunloy goals.
Dunloy answered with a brace of scores from Padraig and Jack Martin before Bradley tested Caolan McFerran again. The angle wasn’t in the Cushendall man’s favour but his effort was ferocious and the Dunloy ‘keeper did well to deflect the sliotar over the bar.
The sides went score for score in the time that remained, the Ruairi’s wasteful in front of the target and in truth should have been further ahead than the one point the half time scoreboard showed.
Martin and Thomas McLaughlin exchanged frees at the start of the second half before Dunloy clicked through the gears. Padraig Martin scored his and Dunloy’s second goal with a brilliant piece of individual genius. Collecting the sliotar wide on the right, he was faced with two Cushendall defenders. He showed his silky skills to evade the challenges and while unable to take the sliotar into his hand again, he shot off his hurl to the bottom corner.
Bradley and Cushendall responded with a brace of points but Dunloy were dictating the game with Oisin McCamphill creating havoc in the middle third. He would split the uprights just after Jack Martin to put two between the sides before Padraig Martin would complete his hat-trick. Collecting the ball in the corner, Oisin McCallin surveyed his options and found Padraig Martin in space. Martin duly obliged by giving McGhee no chance in the Cushendall goals to put six between the sides.
Cushendall began to find some attacking rhythm but never looked like seriously eating into the Cuchullains lead. With two minutes of the hour remaining, five points separated the sides when Jack Martin fired in Dunloy’s fourth goal. McCamphill involved in the build up and Padraig Martin turning provider this time and Jack Martin with the run through the middle. He fired off his hurl to the bottom corner with an expert finish.
The Ruairi’s bombarded the Dunloy defence in the time that remained and Oisin Woodhouse denied by Caolan McFerran with Charlie McAuley going close with the rebound but the Cuchullains held out to book a final place against Glenariffe/Glenravel.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Caolan McFerran; Cahir McMullan, Sean Og Blaney, Charlie Cunning; Reece Cunning, Ben O’Kane, Jack McKeever; Ryan McClements, Jack Martin; Donnach Laverty, Luke McFerran, Aidan Richmond; Oisin McCallin, Oisin McCamphill, Padraig Martin
Subs: Damien Kinsella for C McMullan (43); Conor Mort for D Laverty (46); Emmet McKendry for A Richmond (58); Paudraig McColgan for C Cunning (60)
Scorers: P Martin 3-8 (2fs); J Martin 1-4; L McFerran 0-4; O McCamphill 0-1
Cushendall: Liam McGhee; Conor McCann, Alex McCambridge, Aodhán Campbell; Diarmuid McManus, Callagh Mooney, Patrick Morgan; Oran McCambridge, Charlie McAuley; Dylan McNaughton, Thomas McLaughlin, Nicholas McNaughton; Cahir McCambridge, Oisin Woodhouse, Fiontan Bradley
Subs: Shane McQuillan for D McManus (24); Ryan McAuley for O McCambridge (48)
Scorers: F Bradley 0-8 (1f); T McLaughlin 0-5 (4fs); C McAuley 0-4 (1f); D McNaughton 1-1; O McCambridge 0-1
Referee: Declan McGarry (Loughgiel)
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