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by thesaffrongael

Second half goals swing the game Gorts way

Intermediate Football Championship – Round robin

Gort na Móna 3-12 Glenavy 2-10

Three second half goals from Gort na Móna saw the Turf Lodge side beat Glenavy in Sunday’s Intermediate Football Championship game at Enright Park. The Gorts went in at the break trailing by two points but a goal from substitute Sean Brown within a minute of the restart gave them a timely boost, and though Glenavy retook the lead with a goal of their own just a minute later it set up a very exciting second half. The home side’s second goal came from a Padraig McHugh penalty midway through the half and goal number thee came five minutes from time when a high hopeful ball from forty metres out dropped into a crowded goalmouth before ending up in the back of the Glenavy net.

Teenage corner forward Tarlach Enright proved one of the real stars of the game with his accurate free taking, accounting as he did for five of the his team’s first half points, McHugh getting the other as they trailed by a single point at the break. The Glenavy number 13 Fergal Henry was also a major contributor for his team, getting four of their first half points from frees as they went into the break a point to the good.

Glenavy’s top scorer Fergal Henry in action

Turning to play down the slope in the new half substitute Sean Brown made and instant impact when he cut in from the left wing and sent a well struck shot low to the keeper’s left side to put his team ahead. However the lead was short lived as Glenavy hit back inside a minute with midfielder Fiontan O’Boyle completing a great move with a clinical finish.

Both teams exchanged two points each before Gorts full forward McHugh blasted a penalty to the back of the visitors net and five minutes before time veteran substitute Darron ‘Diesel’ Boyd dropped a high ball into the low end goals which beat everyone and ended in the net.

Glenavy fought hard to save the game and Matthew Lawlor came close when he fired across the face of the goal with time almost up, but Gorts were well on top at this stage and ran down the clock with great possession play to get their championship campaign so badly needed, up and running.

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by thesaffrongael

Aghagallon beat St Gall’s at Milltown

SFC Group 4

St. Galls 3-9 Aghagallon 3-14

St. Mary’s Aghagallon collected their first win in Group 4 of the Senior Football Championship when they came strong, midway through the second half to overcome the challenge of St. Gall’s in an entertaining encounter at Milltown on Saturday.

There was little between the sides in a cagey opening half with Niall O’Neill’s fisted goal for St. Gall’s and a deflected goal from Aghagallon’s Gareth Magee leaving the sides tied at 1-5 apiece after 30 minutes.

O’Neill struck with his second goal on the restart as the Milltown Row side led by three after 12 minutes of the second half but a Padraig Gowdy goal heralded a dominant period for the visitors.

Brendan Bradley’s penalty conversion in the 29th minute for the home side cut the gap to the minimum but Aghagallon finished on the front foot with a Johnny Hannon pointed free and a goal from Ruairi McCann to win by five in the end.

Eunan Walsh, playing at mid-field shot the Visitors into an early two point lead and an exchange of points from Mickey Pollock and Johnny Hannon left St. Mary’s two to the good with six minutes on the clock.

Niall O’Neill rose to fist a long delivery to the Aghagallon net and two points from the same player and another from Brendan Bradley had the home side four ahead after 16 minutes.

Aghagallon replied with their first score for 13 minutes through Johnny Hannon and the same player added another from a free before Gareth Magee’s shot deflected of a defender and finished in the net to give the visitors back the lead in the 25th minute.

Back came St. Gall’s and Conall McGirr fisted over to leave the sides level at the break, 1-5 to 1-5 at the end of a slow burning opening half where defences were on top.

Niall O’Neill struck with his second goal, four minutes into the second half and his finish was a mirror reflection of his first as the long early ball troubled the visitors defence and O’Neill got his fist to it to finish to the net.

Aghagallon replied with a point from Ruairi McCann as Oisin Lenehan replaced David McAlernon in the visitors side and Johnny McCaffrey and Michael Hopkins for the Milltown side and Hannon from another free for St. Mary’s kept the gap at three.

Eunan Walsh reacted quickest as he collected a short free and his astute pass caught the home defence cold and Padraig Gowdy took advantage as he finished clinically to the net to level the contest.

Gowdy’s goal seemed to lift the visitors and the same player followed with a point and further minors from Enda McCartan and Gowdy again had St. Mary’s 2-10 to 2-7 ahead with 10 minutes remaining.

Eunan Walsh added another before St. Gall’s lost a player to a Red card and when Johnny Hannon added to his impressive total at the other end Aghagallon looked home and hosed.

St. Gall’s would not concede without a fight however as veteran Michael Pollock replied with points with Pauric Maginnis responding with one at the other end before the Milltown side were handed a lifeline as referee, Conall Roberts pointed to the penalty spot.

Bradley’s conversion closed the gap to the minimum with a minute of normal tie remaining but it would be St. Mary’s who finished the stronger as Johnny Hannon eased the pressure from a free before Ruairi McCann punished a defensive mistake to palm to the net and ensure his side the victory.

This win leaves Aghagallon level on points with Kickham’s Creggan after two rounds of games with Creggan entertaining St. Gall’s on Saturday 31st August on the final day of the group stages while Aghagallon entertain unbeaten St. Brigid’s the following day.

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

Subs: 21 Gairech MacAdhaimh, 24 Conor Burke, 19 Callum Walsh

St. Mary’s Aghagallon: 1 Luke Mulholland, 2 Kieran Hamill, 3 Aidan Mulholland, 4 Ciaran Maginnis, 5 Stephen Devlin, 6 Jamie Lamont, 7 Padraig Gowdy, 8 Eunan Walsh, 9 Ruairi McCann, 10 Marc McAfee, 11 Daryl McAlernon, 12 Jonathan Hannon, 13 Gareth Magee, 14 David McAlernon, 15 Jack Lenehan

Subs: Oisin Lenehan, 18 Enda McCartan, 19 Pauric Maginnis

Referee: Conall Roberts (St. John’s)

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by thesaffrongael

McErlean’s goal seals St Brigid’s win

Senior Football Championship – Round 2

Creggan 0-08 St Brigid’s 1-11

St Brigid’s made it two wins out of two in the Antrim Senior Football Championship round-robin when they travelled to Creggan on Saturday and beat the Kickham’s by six points to all but seal their place in the quarter finals. Although there are still a few permutations that can unfold on the final weekend of games a draw in their final match against Aghgallon would be enough to see the south Belfast side top the group.

It all appeared to be plain sailing for the Musgrave Park men at half time of Saturday’s game when they led by 0-8 to 0-01, but when Creggan came out in the second half and hit the first four points of the second half the complexion of the game changed. With the fresh breeze at their backs the home side looked like they could turn things around. However St Brigid’s steadied the ship and after surviving an almighty scare when the home team’s Tiernan McAteer took advantage of a bad defence error and broke towards goal. With goalkeeper Declan Heery struggling to get back McAteer went for goal from just outside the D, but the corner forward’s shot bounced on the edge of the ‘square’ and rebounded off the crossbar and the visitors got back to clear the danger.

Five minutes later the decisive score of the game came when St Brigid’s centre-back Shea Downey soloed through from midfield, breaking through three tackles on the way, to set up corner forward Rory McErlean for the only goal of the game.

The visitors dominated the opening half though it took them eight minutes to register their first score, a point from left half forward James Smith, the scores began to flow more freely after that. With Creggan defending deep St Brigid’s were patient in their approaches but the scores began to come and they moved 0-5 to 0-00 ahead after twenty minutes as Ronan Boyle, Rory McErlean, Shay Campbell and Jack Dowling all sent over points.

Creggan’s only score of the opening half came on 21 minutes when Tiernan McAteer swung one over from the right corner, but St Brigid’s held the upper hand for the remainder of the half and full-back Joseph Finnegan, full forward Conor McAleer and corner forward Rory McErlean (from a free) all hit the target to give their team a seven point cushion at the break.

Young Creggan fans hold the their breath in anticipation as Tiernan McAteers shot for goal rebounds off the crossbar midway through the second half

When the teams re-emrged for the second half the significance of the fresh breeze soon became apparent as Creggan dominated the first ten minutes of play. McAteer fired over inside the first minute, Jamie McCann added one from a free and Ehan Carey-Small cut in from the left corner to send one over. On 38 minutes the gap was down to just three when Sean Duffin sent over from close range and suddenly things looked much different.

St Brigid’s needed a score to settle the nerves and it came two minute later when Conan McNicholl hit a very score from the right corner and when substitute Enda Downey added another to stretch the gap back to five. When Tiernan McAteer broke through for what looked like a certain goal the Creggan fans must have thought they were back in the game, but lady luck was not on McAteer’s side and his shot rebounded off the crossbar and was cleared.

The visitors were still under pressure though and it wasn’t until Shea Downey’s brilliant run and McErlean’s goal that the travelling fans could relax, knowing the game was one.

St Brigid’s centre-back Shea Downey, whose brilliant solo run from beyond midfield set up the winning goal

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by thesaffrongael

Rossa back in the championship frame

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 2

O’Donovan Rossa 3-11 Tír na nÓg 1-5

Rossa put themselves back in the championship qualification frame with an impressive win over visitors, Tir na nOg at Shaw’s Road on Saturday evening.

Their Whitehill visitors will reflect on what might have been however as they kicked 13 wides over the hour on a day where little went right for them.

The home side were much more clinical in their finishing as they took advantage of errors by their visitors with Dominic McEnhill’s goal midway through the opening half sending Rossa to a 1-4 to 1-2 half time lead.

Darragh Fegan raced clear from the throw-in to kick Tír na nÓg into the lead, but it was far from a sign of things to come in the opening period as they seemed content to sit back and hit on the break.

Chances were created, but six wides in the opening period was not the return they would have hoped for, yet they were limiting Rossa from creating a lot as the hosts finally drew level through a Mick Byrne free in the 5th minute before Cormac McGettigan edged them ahead.

Rossa were starting to have a bit of success and struck with the game’s opening goal midway through the half as Dominic McEnhill intercepted a wayward pass before racing clear to fire past McAtamney in the Tir na nOg goals.

Thomas Morgan quickly added a point but the visitors ended a 19 minute scoreless spell as they created an opening and Barry McCormick finished low to the net.

Josh Higgins had an opportunity to add a second for the Whitehill side but shot tamely with Richard Gowdy well placed to gather the ball on his own goal line before executing his clearance.

The sides exchanged late points through Thomas Morgan and Caoimhin Duffin as Rossa led 1-4 to 1-2 after a fairly dull opening half.

Tir na nOg went looking for the opening score of the second half as they moved the ball around patiently but coughed up possession with Gerard Walsh’s long delivery finding Dominic McEnhill who outpaced Brandon McLarnon before firing to the net for his second major.

McEnhill quickly added a point as a bit of space began to open up and then Stephen Beatty intercepted a wayward kick-out from Sean Paul McAtamney before returning the ball to the net in the 40th minute.

Even at this stage it looked over but Josh Higgins finally got Tír na nÓg’s opening score of the second period with 43 played, but McEnhill replied immediately.

McGettigan, Beatty and substitute Corey Walsh added late scores for the O’Donovan’s with two points in replyfrom Aaron McNeill all the visitors could muster.

Rossa rounded off with another two from McEnhill to seal a good win and, depending on Sunday’s result at Corrigan, could find themselves in a winner takes all encounter in their final game against St. John’s.

Rossa: M Byrne; P Moyes, G Walsh, C Orchin; A Devlin, C McGettigan (0-2), N Crossan; E McMenamin, O McVicker; R Grant, T Morgan (0-2), C McDonald; D Rogan, D McEnhill (2-4, 0-1f), S Beatty (1-1).

Subs: R Gowdy for G Walsh (temporary 25-30+2), R Gowdy for E McMenamin (30+2), C Walsh (0-1) for D Rogan (43), R Murray for R Grant (51), C Fleming for S Beatty (55), M McEnhill for G Walsh (55).

Tir na nOg: SP McAtamney; B McLarnon, C McGrellis, R Crilly; P McCloskey, B McCormick (1-0), C Duffin (0-1); D Fegan (0-1, J Higgins (0-1); C Sheerin, C O’Neill, E Murray; A McNeilly (0-2, 1f), A Tolan, D Martin.

Subs: C Og McAllister for C Sheerin (17), O McAtamney for E Murray (48), S Duffin for D Martin (48), S McKeown for C Duffin (50).

Referee: Paddy Tumelty (Lámh Dhearg)

by thesaffrongael

First half goals sets Naomh Comghall up for impressive win

Antrim Junior Football Championship Group 2

Naomh Comhghall 2-15 St Malachy’s 0-7

Paul McIntyre reports from Hannahstown.

Two first-half goals from Miles Devine set Naomh Comhghall on their way to a comfortable 14-point over St Malachy’s at Lámh Dhearg on Saturday evening.

Devine struck twice in the opening twenty minutes to leave the Antrim town side sitting pretty at the top of Group 2 in this year’s championship and odds-on favourites to advance straight to this year’s semi-finals as section winners.

Missing a few regulars due to other commitments, St Malachy’s were always second best, but to their credit, the men from the Markets battled gamely, and with a little bit more composure could well have added to their final tally on 0-7.

But it was Naomh Comhghall who held all the aces.

Wearing six, but operating at midfield, James McCabe’s powerful runs were a pivotal part of the Comhghall’s game-plan while up front, Ryan Clarke was the standout player. Clarke finished with 0-7 to his name and his link-up play with Tom Patchett caused the St Malachy’s defence countless headaches from the first minute.

Devine struck for his first goal in the 11th minute.

James McCabe drove through the heart of the St Malachy’s defence and played a one-two with Clarke before popping the ball off to Devine who gave Thomas Rice in the St Malachy’s goal no chance from close range. It handed the Antrim side a deserving 1-2 to 0-0 lead.

Anthony Dobbin broke that sequence to get St Malachy’s up and running on the scoreboard a minute later, but it did little to stop the relentless Naomh Comhghall pressure.

Patchett, an Anthony Watson 45 and Clarke’s first of the day opened up a 7-point lead before Devine struck for his second major in the 19th minute.

Joshua Webb’s effort at a point came back off the crossbar, and into the hands of Jack Moore who un-selflessly passed inside for Devine who calmy despatched the ball to the net for a 10-point lead.

Naomh Comhghall kept up the pressure as Josh Henry and Clarke kept the score board ticking over.

A Stephen Carson point for St Malachy’s was the last play of the half, and at the break, Naomh Comhghall’s lead by 11-points, 2-8 to 0-3.

St Malachy’s enjoyed good spells of possession at the start of the second half, but for all of their endeavours, they only had points from Gavin McManus and Jack McGivern to show for their efforts.

As the contest drew ever closer to a close, Clarke continued to torment the St Malachy’s backline, and Devine was denied a hattrick by a fine stop by Fintan McBride before Liam Phinn had the final say of the game by claiming a fine point with the last kick of the game.

Naomh Comhghall now sit top of the group with full points and on course for the semi-finals. But not all is lost for St Malachy’s as they look to be heading to the semi-final play-offs. Who they play will be determined by the result of their final game against Éire Óg in two-weeks time.

Teams & Scorers:

Naomh Comhghall: Anthony Watson (0-1 45), Caolan McKeown, Eoin Lynott, Danaan O’Hara, Shane Hinfey, James McCabe (0-1), Michael McCabe, Josh Henry (0-1), Aaron McGaw, Jack Moore (0-1), Ryan Clarke (0-7 2f), Joshua Webb, Colm Griffen, Miles Devine (2-0), Tom Patchett (0-3 1Mark).

Replacements: Stephen Sloan for Griffen (45), Liam Phinn (0-1) for Moore (45), Peter McAuley for Hinfey (51), Niall Taggart for McGaw (53).

St Malachy’s: Thomas Rice, Colin Connolly, Caoimhín Corr, Daniel Quinn, Anthony Dobbin (0-1), Mark Connolly, Cathal Jordan, Ciaran Vernon, James McGivern (0-2), Anton McGreevy (0-2), Gavin McManus (0-1), Shea Lynch, Stephen Carson (0-1), Paul Millar.

Replacements: Pearse Lynch for Quinn (HT), Fintan McBride for Rice (44), Quinn for Millar (50), Ronan Varsani for McManus (50).

Referee: Mr Martin Quinn.