ACFL Division One

Cargin 0-17 St Marys Ahoghill 1-10

Cargin opened their league account with a win over a never say die Ahoghill in Toome on Sunday. The home side looked set for the win in an opening period in which they troubled the score keeper on a full fifteen occasions, raising that number of white flags but the Clooney side refused to concede and with James O’ Connell leading the charge in a second period comeback.

County champions Erins Own having a home venue in the first round of the new look league programme played hosts to Ahoghill in the opening round on a damp and breezy Toome sod on Sunday past.

The home side had the backing of the stiff easterly breeze for the first period and sprinted away to raise four white flags in the opening ten minutes. Tomas McCann opened account in the opening minute assisted in approach by his brother Michael and after he added another Benen Kelly followed suit before net minder John Mc Nabb strode forward to despatch a ‘45’in the same direction.

The Clooney men were backs against the wall in the opening phase with Diarmuid Graham and James ‘Bobby’ Magee ‘holding firm in defence but they finally opened their account in the 14^th minute as Ronan Graham despatched a 30 metre free between the posts against the elements.

Having been halted for a time the home side were quickly on their way again taking control in the central zone and with Jamie Gribbin leading the charge they increased advantage in the next seven minutes through the accurate boot of Pat Shivers.

The mid-fielder despatched between the posts in the 14^th minute and assuming the role of free taker to perfection he raised a further four white flags from all angles and distances to ensure a 0-10 to 0-01 lead at the 23d^th minute.

Erin’s Own were in dominant mode as they continued wind assisted towards the half time break as John Carron raised a white flag from distance.

The Ahoghill cause looked forlorn as the opening period approached but were given a glimmer of hope when big Neil O’ Connell got his fist to a high delivery to send the leather to the net but that flame of optimism was quickly doused as the Toome men finished the period back on the positive.

Kevin O’ Boyle, John Carron, Benen Kelly, and Ronan Gribbin all raised whites apiece in the latter stages to ensure a 0-15 to 1-01 lead for the home side at the short whistle.

Ahoghill started the second half with the strong breeze behind them and they had reduced the deficit by a couple of points in the opening minutes as James O’ Connell and Tom Mc Glone delivered between the posts.

The Clooney men looked strong in the opening period with James Magee, Fionnbar O’ Neill his brother Daniel and Bernard Graham leading by strong example and Cargin were finding in difficult to make further progress.

Ahoghill were delivered a body blow in the 44^th minute as the hard grafting Bernard Graham received a ‘black card’, but the home side were dealt a similar blow as Kevin ‘Kobo ’0’ Boyle was forced out of the action with injury.

The visitors were still well in arrears going into the last quarter but they were not about the shirk the issue as they retained the offensive with ace marksman James O’ Connell leading the way. O’Connell was unerring in his accuracy in the latter stages, raising five white flags in succession.

Cargin just could not find a way through in the closing minutes but they had done enough and at the final whistle sounded they still held advantage crossing the winning line 0-17 to 1-10 ahead to secure their opening points in this year’s league. Ahoghill will take a lot of heart from their second half performance and although they lost their opening battle in the 2024 programme the St Mary’s men will not lose heart as they look forward to the season ahead.

Cargin: John McNabb (0-01, Sean og Quinn, Kevin Mc Shane, Kevin O’ Boyle (0-02), Justin Crozier, Ronan Gribbin (0-02), Brendan Laverty, Pat Shivers (0-05­), John Carron (0-02), James Laverty, Jamie Gribbin (0-01), Benen Kelly (0-02), Tomas Mc Cann (0-03), Michael Mc Cann, Mark Kelly.

Subs

Ben Mc Larnon

Michael Clarke

David Johnston

Ahoghill: Cahir O’Kane, Seamus Mc Keever, Diarmuid Graham, James Magee, Paddy Magee (0-01), Fionnbar O’ Neill, Bernard P Graham, Patrick Graham, Tom Mc Glone, Daniel 0’ Neill, Neil O’ Connell, Ronan Graham (0-01, Colla Mc Donnell, Conor Crossey, James O’ Connell (0-05)

Referee: C J Roberts (St John’s)

O’Neill’s Sportswear Antrim Division 1 Football League

Con Magees 1-07 St Brigid’s 1-09

After 17 years in Antrim’s lower divisions Con Magees Glenravel were hopeful of a triumphant return to Division 1 status but St Brigids were not in a charitable mood in this league opener. Terrible weather conditions impacted both sides making free flowing football a pipe dream; the result decided by who could adapt best to the conditions. County commitments depleted both sides of marquee players so it was down to hard fought dirty ball, a stroke of luck and game management experience to decide the victors. The Belfast men triumphed in what became a game of two halves but in reality either side could have claimed the spoils on the day, and a draw would have been acceptable to both. 

A cross field wind bringing northerly showers rendered this a game for only the diehards to watch. Experience can’t be bought and with the home side creating mistakes when in possession it was left to the city men to keep the scoreboard ticking over. St Brigids duly obliged picking off the opening four scores thanks to the accuracy of James Smith,  Conor Downey and goal keeper Declan Heery. Glenravel pointed from a free to get to their name on the score board after twenty five minutes but one minute later, a mix up in the Glenravel defence gifted a goal opportunity to St Brigids and their attack pounced to create mayhem which resulted in a penalty being awarded. Conan McNicholl took on the responsibility and cooly stoked the ball into past stand in ‘keeper Lennon to the bottom left hand corner and suddenly the home side were facing an uphill struggle which got a degree worse when Conor Downey stroked over the final score of the half to leave St Brigids ahead 1-05 to 0-01 as referee Karl Doherty sent both teams to the shelter of the changing rooms. 

St Brigids will have felt a little fortunate to be so far ahead on the short whistle and that seemed to stir the home lads on as they recorded the opening score of the second half which was followed by a Shea O’Broin goal and suddenly there was only three points separating the teams. Conor Downey would extend that lead to four points with a well taken free  but Aiden O’Donnell and Daniel McQuillan reduced the gap to two with a couple of really well taken points. St Brigid’s were visibly shaken at this stage and despite another score, Glenravel were starting to play some good football with further points from  Aiden O’Donnell including, arguably the best score of the game to reduce the gap to a single point and the home spectators starting to believe their lads could turn the game around. Conor Downey increased the Belfast men’s lead to two with a fine point from free and though Sean McKay would put over a great score from distance for the home team, time was running out for them. In a frantic final five minutes with everything to play for it was the experience of the Belfast men that saw them over the line as they pointed from some distance to leave two points separating the teams in the end.

You certainly couldn’t describe this game as a classic encounter but there was no shortage of endeavour from both sides and some really exceptional point scoring from distance given the conditions. The home side will look back on a poor first half performance giving their opponents a seven point lead at half time and a mountain to climb. A mountain which in the end proved too steep. Both teams will point to depleted panels and the weather as a reason for a challenging performance but both can look back on the positives, especially the Belfast men who took two league points back to Musgrave Park. 

ACFL Division 1

St. John’s 1-10 All Saints 1-11

All Saints got their ACFL Division 1 campaign off to a sensational start when they travelled to Corrigan Park on Sunday and came away with a narrow victory over St. Johns.

The home side started strongly and raced into a four point lead by the 9^th minute and looked to be heading for a comfortable victory over an All Saints side who played their football in division 2 last season.

Slowly though the visitors began to settle with their running game at pace causing problems for their hosts and by half time they had edged into a 1-4 to 0-6 lead with their goal coming from Michael McCarry who looked back to his best after a long recovery from injury.

Liam Bradley’s side moved into a six point lead at the end of the third quarter but dropped deep in an attempt to defend that lead, inviting the opposition on and the Johnnies needed no second invitation.

A goal from Conall Quinn in the 29^th minute closed the gap to two points and a converted Conal McGlade free brought it back to the minimum with time almost up but All Saints held on for an excellent victory.

It was St. John’s who made the early running with Domhnall Nugent, Ryan McNulty (Mark) and Conal McGlade 0-2 shooting them into an early lead and it looked like being a long evening for the visitors.

Michaerl McCarry, who was prominent throughout the hour, pointed a 12^th minute free to get them off the mark but Conchur Adams replied from another mark to restore the home side’s four point advantage.

Slowly though the Ballymena side settled and began to run the ball at pace and looked to have netted but the ball was called back for an earlier free.

McCarry and Shaun O’Callaghan, with a palmed effort that went over off the crossbar and Ronan McKillop closed the gap to the minimum as the Slemish Park side began to dominate before Michael McCarry drilled the ball to the net in the 25^th minute to put his side ahead for the first time.

The final point of the half fell to Domhnall Nugent for the ‘Johnnies’ but it was All Saints who headed to the dressing room with a one point lead.

The strong running of Patrick Ferris had been instrumental in a number of the visitor’s scores and they continued to press forward on the restart with Benny McDonnell, Ronan McKillop and James McDonnell moving them four ahead after five minutes.

Further points from Jimbo McDonnell and a Michael McCarry free had All Saints six ahead before Conal McGlade finally opened St. John’s second half account from a 12^th minute free.

McCarry restored his side’s six point advantage from a 40 meter free but the Ballymena side started to drop deep and St. John’s took advantage as McGlade and Nugent split the posts.

The magnificent Patrick Ferris came forward for a visitors point with five minutes remaining to edge his side five ahead once more but it was the Johnnies who staged a grandstand finish and came close to taking something from the game.

Conall Quinn’s goal with just a minute of normal time remaining closed the gap to two and a pointed free from Conal McGlade left just one between the sides.

St. John’s pressed for an equaliser and it took a great catch under pressure from Peter McNicholl to ease the pressure with virtually the last piece of action to see his side over the line.

Two excellent point for an All Saints side containing many of the team who reached last year’s South West U23 final and it should give them confidence going into their first division 1 campaign for quite a number of years though much stiffer challenges lie ahead.

St. John’s: 1 Eoghan Rua Lambert, 2 Ronan Quinn, 3 Michael Darragh, 4 Stephen Tierney, 5 Ross Hannigan, 6 Adrian Oliver, 7 Luke Peden, 8 Ryan McNulty, 9 Domhnall Nugent, 10 Ronan Donnelly, 11 Conal McGlade, 12 Conor McEvoy, 13 Conchur Adams, 14 Louis Boyd, 15 Conall Quinn. Subs|: Barry Bellew for Ronan Donnelly, Enda cGurk for Ross Hannigan.

All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Conall Killough, 3 Michael Read, 4 Rian Tom, 5 Patrick Ferris, 6 Shaun O’Callaghan, 7 James McDonnell, 8 Emmet Killough, 9 Peter McNicholl, 10 Charlie Metrustry, 11 Michael McCarry, 12 Joe Rafferty, 13 Ciaran Campbell, 14 Ronan Killough, 15 Benny McDonnell. Subs: Connell Lemon for Cathal Metrustry, Darach Bradley for James McDonnell.

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)