by thesaffrongael

Moneyglass stage second-half comeback to deny Lisburn

Intermediate Football Championship – Group 1 – Round 3

Moneyglass 2-18 St Patrick’s Lisburn 1-16

Moneyglass had to come from seven points down early in the second half before getting the better of Naomh Padraig Lisburn in Friday evening’s Round 3 game in the Intermediate Football Championship at Loughbeg Road.  When Naomh Padraig goalkeeper Ruadhan McKeena hit a 2pointer three mintues into the second half the Lisburn men were seven to the good. The team had a mountain to climb but Moneyglass corner forward Conor Boyd grabbed a goal to start the comeback and they turned things around in the second half to all but seal a semi-final spot.

Che Smyth got Lisburn off the mark on three minutes when he sent over a point but the home side came back with two in a row, the first from Colum Duffin on four minutes and the second a minute later from Tyler Cassidy to take the lead for the first time. However a goal from Adam Patterson, a 2pointer from Colm Burns and two single point from Oisin Gorman and Adam Patterson put the men from Kirwoods Park six clear after thirteen minutes.

Duffin and Cassidy pointed to cut the gap back to four but Lisburn were on top and Oisin Gorman and Colm Burns pushed the gap out to six again.  Aidan McErlain and Tyrler Cassidy pulled two back for the home side but Lisburn replied through Mullan and Rafferty and it took an injury time point from Rafferty to get St Ergnat’s to within five by half time.

When Lisburn goalkeeper Ruadhan McKenna sent over a two pointer just after the restart to stretch the lead to seven the home team had a mountain to climb, but slowly but surely they started to edge their way back. A goal by corner forward Conor Boyd proved a big psychological lift for the St Ergnat’s men and though Lisburn replied with a point of their own the tide was starting to turn.

Two 2pointers from Burns and Gorman and a another point from Burns brought Moneyglass back on terms and though the visitors briefly restored their lead with a Rafferty 2pointer at the end of the third quarter they would only score once more for the remainder of the game. It took a further five minutes before Conor Boyd tied the scores once again and but once that happened it was all one way traffic during the last ten minutes as the home side made use of the breeze to hit six in a row, three of them from full forward Gorman.

McKeena came up from goals to point a free for Lisburn but Gorman had the final say when he slotted over another from a free to get his team home by five.

by thesaffrongael

Pearses end Eire Og’s unbeaten run

JFC – Group B
Éire Óg 3-12 – Pearse’s 1-19

Goal specialists, Eire Og were beaten for the first time in this year’s JFC when they lost by the minimum to Pearses at Woodlands on Friday night.

The Og’s had scored 5 goals in each of their opening group wins over Laochra Loch lao and Wolfe Tonnes but despite adding another three against the North Belfast side, they would finish on the wrong side of the result for the first time.

Pearse’s survived a late flurry from the home side but managed to keep Eire Og at bay despite a late Lorcan McIlroy penalty which reduced the deficit to just the minimum but it proved too late for his side as they pushed for the equaliser at Woodlands.

Eire Og started the game on the front foot and Conall Smyth struck a brace of points to open up an early lead.

At this stage the hosts were controlling matters and looked well on their way to a third straight win after Stephen and Conor Erskine managed to link up inside the forward line with the latter thumping an effort into the top right corner to open up a five point lead.

Pearse’s had been second best and off the pace up to this point but Liam Deegan began to assert his influence on the game as he struck consecutive points for his side before providing them with a much needed two-pointer mid-way through the first period.

Sean Moreland and Thomas McFarlane raised white flags before Piarais Donaghy burst through the Éire Óg backline with a strong solo and a fine finish which resulted in Pearse’s hitting the front on the 21st minute of play.

The men in green were now calling the shots  and threatened to move further ahead but Aidan Bannon’s effort was tipped wide of the post by Jamie King between the Éire Óg sticks. 

Liam Deegan influence on the game was increasing as he struck another two-pointer and he followed this score up with a great score from play to give Pearse’s a half-time lead of six points.

The second half began just as the first had ended with Liam Deegan hitting an early double to extend his sides lead and it wasn’t looking good for the previously unbeaten group leaders.

They responded however and with the breeze now favouring them they replied after a long scoreless period of almost 24 minutes and James Connell’s effort dipped over the head of Pearse’s net-minder, Piaras Toolan, and finished in the net.

Lorcan McIlroy would follow this up with a fantastic two-pointer and the momentum was now with Éire Óg and Ronan Donnelly’s point on the 40th minute had the deficit down to three and we looked to have a game on our hands.

Pearse’s replied through their talisman Deegan again as he struck two frees before Sean Moreland broke clear and he fired an unstoppable shot to the net and the visitors had reassumed control.

McIlroy’s two-pointer for Eire Og with ten remaining set up a thrilling end to a game which was not over competitive up to this stage.

Conall Smyth kicked consecutive points for Éire Óg to reduce the gap to four with as many minutes remaining as they fought hard to salvage something from the game.

Pearses Thomas McFarlane looked to have settled the nerves of his side after he finished off a move which he started himself at midfield and used his pace to break clear and finish from close range.

Smyth replied for the home side and in the dying minutes Lorcan McIlroy was bundled over in the box with the award a penalty.

Up-stepped McIlroy who placed his effort low and beyond the keeper to close the gap to the minimum but that would be as close as they got with the Pearses defence repelling all that came their way in the dying seconds.

Pearse’s, who had lost earlier to Laochra Loch Lao, have now earned themselves a place in the semi-finals while Eire Og and Laochra now must negotiate the longer route to success through the quarter-finals but it is all still to play for.

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

https://myalbum.com/album/ERbJWceDDVd6SZ/?invite=fd71b791-fab0-49ab-a29c-c958181e958c

Éire Óg: J King; C Rice, J Devlin, B O’Malley; E Sheehy, C McKenna, K McKenna; C Erskine 1-0, P McNeils; S Erkine, R Donnelly 0-2, G Donnelly; C Smyth 0-6, L McIlroy 1-4 (1-0p, 2x2P), M Graham 

Subs: A McKenna, C Carberry, J Connell 1-0, P Maxwell, J George, S McDonagh, M McClear

Pearse’s: P Toolan; D O’Neill, C O’Neill, A Bannon; L Gianetto, C Gillespie, A McCavana; R Bannon, T McFarlane 0-2; S Moreland 1-2, T Austin, P Murray; P Donaghy 0-1, L Deegan 0-14 (2x2p, 0-6f), C McCavana

Subs: M McAllister, N Gorman

by thesaffrongael

Strong first half sets Ardoyne up for the win

Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship – Round 3

Ardoyne 3-12 St Malachy’s 0-09

A great display of point taking by Ardoyne set them up for a twelve point win over St Malachy’s in Friday evening’s JFC game at the Cricky. The Kickhams did the damage in the first half when they scored four 2pointers as well as two excellent goals from Cathal O’Neill to go in at the break with an eleven point lead. The men from the Markets faced a daunting task when they came out for the start of the second half, and it was made even more daunting when Aidan McNeill fired in Ardoyne’s second goal two minutes after the restart. St Malachy’s did get a lot more possession after that and with Ciaran Vernon in great form at midfield and John Paul Lagan doing well on the 40 they hit five of the last seven scores of the game, but the goal they really needed eluded them.

A point from Cormac Mullan in the fourth minute was followed by a 2pointer from the same player a minute later and it was eleven minute before Lagan got St Malachy’s opening score. Cathal O’Neill got the first of his two goals soon afterwards when he finished a great move that was started by a long kick-out by goalkeeper Tiernan Hughes.

Ardoyne were in control and a point from Gary McKernan was followed by a 2pointer by Corrigan and a second goal by Cathal O’Neill to give them an eleven point lead at the interval.

If the men from the Markets were to get back into the game then they needed to start the second half strongly, but it was Ardoyne who were quick out of the blocks but it was Ardoyne who got it, and when Aidan McNeill found the net there was fifteen between the sides. St Malachy’s kept on plugging away and they hit five of the next seven scores with Lagan and Vernon both hitting two apiece. However there was no way back.

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

https://myalbum.com/album/ejqohycjtQqWV6/?invite=6715fb22-a4c1-465d-8455-5c65089cdad9

by thesaffrongael

Five in a row for Moneyglass Minors

Antrim LGFA Minor Championship

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass 1-10 – St Gall’s 1-00

St Ergnat’s Moneyglass made it five Minor Championships in a row on Friday night in Randalstown, overcoming a spirited St Gall’s side.

Moneyglass started brightly, rattling off four points in quick succession to settle into the contest. But St Gall’s, with their pacey full forward line with Erin Stewart and Cora Bellew inside, were always a threat. Their persistence paid off after 15 minutes when they broke through for the game’s opening goal.

The reigning champions showed their pedigree immediately after, hitting back with a superb team move finished off by Aoife Madden, who calmly slotted home to restore the advantage.

With further points added, Moneyglass went in at the break well on top, leading 1-10 to 1-0.

The second half brought the expected St Gall’s surge, but the Moneyglass defence stood tall. Caitlin Graffin and Leah Stewart were immense at the back, cutting out danger and breaking up attacks, while every forward kept the scoreboard ticking with well-taken points. St Gall’s goalkeeper, Abbey Browning, also produced a string of fine saves to deny another Moneyglass goal.

In the end, it was the champions’ composure, work rate and experience that carried them across the line. The final whistle sparked huge celebrations as the St Ergnat’s girls claimed their fifth successive Minor Championship title – a remarkable achievement for this talented group.

Both sides deserve immense credit for producing a thrilling contest that showcased the strength of underage football in Antrim LGFA.

For Moneyglass, attention now turns to the Ulster Minor Championship as they look to carry their dominance beyond county borders.


by thesaffrongael

Rossa see off Johnnies to claim McDermott Cup 

South Antrim, McDermott Cup Final 

Rossa 2-15-3-07 St Johns 

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Naomh Una 

Rossa clinched the South Antrim McDermott Cup with a 2-15-3-07 win over St Johns in the Final at Pairc Naomh Una on Thursday evening. 

James Aughey had the Shaws Road side off the mark inside of the opening 60-seconds and it took the Johnnies until the 8th minute to reply from a super Finn Thompson attempt the dropped over. 

Domhnall O’Neill’s resulting kick out was then hovered up by David Hand and he shot to the net to give St Johns the advantage for the first time. 

In response Daire Cunningham popped over and Liam Carr then drew a fine save from Johnnies keeper Matthew Leydon. 

A converted Finn Thompson free restored his sides goal lead, but midway through the half Rossa restored parity with a goal of their own. 

A ball out of defence found James Aughey and his slipped pass inside was gathered by Ruairi McDonagh to slid home and make it 1-2 apiece. 

The sides traded scores until first half injury time, Rossa twice forged ahead through a McDongah point from play and a converted free- on both occasions the Johnnies hit back. 

First when David Hand converted a close range free and then Finn Thompson landed his third score of the half with an angled attempt that crashed off the large post and dropped over. 

It was Rossa who held a slender advantage at the break as McDonagh kicked his fourth score in succession, sweeping a shot over to give his side a 1-5-1-4 lead at the interval. 

St Johns made a fast start to the second half and regained the lead when Jonathan Gallagher withstood a few heavy hits and blasted to the net to make it 2-4-1-5. 

They were unable to build on it though and Rossa edged back in front in the 38th minute as Matthew Leydon failed to keep out a thumping effort from Daire Cunningham. 

Rory Grant doubled the lead shortly afterwards and he was involved in the next score, taking a pass from Daire Morgan and laying it off for James Aughey to pop over. 

Rossa opened up a four point advantage thanks to a further Ruairi McDonagh score, with Declan Creggan halting momentum with a much needed score for his side. 

The Johnnies would have the chance to level in the 48th minute, Finn Thompson dropped a free into the square and Joe Hand was felled in the opinion of referee Joe Sloan- who signalled for a penalty. 

Fra McCrudden seized responsibility and made no mistake with a powerful low finish that tied the game up a 3-5-2-8. 

Rory Grant nudged Rossa back in front at the other end and James Aughey then finished off a patient move across the field. 

The deficit was reduced to the bare minimum through a converted Thompson free and the sides traded further points through Grant (free) and James Wilson’s high shot that split the posts. 

An angled point from Dara Boylan gave Rossa a two-point cushion and a minute into added time a second converted Grant free had put his side a point closer to victory. 

St Johns desperately pushed for a levelling goal, but Rossa stood firm with a two-pointed free from Ruairi McDonagh closing the game out and ensuring the Shaws Road outfit ran out 2-15-3-07 winners and claimed the silverware at the conclusion.