O’Neills ACFL Division One 

St Johns 1-18-3-12 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park 

CONOR HAND touched home an injury time goal that could be vital for St Johns come the end of the regulation league season as the Whiterock outfit battled back from seven-points behind to claim a 1-18-3-12 draw with Lámh Dhearg at Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening.

Ahead through two points within the first sixty seconds as Ronan Quinn charged forward and popped over the opener, Conal McGlade then got his hand to the resulting kick-out and after a string of forward passes Odhran Quinn doubled his sides lead.

Lámh Dhearg hit back through a smart Adam Murray point and Murray doubled his tally from a placed ball a few minutes later. 

The Johnnies were caught for a 2-man infringement and Murray slotted over the close range 50-metre advancement, with Ross Murray collecting a fine pass inside and adding to a point to make it four unanswered for the Hannahstown outfit. 

After going almost ten scoreless minutes Paddy McBride opened his account for the evening from a free and less than a minute later kicked a further score from the same scenario to level. 

Conal McGlade shot his side ahead for the second time with an excellent two-pointed score from the edge of the arc to make it 0-6-0-4 

The pendulum swung back in the Lámhs favour and they would 1-5 unanswered approaching the break. 

Adam Murray added his personal tally for the evening from a free, Declan Smyth then steered a high shot between the posts to level for the third time. Murray stroked over his fourth free of the half and Donal Martin then opened his account. 

On the stroke of half time Conor Murray entered proceedings and he would play a role in the opening goal, gaining possession and offloading a high shot that came off the large post with Ryan Diamond reacting quickest to slot the loose ball underneath Eoghan Rua Lambert to make it 1-8-0-6. 

A further point from Marc Jordan had his side six-ahead, but their lead would be halved before the break after Odhran Quinn landed a fine two-pointer and youngster Odhran McAuley produced a fine angled score to make it 1-9-0-9 at the interval. 

St Johns began the second half brightly and overturned their three-point deficit. Conal McGlade kicked back-to-back frees and after missing a further opportunity, Paddy McBride assumed responsibility for the next chance and pulled his side level. 

The Whiterock side hit the front after Odhran Quinn curled a shot between the posts, but their advantage lasted a few minutes as Lámh Dhearg got up and running for the half. 

After almost 15-minutes without a score the visitors regained the lead again. Evan Stanley got to Gerard Smith’s kick-out and laid the ball off to Sean McCarthy, he in turn found Ryan Diamond to pick out Adam Murray whose low shot found the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-9-0-13. 

Evan Stanley clipped over an angled point and things soon got better when Marc Jordan charged through and shot home a third goal, with Declan Smyth’s attempt to land a two-pointer in the aftermath halved after James Wilson got a finger-tip to the shot – nonetheless, Lámh Dhearg were seemingly on route to victory with a 3-11-0-13 lead. 

St Johns introduced Conor Hand for the final quarter which coincided with an upturn in fortunes. 

Scores were traded between Conal McGlade (free) and Donal Martin- the latter of which was Lámh Dhearg’s last of the evening. 

Paddy McBride and Odhran Quinn pointed within minutes to begin the hosts comeback, whilst there was a let off at the other end when Adam Murray’s snapshot came back off the post. 

At the other end McBride saw a shot deflected behind for a 45’ and Andy McGowan was next to point, fisting over after a deep McBride run and floated pass. 

The Johnnies continued to push for a goal with Conor Hand seeing a close-range shot blocked by Paddy Mervyn and after a 45’ was awarded they went close again, Conal McGlade clipped the 45’ into the area where Hand again gathered and his shot was steered off the line by Sean Paul Gibson. 

Adrian Oliver pointed deep into added time to leave it a three-point game and there was still time for St Johns to salvage a share of the spoils. 

The opportunity appeared to have passed when Andy McGowan shot crashed off the large post, but Paddy McBride collected the loose ball, popped a high ball into the area and Hand touched it home to secure a share of the points with the final action of an exciting encounter. 

ST JOHNS: E Rua Lambert, O Jackson, E McGurk, D McKeogh, C McEvoy, R Quinn (0-1), J Wilson, P Nugent, R Donnelly, O McAuley (0-1), P McBride (0-4, 0-3f), S Tierney, C McGlade (0-5, 1×0-2pt, 0-3f), A McGowan (0-1), O Quinn (0-5, 1×0-2pt). Subs: C Hand (1-0) for S Tierney (47), A Oliver (0-1) for R Donnelly (47). 

LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth, Ross Murray (0-1), P Mervyn, D Murray, G Smyth (0-2), B Rice, E Matassa, C Boyd, P Fitzsimons, R Diamond (1-0), O McKeown , D Bellew, D Martin (0-2), M Jordan (1-1), A Murray (1-5, 0-4f). Subs: C Murray for O McKeown (30+1), E Stanley (0-1) for C Boyd (42), S McCarthy for D Bellew (42), J Quinn for P Fitzsimons (53), SP GIbson for R Murray (54). 

REFEREE: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

Antrim Football League – Division 1

Glenravel 2-14  St Pauls 1-20

St Pauls had a good win against Glenravel in Fr Maginn Park on Wednesday evening when they recorded a three point victory over the hosts. The game was won and lost in the final five minutes of the opening period as the home team led by three points after twenty five minutes, but their opponents finished the half strongly with 1-04 scored without reply. That gave them a four point lead going into the break and they effectively held that lead to the end of the game despite a see-saw second half. 

Ryan McQuillan opened for Glenravel but a 2-pointer from Lorcan Phillips followed by a score from Caoimhin Duffy edged St Pauls in front. Two points apiece for each side, Sean McKay for Glenravel and Ciaran Rogers-Duffy for St Paul’s retained the lead for the visitors. Callum Higgins and Ryan Lennon restored parity for the hosts before Niall Ward gave the lead back to St Pauls. However Glenravel were starting to find some accuracy and points from Eamon Fyfe and Aiden O’Donnell followed by a sublime goal from Ryan McQuillan gave Glenravel a four point lead. Rogers-Duffy and Conall Duffy got St Pauls back on track before Fergus Donaghy scored Con Magee’s final point of the half on twenty five minutes and they led by three points. St Pauls hit the turbo boost at that stage and would score 1-04 in this final five minutes as Ciaran Rogers-Duffy became supplier in chief with 1-02 and he was ably assisted by Conall Duffy and Bairre Burns to give St Pauls a half time lead 1-12 to 1-08

St Paul’s started where they had left off with a point from James Farrell but points from Daniel McQuillan, Colla Ward and Ryan McQuillan brought Glenravel back to within two points. Rogers-Duffy and Ryan McQuillan would exchange points before a brace from  Conall Duffy and a point from Rogers-Duffy stretched the lead to five once more 1-17 to 1-12 with ten minutes to play. two Ryan McQuillan frees and a free from Rogers-Duffy left four between the teams. With seven minutes left Glenravel needed a major and Sean McKay provided it from close range to reduce the gap to a single point but the visitors were in no mood for late drama and recorded the final two points of the game to secure victory 1-20 to 2-14

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ACFL Division 1

St Mary’s Ahoghill 0-08 Cuchullian’s Dunloy 8-13

Cuchullian’s Dunloy made the journey to Ahoghill on Wednesday evening and left with points secured following a hugely impressive performance over the St Mary’s men at Cloney.

The Cuchullian’s arrived in positive mood and as the home side stood aside their visitors opened sharply and before five minutes had elapsed they had three major scores on the board.

The home side seemed unable to stem the tide as the green and gold wave rolled all over them and by the end of the opening quarter their visitors had claimed 4-03 without reply from their hosts.

Keelan Molloy got the Dunloy scoring show on the road with goals in the 3^rd and 4^th minutes supplemented by another from Kevin Mc Quillan in the 5^th and as the home side continued under pressure another major from Karl Fitzpatrick was followed by points from Deaglan Smith, James Scally, Dara Quinn, and Keelan Molloy to see them in complete control at the end of the opening period.

Despite the honest efforts of Diarmaid Graham, Tom McGlone and Fionnbar O’ Neill to get the Cloney show on the road their visitors were not about to ease their foot off the accelerator.

Ahoghill improved for a time following a poor start to proceedings with Patrick Graham making his presence felt but Dunloy had moved into a 4-08 to 0-00 advantage as the short whistle approached.

The hard grafting Tom Mc Glone finally opened the home side’s account with a fine 28^th minute point supplemented by another from Diarmuid Graham but that was the sum of their first half scoring with Dunloy taking respite from their first half labours holding a 4-08 to 0-02 lead and the points looked in the bag barring a miracle in the second half.

If the home contingent were looking for a quick start as the second period got under way they were to endure disappointed as it was their visitors who were quickest out of the start traps and a 34^th minute goal from the hard working Karl Fitzpatrick after the home side had opened with points apiece from James O’Connell and the pace laden Danny O’ Neill.

The home side had certainly gained in confidence as the second half progressed with the Cuchullian’s possibly easing on the accelerator and Danny O’ Neill added back to back points.

Deaglan Smith replied with a point for Dunloy and another goal by the dangerous Karl Fitzpatrick further extended the Dunloy advantage as the end looked in sight.

Both sides introduced replacements as the game passed the three-quarter marker but the visitors stood tall, despite the honest endeavours of the Clooney men to finish positively.

That was a tall order and further goals from Ryan Mc Fairlane and Karl Fitzpatrick saw the advantage extended to 7-08 to 0-07 as the floodgates opened.

Patrick Graham, who had his shoulder to the wheel for the home side added a good point in the 54th minute but it brought a quick  reply from the visitors as a lofted delivery by Deaglan Smith was despatched to the net by Ryan McFarlane and the visitors had earned a 8-13 to 0-7 advantage .

The home side did have the last say on scoring matters however as Patrick Graham raised that flag in consolation with the dominant Dunloy crossing the finish line full value for their 8-13  to 0-08 win.

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