Under-21 B Football Championship (Quarter final)

Tir na nOg 3-06 Casement’s 2-07 —at Whitehill

Tir na nOg defied miserable conditions and a late comeback from their visitors Casement’s to earn a place in the next phase of the under-21 B championship on a sodden Whitehill pitch on Sunday.

The home side looked on their merry way into the semi-finals at the break with a 2-05 to 1-02 advantage at the end of the opening period as they asked questions aplenty of their visitors.

Caolan Smith had found the net for the home side early in the game and the full forward over turned a short kick out in the latter stages of the opening period to return to the net to give his side a six point interval advantage.

Portglenone, faced a stern breeze in the first period but found the back of the home side’s net in the closing stages as Sean Burns finished soccer style on the greasy surface which paid dividends.

Casement’s having played second fiddle to their hosts for much of the opening period despite positive performances from Ryan Mc Allister, Ciaran McAleese, and Brian McKeever came back strongly with the breeze at their backs and Sean Byrne raised white in the opening phase with Ciaran McAleese adding another a few minutes later.

Casements continued to ask questions as the second half progressed but several chances were off target and when Caolan Smith was sent away by mid-fielder Pat Higgins to find the net the home side looked on the way to victory.

Casement’s were not about the accept what looked inevitable and continued to take the game to their opponents as they tested Tir na nOg’s net minder on a couple of occasions but Levi Thumann proved up to the task.

As the game moved into the final stages the visitors continued to press forward with wing half back Brian McKeever leading the charge.

The fame haired wing half back set up Conor McCann to deliver between the posts in the 59^th minute to keep them within touching distance.

Questions were being asked of the home side and Portglenone’s James McAleese made a strong approach to finish stylishly to the back of the net at the eleventh hour to reduce the deficit to a couple of points but it was close as they got as the Whitehill side held on for victory and a place in the semi-final.

Tir na nOg: Levi Thumann, D Martin, B Devlin, O Loughran, S Gault, T Bonnes, P Higgins (0-01), Josh Higgins, C Mc Camphill, A O’ Donnell (0-02), C Mc Kenna (0-01), S Martin, C Smith (3-03), E Maguire

Casement’s: F O’ Connell, M Mc Garry, F Mc Cormick, C Mc Aleese, B Mc Keever, O Mc Auley, R Mc Allister, James Mc Aleese (1-00), Sean Burns (1-03), P Murray, C Mc Aleese (0-01), Ciaran Mc Aleese (0-03), C Mc Cann (0-01)

Referee: D Mc Keown (St Gall’s)

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Antrim U21 Football Championship quarter-final

St John’s 3-11 St Paul’s 2-9

St. John’s advanced to the semi-final of the U21 A Football championship when they produced an impressive performance to overcome the challenge of visitors St. Paul’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday.

The Shaw’s Road side would have probably started this one as favourites having contested the last two minor finals but it was a big and powerful St. John’s who took control from early in the contest.

The hosts dominated the opening half to lead by six at half time but with the wind in their favour in the second half St. Paul’s certainly didn’t look out of it.

The visitors made a real fight of it in the second period but any time they threatened, the ‘Johnnies’ were able to find a response and in the end were worthy winners.

St. John’s were strong down the middle with full-back Enda McGurk, centre-back Ronan Quinn, midfielder Conor Hand, and centre-forward Conchuir Adams in dominant form.

The Shaw’s Road side battled hard and closed the gap to three with six minutes remaining when Caoimhin Duffy finished to the net but before the celebrations had died down, Ronan Quinn netted at the other end after being placed by James Wilson.

St Paul’s got off to a brighter start, with Tarlach Enright kicking a free within the opening minute. Their lead doubled when Conall Duffy made a good break, and the ball was worked to Patrick Crawford, who scored via Caoimhin Duffy.

The Johnnies’ first real attack resulted in their opening score with Ronan Quinn pointing and this seemed to bring belief to their challenge.

They looked in for an early goal when Conor Hand cut through, but Lorcan Murphy turned away his shot superbly.

Conhuir Adams levelled the contest shortly after and from the resulting kick-out the home side won possession and Adams sent an inch perfect pass into the path of Hand who palmed to the net from close range.

The hosts were now in full swing as Enda McGurk and Adams followed up with points and the visitors were now struggling to find a way through a solid Johnnies defence.

Enright did kick frees either side of an impressive score from Hand, but McGurk and Quinn would double their own tallies as the scores began to flow for the Whiterock Road side.

Jack Ireland did hit back with a good score for St Paul’s, but Adams replied with a free and then was unlucky to see his shot at goal; come back off the crossbar, but the hosts held a deserved 1-8 to 0-5 lead at the break.

The visitors needed a quick start to the second half to mount a challenge and when Caoimhin Duffy converted a Mark in the opening minute it looked like a comeback might be under way.

St. John’s had other ideas however as they replied with their second goal of the afternoon with just four minutes gone. An Adams free dropped short but Lorcan Duffy in the St Paul’s goal only palmed it out to Fearghal MacManus to palm home.

That put eight between them, but three minutes later it was back to five as a good move resulted in Garrett Cowan slotting low to the net and just one minute later, it really could have been game on when Caoimhin Duffy forced a smart stop from Padraig Graham.

St Paul’s looked to be getting on top as they pressed forward but they hit three wides in quick succession as they failed to capitalise on a period of possession as Conor Hand kicked a free at the other end.

St Paul’s substitute Ryan McCoy’s immediate duty was to kick a free but Hand replied, yet the Shaw’s Road side seemed right back in it five minutes from time as a bit of quick thinking ended with Caoimhin Duffy finishing from close range to leave just a goal between the sides.

St. John’s response was immediate and decisive and a good move from deep in their own half saw Ronan Quinn collect a pass from James Wilson to blast home.

Conall Duffy and Enright narrowed the gap to four in added time, but Conan McKinney ensured there would be no way back as he kicked the final point of the evening to secure the Johnnies place in the semi-final.

St. John’s: P Graham; M Darragh, E McGurk (0-2), M Mallon; J Robb, R Quinn (1-2), D King; C Hand (1-3, 0-1f), R Donnelly; J Wilson, C Adams (0-3, 1f), C McKinney (0-1); F McKinney, F MacManus (1-0), O McAuley.

Subs: D Robinson for M Mallon (28), C Darragh for D King (56), O Quinn for F MacManus (56).

St. Paul’s: L Murphy; G Cowan (1-0), C McAlea, N McKenna; C O’Neill, D O’Sullivan, J Ireland (0-1); C Killyleagh, D Quinn; P Crawford (0-1),  Conall Duffy (0-1), T Enright (0-4f); Caoinhin Duffy (1-1, 0-1m), P McDonnell, S Burns.

Subs: C Rogers-Duffy for C O’Neill (24), R McCoy (0-1f) for P Crawford (49).

Referee: Martin Quinn (Naomh Éanna)

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U21 B Football Championship

Rossa 1-6 Kickham’s 2-8

On a terrible day for football with treacherous conditions under foot it was Rossa who got off to the better start with Diarmuid Logan scoring a goal and a point and Ruairi Grant hitting his first point all inside the first 9 minutes.

Kickhams first point arrived through the boot of Shea McCann in the 11th minute followed by a Connor Johnston point.  Pearce Short hit the last two points for Rossa with Sean Duffin replying with a point for Kickhams, leaving the |Shaw’s Road side 4 ahead at halftime. 

Kickhams were first out of the blocks in the second half with Cain Graffin grabbing a quick goal only for Rossa to reply with points from Ruairi Grant and Diarmuid Logan but that was to be their last score.

The visitors responded and Connor Johnston and Shea McCann hit points apiece before Fintan Close hit the equaliser with a brilliant long range point.  

Shea McCann put Kickham’s in front for the first time on the 27th minute and Sean McAuley made his way up-field in the 30th minute to put Kickham’s two ahead

Creggan finished strongly and the hard working Sean Duffin put the finishing touch to an entertaining match with a well taken goal to move his side into the semi-finals 

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