A draw was probably a fair enough result in this final Senior Football Championship game in the round robin series of Group 3. Both teams will have felt they had done enough to secure the points but with the lead exchanging hands a few time in the closing quarter a draw seemed fair enough when referee Patrick Tumelty called time. In reality this was a dead rubber as both teams knew their championship destiny before throw in so pride was all that was at stake over the sixty minutes. A late goal from Cahal Hynds seemed to have sealed the deal for Glenravel but a last ditch effort from Conor McGhee levelled the game so the points were shared.
Eoin Hynds and Ciaran McKenna shared points in the opening five minutes and then Ryan McQuillan nudged Glenravel ahead. With eight minutes played Portglenone were starting to find holes in their opponents defence and eventually Sean Byrne found the net from close range for the game’s opening goal. Paddy Kelly stretched the lead from a placed ball and followed that up with another free after Ryan McQuillan had put over from a tight angle at the other end, thus leaving a goal between the teams. McQuillan and Hynds would close the gap to the minimum but on the stroke of half time Oisin Kelly popped over a point from play to leave two between them at the break, Portglenone leading 1-04 to 0-05.
The Ports would tag on a couple of points early in the second half from the boots of Conal Delargy and Oisin Doherty to stretch their lead to four points and the skies were darkening overhead for the men in green and white. Niall Hynds put over a long range free to reduce the gap but Con Magees management decided it was time to re-shuffle the deck. Enter Cormac McKeown into the fray and within ten seconds he had the ball in the net and followed up with a good point six minutes later to nudge Glenravel ahead with twelve minutes remaining. In reply, Portglenone introduced Michael Hagan who would prove to be a real thorn in the Glenravel side as he levelled and then put the Bannsiders ahead shortly after his introduction. Niall McKeever would stretch that lead to two and with only four minutes left it looked like the pre match favourites would justify that tag. But confusion in Portglenone’s defence following a high ball in from Cathal Hynds allowed the ball to bounce into the net to put Glenravel back in front by the minimum margin. As the game ticked past the sixty minute mark Portglenone’s experience shone through when, after patient build up, Conor McGhee popped over the game’s final point to level and referee Tumelty called time.
Portglenone now advance to the championship quarter final where they’ll play St John’s whilst Glenravel are into the survival playoffs and will face Tir na nÓg.
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Baker Bradley and his backroom staff will not read too much into this facile victory with Davitt’s arriving at Quinn Park with only 15 men and quite a number of their regulars missing for various reasons.
Before the game kicked off qualification was going to be down to the final game of the series away to Glenavy in two weeks-time and before throw in word filtered through that St. Joseph’s had beaten Sarsfields, who had already qualified.
Bradley gave game time to a number of players who have not figured recently but it was his more established campaigners that would ensure a night devoid of anxiety for the Derry native.
The Ballymena side, with all their county men on board scored four goals in each half and played some good attacking football against a Davitt’s side who battled to the end but were out of their depth on this occasion.
Sean McVeigh fisted home the first with more than a hint of square ball about it and then the returning Ronan McKillop added a second to make it 2-4 to 0-0 with 17 minutes gone.
Paddy McAleer palmed home goal number three before the Davitt’s persistence paid off with a wonderful point from Deaglan Mooney in the 22nd minute.
All Saints Patrick Ferris fires past Liam McGivern for his side’s sixth goal
McAleer powered home a rocket to make it four majors for the Ballymena side who went on to lead 4-6 to 0-2 at the short whistle.
Caomhan Slane opened the second half scoring with an excellent point for Davitt’s but with places very much up for grabs and the possibility that score difference might come into play the home side never eased up with McAleer making it a hat-trick with another fisted effort after 8 minutes.
At this stage the home side emptied their bench, a luxury unavailable to the depleted visitors and it was one of the replacements, Patrick Ferris who got through for a sixth goal as the West Belfast side started to tire.
Paddy McAleer brought his total to four with a simple tap in after the ball rebounded into his path off the woodwork and the big county man concluded the scoring with his side’s 8th of the evening with time almost up.
Three minutes earlier the impressive Paul McLaughlin had brought his side’s total for the evening to 0-4 with possibly the best point of the game and the West Belfast side will now prepare for their final game against Gort na Mona.
Paul Toner, Davitt’s treasurer presents a cheque for £500-00 to Paddy McIlwaine who received it on behalf of the Saffron Gael
A win there would see them avoid a relegation playoff and they are likely to have a much stronger panel available for that one in two weeks-time.
All Saints now face the daunting task of an away visit to St. Joseph’s Glenavy, the Chapel Hill side will start that one as favourites following Sunday’s win over Group leaders, Sarsfield’s who have already inflicted defeat on the Ballymena side in the Group stages.
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Northern Switch Gear Senior Football Championship – Group 1
Lámh Dhearg 2-10 Dunloy 1-6
Sunday 1 September
Brendan McTaggart reports from Slemish Park, Ballymena
Lámh Dhearg progressed to the quarter finals as Group 1 winners as they saw off Dunloy with seven points to spare. It was a controlled performance from the Hannahstown side who made the most of the elements in the first half and kept the Cuchullains at arm’s length after the restart.
They did have to withstand a Dunloy fightback with the Cuchullains reducing the five point half time deficit to the minimum just five minutes into the second half but with Paddy Cunningham in imperious form, the Lámh’s showed their experience of such occasions.
With both sides already guaranteed a place in the last eight, this might have been seen as a dead rubber but it was played with some niggle – perhaps with memories of the last encounter between the sides in the championship of 2023.
Cunningham would top score for the Lámh’s with three of his seven points coming from play while Marc Jordan and Daniel Murray scored their majors. Murray’s goal settling his side after Dunloy looked to be gaining an upperhand in the contest. Jordan, Terry McCrudden and Owen McKeown were lively throughout with Conor Murray giving the Dunloy defence plenty to think about.
Eoin McFerran excelled for the Cuchullains while Deaglan Smith was heavily influential throughout. Aodhan McGarry and Ryan McFarline were busy throughout but Dunloy found the going tough to penetrate a well organised Red Hands defence.
The Lámh’s showed one change from their win against Aldergrove with Ross Murray coming into the starting 15 while the Cuchullains made six changes from their win against Naomh Éanna – Dunloy juggling their players on dual responsibilities.
Playing with the aid of a considerable breeze at their backs, the Lámh’s made a strong start in the opening quarter. They had Dunloy on the backfoot for long periods in that 15 minutes and opened a five point lead. Marc Jordan with strong, trademark runs and opened the scoring while Cunningham’s first free of the match followed to double their lead in the second minute.
The opening major came in the seventh minute and came through a strong counter attack, led by McCrudden. He lured the Dunloy defence and passed to Cunningham. He found Jordan in space in front of the Dunloy goals and he had the easiest of tasks, palming the ball to the back of the net.
Any Dunloy attacks were fleeting but they did have a massive goal opportunity in the 10th minute. Michael Smith laying the ball into Karl Fitzpatrick and while his effort was on target, he went for placement over power and was never likely to beat Gerard Smyth in the Lámh Dhearg goals. With Eoin O’Neill in space on the outside of Fitzpatrick, it was a massive chance that the Cuchullains really should have done better from.
A brace of points from Cunningham stretched the Lámh’s lead to seven points, the second of those coming from play and a quite brilliant score. Wide on the left, it was an instinctive score and one that we’ve seen plenty of times through the years.
It would mark an end to that initial dominance from the Lámh’s with Dunloy beginning to get a foothold in midfield. Lámh Dhearg wouldn’t score for another 15 minutes and while Dunloy had the lions share of possession in second quarter, their approach was more methodical as they tried to break through a solid Lámh Dhearg defence.
The opening Cuchullains score came from Eoin O’Neill in the 18th minute and a free from Anthony Smith doubled their tally four minutes later. Their renaissance could have been better, but they recorded a couple of wides when in good position.
Scoring chances were at a premium in the time that remained but a pacey counterattack from the Lámh’s resulted in Owen McKeown splitting the uprights while Anthony Smith doubled his tally with a brilliant score, wide on the right with his left foot. A super score against the elements and with next to no angle to work with. It left the Lámh’s 1-5 to 0-3 ahead at half time.
Five points was far from an insurmountable deficit for Dunloy to recover from and while Cunningham fired over his third free and fourth point of the match made it six, Lámh Dhearg wouldn’t register another score for 18 minutes as Dunloy forwards went to work.
Brothers, Michael and Deaglan joined Anthony Smith on the scoreboard before Chrissy McMahon found the back of the Lámh Dhearg net in the 35th minute. The Dunloy forwards forced a turnover ball and Karl Fitzpatrick bore down on the goals. He unselfishly passed to McMahon and he was the coolest man in Slemish Park with his finish.
The Cuchullains were well on top in the middle third and putting Gerard Smyth under pressure from his restarts but the Lámh’s experience shone as they weathered the Dunloy pressure.
Cunningham got his second of the half with a brilliant score with the outside of his left boot before Declan Lynch fired over. Lynch’s score coming at the end of a patient move that saw them hold onto the ball and wait for the right moment to execute.
The Lámh’s second major came in the 46th minute and the result of a powerful running move that saw a serious of quick and incisive passes. Daniel Murray with the finish but it was a quite brilliant team move that Dunloy were powerless to stop.
Murray’s goal looked to take the wind out of the Dunloy sails as the Lámh’s were happy to keep possession and frustrate the Cuchullains. Eoin O’Neill doubled his tally for the match with a brilliant score with the outside of his boot in the 50th minute but it would prove to be Dunloy’s last of the match. Lámh Dhearg and Cunningham had the final say with a brace of points (one free) to add further gloss to the scoreline.
The Lámh’s will face Creggan in two weeks time while Dunloy will face St Brigid’s with a place in the last four on the line.
TEAMS
Lamh Dhearg: Gerard Smyth; Ben Rice, Mark McGarry, Ross Murray; Owen McKeown, Declan Lynch, Declan Smyth; Pearse Fitzsimmons, Marc Jordan; Daniel Murray, Terry McCrudden, Shaun McManus; Paddy Cunningham, Michael Herron, Conor Murray
Subs: Declan Dunne for S McManus (35); Callum Tegan-Lappin for D Murray (55); Fionn Mervyn for R Murray (60)
Scorers: P Cunningham 0-7 (4fs); M Jordan 1-1; D Murray 1-00; D Lynch 0-1; O Murray 0-1
Dunloy: Sean Doherty; Oran Quinn, Eoin McFerran, James Scally; Chrissy McMahon, Deaglan Smith, Ciaran McQuillan; Aodhan McGarry, Ryan McFarline; Tom McFerran, Caolan Gillan, Eoin O’Neill; Anthony Smith, Michael Smith, Karl Fitzpatrick
Subs: Cathaoir McCloskey for J Scally (42); Barry McCloskey for K Fitzpatrick (48); Anton McGrath for C McMahon (54); Kevin McQuillan for E O’Neill (54)
Scorers: C McMahon 1-00; A Smith 0-2 (1f); E O’Neill 0-2; M Smith 0-1; D Smith 0-1
Referee: Conall Roberts (Naomh Eoin)
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St Ergnats Moneyglass 1:12 v St. Mary’s Ahoghill 1:14
Ahoghill secured their place in the knockout stages of the Senior Football Championship with a two point victory over neighbours Moneyglass at Portglenone on Friday night. This was a keenly anticipated encounter for all involved with each a victory to their name against Glenravel and Moneyglass just missing out last time out against Portglenone and to be fair, there was some very good football played in spells throughout by both sides.
It was Ahoghill who struck first with James O Connell firing over 2 points in succession to give the men in red the lead after 5 minutes, he was to go on to have a major influence in this one finishing with a personal tally of 1-7. Moneyglass responded well once settled and Aidan Mc Erlain found the Ahoghill net to open their account. They capitalised on their goal and with the pace of Moneyglass’ young lads up front they linked up well and Sean Boyd added 2 of his own after 7minutes to increase the lead.
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However it wasn’t to last long, a high looping ball into the Moneyglass defence was well gathered again by James O Connell and from what looked to be an innocent enough effort at a tackle was deemed a pull by referee Mark O Neill who awarded a penalty to Ahoghill and duly converted by O’Connell, he would add 2 more frees just before the half time whistle to take the slenderest of leads.
The second half started brightly, Ronan Graham firing over from a free and O’Connell adding another 5 minutes in. With daylight fading it was all to play for. There was never more than a few scores separating the sides at any time throughout this one as each exchanged points Connor O Kane, Aidan Mc Erlain and Colm Duffin for St. Ergnats and Patrick Dougan and Ronan Graham for Ahoghill. With minutes remaining it was Ahoghill who would finish this one out the stronger and again O Connell finding his range from the place ball added another to setup a meeting with Champions Cargin next time out.
St Ergnats: Jamie Mc Laughlin, Matthew Mullan, Calum Mc Stocker, James Mc Cormick, Fergal Duffin, Paul Duffin, Kevin Mc Cann, Dermot Mc Erlain, Michael Mc Laughlin, Connor O Kane (0-1), Connlaodh Mc Cann (0-1) Conor Boyd (0-2, 1f), Sean Boyd (0-2), Aidan Mc Erlain (1-1m), Colm Duffin (0-5f)
Subs: Tiernan Mc Cormick for M. Mc Laughlin, Ryan Boyd for C. Mc Stocker, Tyler Cassidy for Sean Boyd
Ahoghill: 1 Noel Crossey, 2 Eamonn Brady, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Seamus McKeever, 6 Diarmaid Graham, 7 Fionnbar O’Neill, 8 Neil O ‘Connell, 9 Ronan Graham, 10 James O’Connell, 11 Patrick Graham, 12 Donal Graham, 13 Dan O’Neill, 14 Patrick Dougan, 15 Conor Paul Crossey.
Championship favourites, Naomh Comhghall cruised into the semi-final of the Junior Football Championship with a facile victory over Wolfe Tones at Dunsilly on Friday evening.
The Division 3 league winners were superior in every department against a Wolfe Tones side, who to their credit fought to the end but were never able to match the fluency of their Antrim Town hosts.
The game was led from the start by St Comgall’s who scored a point in the first few minutes however Wolfe Tone never gave in throughout the match and the end score does not recognise the efforts made by both teams. Ryan Clarke top scored for the league champions with a personal contribution of 2-5 while Joe Webb weighed in with six points and James McCabe and Tom Patchett contribute 0-4 apiece. Naomh Comhghall scorers : Louis Higgins 0-2 Ryan Clarke. 2-5 Joseph Webb 0-6 Josh Henry 0-1 Aaron McGaw 1-0 James McCabe 0-4 Patrick O’Connor 0-2 Tom Patchett 0-4
Naomh Comhghall now carry the unwanted favourites tag to do the double and on Friday night’s performance it will take a good side to beat them though sides like St. Agnes, Pearses, St. Malachy’s, Laochra Loch Lao and Eire Og might have something to say about that.
Naomh Comhghall: 1 Anthony Watson, 2 Shane Og Gribbon, 3 Eoin Lynott, 4 Caolan McKeown, 5 Danaan O’Hara, 6 Michael McCabe, 7 Jack Moore, 8 Josh Henry, 9 Louis Higgins, 10 Joe Webb, 11 Patrick O’Connor, 12 Aaron McGaw, 13 Ryan Clarke, 14 James McCabe, 15 Colm Griffin, 18 Tom Patchett, 18 Liam Phinn,
Wolfe Tones: 1 Danny McIvor, 2 Dylan McAlorum, 3 Phil Walsh, 4 Caolan McKeown, 5 Declan Moloney, 6 Kieran Moloney, 7 Jamie Carberry, 8 Aaron McAlister, 9 Martin Connor, 10 Gerard McDonnell, 11 Declan Madden, 12 Jack Parke, 13 Aodhan Moloney, 14 Joe McKeating, 15 Ciaran Higgins, 19 Declan O’Neill
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