by thesaffrongael

Sarsfields make it three from three to top Group 2

OB Construction IFC Group 2

Sarsfield’s 1-12 All Saints, Ballymena 1-11

Sarsfield’s sit proudly at the top of Group 2 following this narrow win over a fancied All Saints as they grabbed a last gasp victory when Gary Lennon rose to get his fist to a Conor Moley dropping free to send over for the winning score.

Phillip McPeake’s goal in the 60th minute gave the Paddies the lead and although they were pegged back by a Michael McCarry free, Lennon, became the Sarsfield’s hero with virtually the last touch of the game.

Prior to that, it appeared Shaun O’Callaghan’s first-half goal for All Saints looked like the score that had swung it in favour of the division 1 side and the Ballymena men led virtually all the way but the late drama saw the points remain in the Bear Pit.

Conor Stewart gave the All Saints the lead after three minutes, but it would be another 19 minutes before they would add another score as Sarsfield’s took early control.

The home side levelled soon after through Conor Glenholmes with Sam Walsh edging them ahead after 9 minutes in an opening quarter where scores were proving hard to come-bye.

Sean McVeigh and Emmet Killough celebrate Sean O’Callaghan’s first half goal that gave the Ballymena side a 1-5 to 0-5 half-time lead

The visitors sat deep with men behind the ball and tried to break at pace but too often they were turned over or kicked promising looking possession away.

The Paddies extended their lead from a 16th-minute Garry Lennon free, but All Saints struck with an excellent goal in the 22nd minute when Sean McVeigh’s clever flick to an Emmet Killough delivery placed Shaun O’Callaghan to finish low to the net.

A Michael McCarry free followed as the game opened up a bit for All Saints and after Christopher Loughran replied for the hosts, Paddy McAleer and Cornell Lemon were on target to put that goal between them at the break.

Half Time: Sarsfields 0-5 All Saints 1-5.

Two Lennon converted frees on the restart cut the gap to the minimum but All Saints replied through O’Callaghan and McCarry soon after to go three ahead once more.

An Ethan Mervyn point narrowed the gap again before All Saints looked to have scored a second goal after 46 minutes when Sean McVeigh rose to palm home at the back post, but their celebrations were cut short after it was ruled out for a square ball.

Moley and McCarry traded with the former adding another to leave one in it again, while Lemon saw an effort crash off the bar and end up going wide. 

Still, All Saints always seemed to have a response with McCarry pointing a free and although Moley was on target again, Kavan Keenan drilled over to put two between the sides and might have had a goal.

Sarsfield’s were still very much in contention and struck with a vengeance in the 60th minute as a probing ball inside found McPeake who guided his shot into the far corner of the net.

Now the onus was on Ballymena to get back into it and they were level when McCarry converted a free.

There was still time for a winner and it was Sarsfield’s who refused to settle for the draw as Thomas Skillen was taken out by a sliding challenge by Lemon which saw him red-carded.

The resulting free was not easy as the rain was driving into the face of Moley whose shot was on target, but dropped short and Lennon climbed above the pack to get his fist to it and send it over the bar with the last act of the game to see Sarsfield’s snatch a huge win.

St. Joseph’s Glenavy can climb into second place if they defeat Gort na Mona at Enright Park on Sunday and All Saints may need to win their final two games, at home to Davitt’s and away to St. Joseph’s if they are to qualify for the semi’s

Sarsfield’s: M Brady; P Murray, C Laverty, M McPolin; E Mervyn (0-1), L Mitchell, C Loughran (0-1); C Moley (0-3, 1f), N McKenna; P McPeake (1-1), N McAlea, S Walsh (0-1); C Glenholmes (0-1), G Lennon (0-5, 4f), T Skillen.

Subs: J McNally for C Glenholmes (41), F Jemfrey for N McAlea (45), C Glenholmes for S Walsh (49).

All Saints: R Stewart; M Read, C O’Brien, J Gillan; K Keenan (01), S O’Callaghan (1-1), J Rafferty; P McAleer (0-2, 1m),  P McNicholl; C Lemon (0-1), M McCarry (0-5,3f), C Stewart (0-1); E Killough, S McVeigh, C Campbell. 

Subs: R Thom for J Gillan (17), B McDonnell for C Campbell (46), P Ferris for J Rafferty (57).

Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tír na nÓg)

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by thesaffrongael

Pearses dominate the second half to get their JFC campaign back on track

Junior Football Championship – Round Robin 2

Pearses 2-11 O’Donnell’s 0-09

A totally dominant second half saw Pearses come from behind to beat O’Donnell’s in Friday evening’s Junior Football Championship Round 2 game at St Agnes. At the end of the opening quarter O’Dees appeared to be in a strong position when they led by three points, but two goals in as many minutes for Pearses turned the game on its head as Pearses pushed on to lead by 2-05 to 0-08 at half time.

After the change of ends the 2022 winners took full control conceding just one more point while adding six of their own to win by eight in the end, and move above O’Donnell’s in score difference in the group.

With a stiff breeze behind them in the first half O’Donnell’s went three ahead inside eight minutes with points from Pearse Rice, John Rafferty and Johnny O’Donnell, who fisted over from close range. Two points from Pearses centre forward Stephen Fitzsimons cut the gap back to a single point, but O’Dee’s responded well and points from Joe Rafferty and Pearse Rice stretched the gap out to three again at the end of the opening quarter.

The gap was still at three with eighteen minutes gone, but Pearses hit back with two goals and a point in quick succession, man of the match Fitzsimons getting the first goal and adding a point immediately afterwards, while corner forward Sean Moreland got the second goal a minute later.

Padraig McKissock and Johnny O’Donnell came back with two for O’Donnell’s but Fitzsimons and Moreland ended the half strongly for Pearses to give them a 2-5 to 0-08 lead at the interval.

Liam Deegan stretched the Pearses lead to four in the first minute of the second half, and though O’Donnell’s came back with one at the other end soon afterwards it was to be their last score of the game. With the wind behind them there was no stopping Pearses and with the excellent Fitzsimons adding four more points and Moreland and Pater Johnston also getting in on the score act, they pushed on to win with a bit to spare.

for more pics from this game click on the link below

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by thesaffrongael

Lámhs boost quarter-final hopes with victory over Aldergrove

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 1

St James, Aldergrove 0-10-0-19 Lámh Dhearg

Kevin Herron reports from Aldergrove

LÁMH DHEARG made the most of their numerical advantage and moved a step closer to the quarter-final of the Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship with a 0-19-0-10 win over Aldergrove in Crumlin on Friday evening.

The turning point came with little over 10-minutes remaining in the aftermath of a Conor Murray score that had opened up a four-point gap, Emmett Irvine was red-carded for an off the ball incident on the full-forward and the four-point deficit would stretch to nine by the conclusion.

Until that point the hosts were had remained in the game, largely thanks to the threat of Seamus McGarry in attack.

Both sides had contrasting fortunes in their opening encounters with Aldergrove losing on the road to Dunloy and Lámh Dhearg accounting for St Enda’s.

Lámh Dhearg were first off the mark after Terry McCrudden sent a high ball towards Pearse Fitzsimons- who was fouled- and Conor Murray converted the resulting free.

Michael Herron then continued a run forward and sent an angled shot between the posts, with Seamus McGarry hitting back in response.

The lead was extended after Declan Smyth clipped over from range and Owen McKeown then swung over a tricky point after a fine link-up with Marc Jordan.

Aldergrove hit back with an angled Ronan Hanna shot crashing over via the large post, but Conor Murray doubled his personal tally from a free and Ben Rice then perfectly shot inside the posts.

The theme of the half continued as Cormac McGarry took a pass from Emmett Irvine to drop over, only for back-to-back points in response from a brace of Conor Murray free’s that had opened up a 0-08-0-03 gap.

Things could have better for the visitors after Declan Lynch continued a probe forward and let fly with a low that crashed off the base of the post and out.

Successive scores from Seamus McGarry (free) and Brian McQuillan narrowed the deficit and the sides traded the last two scores of the half, Seamus McGarry doubling his tally from the placed ball after Conor Murray had kicked his first from play as Lámh Dhearg went in with a 0-09-0-06 lead at the midway point.

The Lámhs extended their lead upon the resumption through a Shaun McManus point on the turn, though their lead was halved with McGarry kicking his third free and then dropping over his second from play.

Owen McKeown eased the pressure on side with his second score of the evening and Conor Murray notched his fifth placed ball of the evening to move his side 0-12-0-08 ahead with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Aldergrove’s penultimate score of the evening came in the form of a Ronan Hanna free but just moments later their discipline that kept them in the contest until that point let them down.

Despite the best efforts of Declan Gough , Conor Murray saw his deflected shot rise of the bar and in the aftermath, Emmett Irvine caught Murray off the ball and in the presence of referee Colm McDonald- who issued Irvine with a red-card that brought his evening to a premature end.

Thereafter the visitors made the most of the extra-man and tagged on four-points unanswered.

Terry McCrudden swung over a magnificent point and Marc Jordan fisted over after a breakaway move involving Daniel and Conor Murray.

Talisman Murray kicked his third from play and substitute Adam Murray would get in on the act as his side moved 0-17-0-09 ahead.

A converted Ronan Hanna free in the closing stages briefly halted the Lámhs momentum but Calum Lappin fisted over in injury time and Declan Smyth popped over to finish the evenings scoring and ensure that Lámh Dhearg made it two wins from two and are on the brink of a place in the last eight.

ST JAMES, ALDERGROVE: C Totten, A Irvine, E Irvine, C O’Toole, E Gough, C McVeigh, D Gough, O Graham, B McQuillan (0-01), A Flood, C McGarry (0-01), G Mallon, P Burns, R Hanna (0-03, 0-02f), S McGarry (0-05, 0-03f). SUBS: C McSteen for C McGarry (42), D Aiken for C O’Toole (54), C Fogerty for P Burns (56).

LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth, B Rice (0-01), M McGarry, F Mervyn, O McKeown (0-02), D Lynch, D Smyth (0-02), P Fitzsimons, M Jordan (0-01), D Murray, S McManus (0-01), E Matassa, M Herron (0-01), C Murray (0-08, 0-05f), T McCrudden (0-01). SUBS: C Fegan (0-01) for S McManus (38), A Murray (0-01) for D Murray (55), D Martin for O McKeown (57), N McGarry for E Matassa (59), C Boyd for C Murray (60+1).

REFEREE: Colm McDonald (ST GALLS)

by thesaffrongael

‘Aggies’ move top of Group 1 with good win over Laochra Loch Lao

JFC Group 1

St. Agnes 1-10 Laochra Loch Lao 0-7

St. Agnes moved top of group 1 of the Junior Football Championship following a good win over Laochra Loch Lao at St. Teresas on Friday night.

The Woodlands men began their campaign with an equally impressive win over Pearses two weeks ago and with the Antrim Road side getting their first win over O’Donnell’s at Woodlands, it is the ‘Aggies’ who top Group 1 after two rounds.

With the strong breeze at their backs St. Agnes made their intentions clear right from the start as they took a two point lead through Conall Turley and David Garahan after 8 minutes and when Ronan Carroll fired home from the penalty spot with 13 minutes gone they were in control.

Laochra had their fair share of possession but found it difficult to break through a well organised St. Agnes defence who denied them time and space with their high intensity play.

It would be 15 minutes before Connla O’Coinn would raise the Irish Language side’s first white flag from a free but it only served to bring another response from the men in Black as Ronan Carroll hit three excellent points (1f) at the other end.

The Aggies continued to call the shots as they moved the ball around with purpose and David Quigley punished a bad kick-out before Conall Turley fisted over the half’s final point to leave it 1-7 to 0-1 at the break.

Conall Turley extended that lead to 10 with a point after 30 seconds of the second half but slowly Laochra Loch Lao began to get a foothold in the game as O’Coinn pointed his second free before Kevin Devine brought their total of the evening to three with an excellent point from play with three minutes gone.

Devine added another superb effort as Laochra began to enjoy some success and then Diarmaid McPhillips struck a great free from 70 meters to close the gap to six in the 9th minute and suddenly we appeared to have a game on our hands.

St. Agnes rang the changes at this stage as they introduced Brendan Grieve and Paul McClenaghan and it seemed to settle them with Laochra receiving a setback when they lost a player to a straight Red after 14 minutes.

Conall Turley replied from a pointed free, St. Agnes first score for 17 minutes with the excellent Devine and Conor McGuckin responding for the Irish Language side to leave five in it with ten minutes remaining.

Another substitution from the Aggies bench had an almost immediate effect as Shay Madden raced through on goal but had his shot blocked on the line with the Laochra goal surviving a hectic scramble on the follow up.

Madden made amends with his side’s final point with two minutes remaining with Laochra pushing hard for the goal that might ignite their challenge but they had to settle for a late consolation point from Oisin Crawford.

With Pearses recording a good win over O’Donnell’s at Woodlands, St. Agnes now top the group with four points from two starts while Pearses join O’Donnell’s on two and Laochra Loch Lao remain pointless after two rounds of games.

St. Agnes are at home to O’Donnell’s in their final group game on Friday the 30th August while Laochra Loch Lao entertain Pearses on the same night at Colaiste Feirste.

Ronan Carroll, St. Agnes fires past Deaglan McCoimb from the penalty spot

St. Agnes: 1 Colum Carroll, 2 Patrick Carroll, 3 Ryan Reilly, 4 Killian McCormick, 5 David Quigley, 6 Neill Gillespie, 7 Ronan Gilligan, 8 Ronan Carroll. 9 James Halleron, 10 Cormac Flannery, 11 David McGaharan, 12 James Campbell, 13 Cormac McBride, 14 Conall Turley, 15 Conor Gregory.

Subs: Brendan Grieve, Paul McClenaghan, Dan Turley, Shay Madden, Briondan McLarnon.

Laochra Loch Lao: 16 Sean O’hHeachain, 29 Deglan MacCoimb, 3 Eamann O’Coinn, 4 Conor McCaffery, 5 Cathal O’Ceallaigh, 6 Connla O’Coinn, 7 Tiarnan MacSiacais, 8 Pearse McAuley, 9 Diarmaid McPhillips, 10 Conor McGuckin, 11 Nial McAreavey, 12 Rian McShane, 13 Oisin Crawford, 24 Padraig Fryers, 15 Kevin Devine.

Subs: 22 Ciaran O’Cuanlaugh,

Referee: Chris Brown (St. Paul’s)

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by thesaffrongael

Cargin go top in Division 3

LGFA Division 3

Tir na nOg 0-4 Cargin 3-15

Erin’s Own, Cargin proved too strong for an under strength Tir na nOg On Sunday evening at Whitehill. Desite the end result we had a great spectacle of a game against the top two in Division 3 after the league split.

There had been little between these sides in their previous meetings but on this occasion the home side were without some important players and it told from early in the game. With a very strong wind benefiting Cargin in the first half. They took advantage and used their support play and possession to the maximum extent with great scores from Orlaith Johnston, Martina Gribbin, Niamh Devine, Grace O’Boyle and Roisin Quinn to lead 1-11 to 0-1 at half time.

Tir na  nOg fought hard in the second half, with the wind at their backs to get back into contention with Eimear McCloskey, Shannon McNeilly and Ellen Magee full of running and broke through the Cargin defence on a number of occasions but were unlucky to not get more scores. With superb performances from Orlaith Johnston, Catherine Mc Fadden and Roisin Quinn, Cargin ran out the winners. 

This win has put Cargin at the top of the Division 3 league with two games remaining.

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