ACFL Division 1

Erin’s Own Cargin 3-13 St Mary’s Aghagallon 2-08

Cargin recorded another good win when they entertained St. Mary’s Aghagallon in Toome on Wednesday night before a good attendance at their Shore road ground.

The visitors got off to a good start and an early point from Jonathan Hannon saw them open account a couple of minutes into proceedings but the home side were not to remain in arrears for long.

A point from Jamie Gribbin was followed by a 7^th minute Tom Shivers goal following a smart flick from Tomas McCann saw the home side move ahead and they were to retain such until conclusion.

Cargin following that opening concession were quick to gain in composure with Gerard Mc Cann and John Carron on top in the vital central zone and with Jamie Gribbin occupying the role of play maker they had earned a 1-05 to 0-02 advantage by the end of the opening quarter.

Aghagallon were forced into change following an injury to their mid fielder but were quick to settle into the contest and slick on the counter, they were only a score behind at the 20^th minute.

Tomas Mc Cann had added a trio of points to the home side’s total with David Johnston coming up with another but back-to-back free kicks, delivered between the posts with some authority by Jonathan Hannon assured the visiting contingent support that they were very much in the contest.

Cargin looked to have gained a good lead as the end of the opening period neared when Callum Gribbin and Ben McLarnon combined for the latter to grab a 28^th minute goal and the Toome side looked on their way to a healthy interval advantage.

That lead was not to remain for long and when the advancing Conor Magill was fouled inside the square, Jonathan Hannon tucked the resultant spot kick into the corner of the net and the home side’s interval advantage was reduced to five points  2-07 to 1-05.

The second half saw the visitors enjoy the advantage of the slight breeze but it was Erin’s Own who were first to strike and John Carron, Ben McLarnon and Callum Gribbin combined to set up Conan Johnston to fire to the back of the net in the 2^nd minute.

The Toome men’s swift second period getaway continued as Tom Shivers fired over a good point with the visitors quicky replying through Jonathan Hannon.

Cargin were in the ascendancy however and Tom Shivers, Tomas Mc Cann and David Johnston replied with points at the other end and another special from corner back Sean Og Quinn saw the Toome men 3-11 to 1-08 ahead as the clocked ticked on into the last quarter.

The hosts looked in firm control as the management took the opportunity to empty their bench with Hugh O’ Donnell, Jack Harney, Odhran Molloy, Shea Laverty, Enda Mc Grogan and Ronan Devlin entering the fray.

It looked all over at this stage but the visitors kept battling to the end and Daryl Mc Alernon finished a good move with a point.

St Mary’s launched one last attack and Jonathan Hannon drilled his shot to the corner of the net after a good Stephen Devlin delivery but it was to be the game’s final score as Cargin maintain their place at the top of the table

Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Sean Og Quinn (0-01), Kevin Mc Shane, Cahir Donnelly, Justin Crozier, James Laverty (0-01), Jamie Gribbin (0-01), John Carron, Gerard Mc Cann, David Johnston (0-02), Tomas Mc Cann (1-06), Conan Johnston (1-00), Tom Shivers (1-02), Callum Gribbin

Aghagallon: Luke Mulholland, Kieran Hamill, Aidan Mulholland, Pat Brannigan, Conor Magill, Jamie Lamont, Ciaran Maginnis (0-01), Pauric Maginnis, Padraig Gowdy, Stephen Devlin, Niall Mc Shane (0-02), Jonathan Hannon (2-04), Daryl Mc Alernon (0-01), Enda Mallon, James Mc Cormick

Referee: C Mc Dermott (Tir na Nog)

PICS BY BERT TROWLEN

ACFL Division 2

St. Teresa’s 0-17 Dunloy 1-11

St. Teresa’s continue to set the pace in division 2 and on Wednesday night it was visitors Dunloy who became the latest side to feel the force of the Glen Road side.

Dunloy travelled to Pairc MhicDhomhnaill hoping to end the run of the home side, who were unbeaten going into this game and after a sterling performance, remain unbeaten and top the table.

It was visitors Dunloy who led briefly in this contest when points from Declan McGarry and Anthony Smyth had them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after six minutes, the St. Teresa’s score coming from Conor Mallon.

Paul McGoldrick levelled matters with 8 minutes gone and slowly a well-oiled St. Teresa’s machine started to take control with John Mallon leading the way.

Mallon kicked his side into a lead they would not again lose with an excellent point in the 9^th minute and the same player added two more from frees as the home side started to stretch the visitors defence.

Paul McGoldrick moved the Glen Road side five ahead and the Cuchullian’s then suffered another blow when Declan Smyth was forced to retire to be replaced by Barry McCloskey.

A Kevin McQuillan pointed free  in the 17^th minute briefly halted the St. Teresa’s assault but they were soon back on the front foot with Mark Small, John Mallon and Anto Taylor on target to move them six ahead.

The visitors were enjoying plenty of possession but were finding it difficult to break down a well organised home defence where Paul Johnston, Aodhan Dugan, Colm McGoldrick and Conor O’Rawe were excellent.

Still when the visitors kicked three of the final four points of the half through McQuillan 0-2 and Barry McCloskey in reply to one from Anto Taylor to leave just four in it at the break it looked far from over.

Dunloy needed a good start to the second half if they were to make inroads into the St. Teresa’s lead but it was the league leaders who regrouped from the throw-in with Niall McCann pointing a couple of early frees to move them six in front.

An excellent point from Darren McCann increased that lead to seven with only 8 minutes of the new half gone before Tom McFerran replied with an equally impressive effort at the other end to open the Cuchullian’s second half account.

It was nip and tuck for most of the remainder of the game as Eoin Hamill, Conor Mallon and Darren McCann added points for the home side and Barry McCloskey, Declan McGarry and Oran Quinn replied for the visitors.

Further scores from Darren McCann and Anto Taylor in response to one from Anthony Smyth kept the gap at six with only two minutes remaining but Dunloy were handed a lifeline when referee Patrick Tumelty pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Karl Fitzpatrick to fire past Ciaran Murtagh in the St. Teresa’s goals but it would prove to be the final action of the evening and it is the Glen Road side who make it six win from six starts to sit proudly at the top of the table.

St. Teresa’s: 1 Ciaran Murtagh, 2 Eoin Connolly, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Aodhan Dugan, 5 Colm McGoldrick, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Conor Mallon, 8 Darren McCann, 9 Stephen Carey, 10 Eoghan Hamill, 11 John Mallon, 12 Paul McGoldrick, 13 Mark Small, 14 Niall McCann, 15 Anto Taylor

Subs: Francis Dugan for Mark Small

Dunloy: 1 Sean Doherty, 2 Michael Traynor, 3 Adrian Scullion, 4 Cathair McCloskey, 5 Conor Kinsella, 6 Aaron Crawford, 7 Oran Quinn, 8 Ryan McFarlane, 9 Karl Fitzpatrick, 10 Padraig McGilligan, 11 Deaglan Smyth, 12 Tom McFerran, 13 Anthony Smyth, 14 Kevin McQuillan, 15 Declan McGarry

Subs: Barry McCloskey for Declan Smyth, Conal Doherty for Kevin McQuillan, Sean Scullion for Barry McCloskey

Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)

St Johns 3-12   Glenravel 1-10

A three goal blitz over a ten minute period either side of half time was the sucker punch that St Johns delivered to leave their opponents on the ropes for the remainder of the game and secure all three points for the Corrigan Park side. With county hurling and football in action this weekend both teams were forced to field without a few marquee players but the more seasoned Division 1 campaigners seemed to manage the game better with the resources to hand. Glenravel did lead at various stages in the first half and had Eamon Fyfe managed to slot home a goal when one on one with St John’s keeper Eoghan Rua Lambert half way through the first half, things would have looked a lot brighter for the visitors. In fairness to Lambert he brought off a fine save to deny Fyfe.

Eamon Fyfe opened the scoring on two minutes with an outrageous over the head shot form fully forty yards to split the posts but Conal McGlade equalised shortly after from a placed ball. Niall Hynds put Glenravel back in front only to be levelled again as Conchur Adams pointed again from a free. Eamon Fyfe nudged Glenravel ahead again but they were pegged back once more as Domhnall Nuggent pointed from placed ball so with ten minutes gone it was honours even on three points apiece. The next ten minutes were totally dominated by Glenravel and they will look back on that period of dominance as a real chance missed to stamp their authority on the game.  Three consecutive wides were followed by that save mentioned earlier before David Higgins and Sean McKay steadied the ship to leave Glenravel ahead 0-05 to 0-03.  But those missed chances proved costly as St John’s goaled twice in the 21st (Conall Quinn) and 28th (Conor McEvoy) minutes and then added two more points from Nuggent and Adams to go into a six point lead. Eamon Fyfe tapped over a free on the stroke of half time to leave five between them at the break, St John’s ahead 2-05 to 0-06.

Glenravel would have been disappointed at going in behind given their periods of dominance but that disappointed was compounded two minutes after the restart when Darragh McCallin goaled and the uphill struggle proved too difficult for the Glensmen to manage. Sean McKay and Eamon Fyfe did get them back into the game but over the following fifteen minutes the home side dominated totally and their six points was only challenged by a single point from the visitors and the game was effectively over as a contest with ten minutes remaining. Niall Hynds did manage a point from close range after a goal mouth scramble and Eamon Fyfe burst through the St Johns defence as we entered added time. This time he left the keeper no chance as his effort almost lifted the net off its fixings but that was really only consolation as the Belfast men ran out winners 3-12 to 1-10.

Both sides experienced periods of dominance in this match but the more experienced Division 1 outfit made better use of their dominance and ended up deserved winners.