Reserve Football Shield (round one)

                            St Mary’s Ahoghill 1-13 Erin’s Own Cargin 0-12

A 59^th minute Colla McDonnell goal secured victory for Ahoghill in the opening round of the Football Shield in a close fought encounter at Clooney on Wednesday evening.

Ahoghill were clinging onto a two point lead in the latter stages as the Toome side pressed and net minder Cahir O’ Kane made a superb save to deny Martin Kane as he as the replacement sought to find the net from close range before Colla McDonnell’s pristine delivery at the other end ensured victory for the home side.

The opening phase of the game had proved close as point at one end was answered in kind by one at the other and the sides were level after 25^th minute at 0-06 apiece.

Peter John McAleese raised four white flags for the visitors with Odhran Mc Guckin adding a couple while Shea Madden (0-3), Aiden Graham (0-2), and Pat Dougan were the Ahoghill marksmen.

The Clooney side finished the half strongly however with Dominic Neeson and James Keenan leading by example and a long range point from Neeson and Shea Madden 0-2 and Aodhan Graham from two frees moved them 0-11 to 0-06 ahead at the short whistle.

Cargin introduced the experienced Darren Craig, Martin Kane, and David Mc Elhone at the start of the second half but the home side were first to strike as a Callum Reynolds point in the 32^nd minute increased their advantage.

With the wind behind them Cargin set about reducing the deficit as they hit four unanswered points through Peadar McKeever(0-2), Peter John McAleese, and a superb David McElhone addition to ensure they were only a couple of points in arrears, 0-12 to 0-10.

Despite pressing hard the Ahoghill defence closed ranks with James Keenan, Chris McGlone, and Dominic Neeson leading by example.

Shea Madden added another point in the home side’s cause but from the resulting kick Cargin launched an attack and might have produced a goal but a splendid save from Cahir O’Kane denied Martin Kane as he looked certain to find the net in the 56^th minute.

Aiden Graham and Peadar Mc Keever swapped points in the closing stages and with the clock approaching the allotted sixty minutes the home side struck a decisive blow.

Colla Mc Donnell collected a Chris McGlone clearance before firing to the back of the Cargin net despite the best efforts of Des Ewart in the visitor’s goal and that was that and it is St. Mary’s who advance to the next round.

Ahoghill: Cahir O’ Kane, Seamus Mc Keever, Conor Mc Garry, Shea Neeson, Shay Madden (0-06), Chris Mc Glone, James Keenan, Dominic Neeson (0-01), Sean O’ Connell, Pat Dougan (0-01), Stephen O’ Connell, Colm Reynolds (0-01), Aodhan Graham (0-04), Ryan Mc Peake,

Subs

Colla Mc Donnell (1-00)

Gerard Graham

Cargin: Des Ewart, Eoin Laverty, Michael Mc Closkey, Shay Mc Nally, Paudie Mc Coy, Christopher Bateson, Michael Murray, Darren Mc Daid, Seamus Mc Cluskey, Oran Johnston, Peter John Mc Aleese (0-05), Sean Gribbin, Peadar Mc Keever (0-03), Odhran Mc Guckin (0-02), Sean Neeson

Subs

David Mc Elhone (0-01)

Darren Craig

Martin Kane (0-01)

Conan Kennedy

Referee: K Doherty (Rasharkin)

Reserve Football Cup

St Brigid’s 2-14 St Gall’s 2-15

An injury time point by left half back Michael Hopkins gave St Gall’s victory over St Brigid’s in Wednesday evening’s Reserve Football Cup game at Musgrave Park.

Trailing by two points at half time St Gall’s got on top in the second half and goals from Man of the Match Michael Pollock and Terry O’Neill appeared to have won the game for them. However St Brigid’s fought back with three late points to level the game going into injury time, before Hopkins sealed the win with a 64^th minute point.

Fielding six of the their famous 2010 All Ireland winning team St Gall’s matched their opponents for most of the first half, and with Michael Pollock rolling back the years, scoring seven of their eight half points. Rory McErlean, Conan McNicholl and Shane Boyle were prominent for St Bridgid’s the first half produced some highly entertaining football. The sides were level on 27 minutes when a long ball into the St Gall’s ‘square’ was finished to the net by full forward Conan McNicholl to give his team a three point lead, but Anto Healy hit back with an injury time point for St Gall’s to leave them trailing by two at the short whistle. (1-7 to 0-8)  

St Gall’s hit back early in the second half and Michael Pollock goal within a minute of the restart gave them back the lead Murray and Pollock added points to stretch their advantage to three but points from Conan McNicholl and Niall Duffy for the home side were followed by a goal from Rory McErlean. Pollock and McNicholl exchanged points but when Terry O’Neill fired home for St Gall’s on 24 minutes they were two clear, and Murray stretched that lead to three with five minutes left for play.

St Brigid’s showed great character to claw their way back with three late points to level the scores and extra time seemed a distinct possibility. However Hopkins sealed the win for the St Gall’s with an injury time point to send the ‘old guard’ through to the next round.

Senior Reserve Football Cup

Creggan 5-21 Aghagallon 2-10

In a remarkable game at Creggan on Wednesday evening the home team came from 1-5 to 0-2 down after ten minutes to beat Aghagallon by twenty points in the Reserve Football Cup. Creggan hit two early points through Mark Dougan, but Aghagallon hit back in style, scoring 1-5 without reply, the goal coming from corner forward Hugh Hannon in the 8^th minute, while left half forward Ruairi McShane got 3 of the points.

Creggan appeared to be in a spot of bother but incredibly the held the visitors to just one more point in that first half while adding 1-12 themselves, the goal coming from full forward Aidan McKeown on 22 minutes, while Aidan McLarnon hit four of the points.

After the break Creggan carried on where they left off and two points more from Mark Dougan and one from Diarmuid Mulholland were followed by a second goal from Teddy McKeown. There was a little bit of hope for the visitors when Ruairi McShane pulled a goal back on 44 minutes but those hopes were soon dashed when centre forward David McGuckin got his side’s third major three minutes later.

The only thing in question now was the size of the winning margins and the home side never let up and further goals from a Dougan penalty and one from play by McGuckin sealed a highly impressive win.

Senior Reserve Shield

Glenravel 1-21  Glenavy 3-13 (AET)

As darkness descended over Fr Maginn Park, referee Colm McDonald called this game to a halt after ninety  minutes of football including extra time. At that stage Glenravel were two points ahead  and will be delighted to have got over the line with their noses in front. Ahead by seven points at half time and completely dominating the match, they allowed Glenavy back into the game and the lough siders didn’t need a second invitation. They drew level on the hour mark and whilst they never managed to get that vital score to nudge ahead they did stay within one or two points right to the end. Glenavy scored the final point of the first game two minutes into added time and indeed both teams had chances in the following four minutes but couldn’t convert so we headed into extra time as the game ended Glenravel 0-15  Glenavy 2-09.

Glenravel again dominated the first period of extra time opening up a four point lead with one minute remaining but the visitors managed a couple of score to reduce the gap to two points at half time in extra time; Glenravel 1-18  Glenavy 2-13. At this stage players were cramping all over the pitch and both teams emptied their respective benches bringing on fresh legs. Once again Glenravel started brightly and opened up a four point lead but with five minutes remaining Glenavy pounced for their third goal to reduce the gap to the minimum and it was certainly game on at that stage. However the visitors could not add to that tally and as light started to fade the home side notched up the final score of the  game to end up victorious by two points. 

An exciting game of football which both sides will look back on missed chances but over the hour and a half, Glenravel did look the sharper team and it is they who proceed to the next round.

Glenavy were well served by Niall McCann, Finn Shannon, Odhran Arthurs and Finn Malley but special mention to goal keeper Fergal Green who’s free taking was outstanding including a fifty five metre free from the sideline which was the score of the game.

Glenravel will be well pleased with the performances of Daniel McQuillan, Declan McKeown, Conleth O’Loan, Aiden O’Donnell and Shea O’Broin when he came on but a special call out to the quietly effective Adam Campbell who snuffed out numerous Glenavy attacks throughout the game.