First weekend of H&A League action delivers some big results

H&A Group Division 1 Football League

Sleacht Néill 2-09

Eoghan Rua 1-10

Sleacht Néill dig deep to win

By Oisin McGill (U11.5)

Sleacht Néill welcomed Eoghan Rua to Páirc Eiméid for the first league game of the season on Friday night. 

Eoghan Rua were playing towards the dressing room with the wind at their backs while Sleacht Néill wore their white kits and Eoghan Rua were wearing their home kit.

After seven minutes came the opening score of the night, from Eoghan Rua’s number 14, putting them into the lead.  Shortly after, with his left foot Jerome McGuigan equalised.  The next two points were both from Eoghan Rua, putting them two points ahead.  However, Sleacht Néill quickly responded with two points, one from play by Patsy Bradley and the other was a free by Sammy Bradley.

For the next ten minutes Eoghan Rua dominated the game by scoring four points in a row!   Three of them came from their number 11, causing a handful for Sleacht Néill defenders.  Sammy Bradley then scored a beautiful free kick with the outside of his boot near the sideline.  Sammy quickly followed with a goal!  Mark McGuigan’s shot was saved by the keeper, but Sammy was quick enough to net the rebound.

Eoghan Rua were probably the happier side at the break having most of the possession.

The home side opened the second half scoring with two points from play.  Patsy Bradley quickly responded with a super point, but then Eoghan Rua went four points in the lead with a goal on the 41st minute.

Sleacht Néill then closed the gap to two points with scores from play by their number 15 Eoin Mulholland and number 10 Ronan Bradley.  With ten minutes to go, Eoghan Rua extended their lead with another point putting them three in the lead.  With five minutes to go from a nice build up play, Sleacht Néill super sub, Peter McCullagh scored a goal to make it level.

With time running out some great defending from Sleacht Néill resulted in a counterattack as Peter McCullagh scored a beautiful point from play.  Sleacht Néill won the kickout and Jerome McGuigan sealed the victory for Sleacht Néill with his second point.

Sleacht Néill ended up getting their first win in the league this season.  After the game Frank McEldowney, member of the Sleacht Néill management team said he was ‘happy to get a win in the first game of the league season, especially considering a lot of players were unavailable’.  He hopes they will have a good league campaign to prepare for the Championship later in the season.

Chuir Sleacht Néill fáilte roimh Eoghan Rua go Páirc Eiméid don chéad chluiche sraithe den tséasúr oíche Dé hAoine.  Bhí Eoghan Rua ag imirt i dtreo na seomraí feistis agus an ghaoth ar a ndroim. 

Chaith Sleacht Néill geansaithe bána agus bhí Eoghan Rua ag caitheamh a ngeansaithe baile.

I ndiaidh seacht mbomaite tháinig scór tosaigh na hoíche, ó uimhir 14 Eoghan Rua, rud a chuir chun tosaigh iad.  Go gairid ina dhiaidh sin, chothromaigh Jerome McGuigan le pointe óna a chiotóg.  Ba iad Eoghan Rua a d'aimsigh an chéad dá phointe eile agus chuir sin iad dhá phointe chun tosaigh.  Áfach, d'fhreagair Sleacht Néill go tapa le dhá phointe, ceann ón imirt ag Patsy Bradley agus an ceann eile ó cic saor ag Sammy Bradley.

Don chéad deich mbomaite eile bhí Eoghan Rua chun tosaigh sa chluiche agus bhí ceithre phointe as a chéile scóráilte acu!   Tháinig triúr acu as a n-uimhir 11, rud nach raibh easca deileail leis do chosantóirí Sleacht Néill.  Ansin scóráil Sammy Bradley cic saor álainn le corr na bróige in aice leis an taobhlíne.  Go díreach i ndiaidh sin scór Sammy cúl!  Shábháil an cúl báire iarracht Mark McGuigan, ach bhí Sammy tapa go leor chun an t-aisphreabadh a scóráil.

Is dócha gurbh é Eoghan Rua an fhoireann is sona ag an bhriseadh agus an chuid is mó den tseilbh acu.

D'oscail Eoghan Rua an dara leath le dhá phointe ón imirt.  D'fhreagair Patsy Bradley go tapa le sár-phointe, ach ansin chuaigh Eoghan Rua ceithre phointe chun tosaigh le cúl ar an 41ú bomaite.

Ansin dhruid Sleacht Néill an bhearna go dtí dhá phointe le scóranna ón imirt ag a n-uimhir 15 Eoin Mulholland agus uimhir 10 Ronan Bradley.  Agus deich bomaite le dul, shín Eoghan Rua a dtosach orainn le pointe eile ag cur iad trí cinn chun tosaigh orainn.  Agus cúig bhomaite i ndiaidh sin, scóráil Peter McCullagh, sárimreoir Shleacht Néill cúl chun an scóir a chothromú .

Agus ag druidim le deireadh an chluiche bhí cosaint iontach ó Sleacht Néill agus mar thoradh scóráil Peter McCullagh pointe álainn ón imirt ó fhrithionsaí.  Bhain Sleacht Néill an cic amach agus fuair Jerome McGuigan an bua do Shleacht Néill lena dhara pointe.

D'éirigh le Sleacht Néill a gcéad bhua a fháil sa tsraith an séasúr seo.  I ndiaidh an chluiche, dúirt Frank McEldowney, ball d'fhoireann bainistíochta Shleacht Néill, go raibh sé 'sásta an bua a fháil sa chéad chluiche de shéasúr na sraithe, go háirithe nuair a chuirtear san áireamh nach raibh neart imreoirí ar fáil'.  Tá súil aige go mbeidh feachtas maith sraithe acu chun ullmhú don Chraobhchomórtas níos deireanaí sa tséasúr.

Team and Scorers

Jack Cassidy, Ciaran McEldowney, Peadar Kearney, Ruairi McCartney, Christopher Bradley 1 – 2 (0 – 2 F) Paul McNeill, Fergal Bradley, Patsy Bradley 0 – 2, Proinsias Burke, Ronan Bradley 0 – 1, Jerome McGuigan 0 – 2, Conor Coyle, Se McGuigan, Mark McGuigan, Eoin Mulholland 0 – 1

Subs Used: Peter McCullagh 1 – 1, Peter Convery, Declan McNamee, Shea Cassidy.

St Malachy’s, Castledawson 2-11

Loup GAC 0-10

Castledawson end 13-year wait with win

Castledawson made their return to Senior Football after 13 years with a convincing victory over Loup GAC on Sunday.

Played on an ideal surface with windy conditions which made football difficult for both teams, it was the two Castledawson goals which made the real difference in the game. Cormac Mullan’s early goal in the first half along with Niall Keenan’s goal at the start of the second give the Castledawson men the impetus to win.

With both teams entering the new season missing a number of regulars and both having a new management team the scene was set for a competitive game. The Castledawson team outscored the Loup in the first half by 1-6 to 0-4. Cormac Mullan followed up his early goal with a point plus Fearghal McKenna hit three scores including two frees. Dara O’Kane and Rian Connery contributed two points from frees.

The impressive Ciaran Devlin operating from centre half forward scored an early free plus Padraig Mitchell shot a great score from the wing. Aaron McAlynn scored 0-2 from a difficult free and also scored the last score of the half from a difficult angle.

The second half burst into life with a brilliant Niall Keenan goal early on followed by a great Aidan Keenan point against the elements. Loup responded with two scores form an Aaron McAlynn free and a Ciaran Devlin point from play. Castledawson midfielder, Rian Connery then hit two massive frees against the win to give Castledawson a 2-9 50 0-7 lead with fifteen minutes to play. Two more scores from Ciaran Devlin and Decan McVey reduced the lead but Castledawson responded with two more Fearghal McKenna points to leave him with 0-5 on the day. Aaron McAlynn had the last score of the game from a 45m kick.

A good start to the league for Castledawson with a number of strong performances from a very strong half back line of Pearse Keenan, Ruairi Keenan and Niall Keenan. Odhran Mullan and Rian Connery proved very competitive around the middle of the field and up front Cormac Mullan and Fearghal McKenna showed well.

Scorers:

Castledawson: Cormac Mullan 1-1, Fearghal McKenna 0-5, Dara O’Kane 0-1, Rian Connery 0-3, Niall Keenan 1-0, Aidan Keenan 0-1.

Loup: Ciaran Devlin 0-4, Padraig Mitchell 0-1, Aaron McAlynn 0-4, Declan McVey 0-1.

Steelstown 1-11

Newbridge 2-8

Steelstown and Newbridge draw

It was a case of what might have been for both Steelstown and Newbridge at Pairc Bhrid on Sunday, as they both passed up big opportunities to begin the new season with a victory.

Oran Fox, Oran McMenamin and Neil Forester scored early on, and while Odhran McGlone responded for Newbridge, Fox then found the net to give Steelstown a five-point lead.

Newbridge hit back and Conor McAteer blasted the ball firmly past Mickey McKinney at the other end.

McAteer added another point as Newbridge closed the gap to one, and although Ryan Devine responded, it was the visitors who finished the half strongly, Peter McGrogan and then Aidan McGlone making it all square heading into the break.

Newbridge then took the lead for the first time in the game when McGlone split the posts from close range.

Steelstown eventually began to enjoy a good spell, which began with Ben McCarron hitting a monster score from 40 yards, which was definitely wind-assisted as it found the target. But the home side couldn’t capitalise on that, despite being on top for the next 10 minutes. After Gareth Logue scored to put them 1-7, 1-6 ahead, they hit four successive wides through McCarron, McMenamin (2) and then Devine, letting Newbridge off the hook at a crucial period in the game.

Steelstown scored through Devine on 53 minutes to go two points clear with the finishing line in sight.

However, Newbridge shocked everyone by scoring a second goal just two minutes from time, McGlone’s blocked shot deflecting into the path of Shane McGrogan, whose effort also took a nick as it spun away from the dive of McKinney and ended up in the Steelstown net.

Rather than panic, Devine almost casually brought Steelstown level within seconds and the it was Steelstown in the lead when McCarron scored after brilliant defensive work from Cillian Doherty. But before Steelstown could think of victory, they had conceded again, Conor McAteer fisting over from the angle to bring it all level again at 1-11, 2-8.

Teams and Scorers

Steelstown Brian Ogs: Mickey McKinney, Aidan McLaughlin, Ryan McCloskey, Oran Durnin, Shane O’Connor, Oran McMenamin (0-2), Ryan Devine (0-3), Cillian Doherty, Ben McCarron (0-2), Oran Fox (1-2), Gearoid Bradley, Gareth Logue (0-1), Neil Forester (0-1), Ruairi McShane, Ruairi Cutliffe.

SUBS: Mark Chester for Gareth Logue 56’, Gareth Logue for Neil Forester 60’, Adam Devine for Gerard Walsh.

Newbridge: 1 James McGribbin, 2 Ciaran Brooks, 3 Killian Burke, 4 Declan McKeever, 5 Dylan McGreevy, 6 Shane McGrogan (1-0), 7 Aodhan Young, 8 Brian Darragh, 9 Callum McGrogan, 10 Aidan McGlone (0-2,1m), 11 Ciaran Devlin, 12 Odhran McGlone (0-2), 13 Jude Diamond, 14 Mark McGrogan, 15 Conor McAteer (1-3, 1f), 18 Peter McGrogan (0-1)

SUBS: Richard Drain for Aidan McGlone 56’, Diarmuid Mulholland for Brian Darragh 60’.

Referee: Gavin Hegarty.

Other Results

Dungiven 0-8

O’Donovan Rossa 1-10

Swatragh 1-11

Ballinascreen 0-6

H&A Group Division 2 Football League

Glenullin 3-13

Claudy 3-8

Glenullin edge high-scoring opener

Glenullin hosted Claudy in the opening round of the Intermediate League under the new Floodlights.

In an entertaining and competitive game, Glenullin opened the scoring with points from play by Eoin Bradley and Cathal Hasson before and 4th minute Black card for keeper Niall O'Kane for pulling down the Claudy midfielder through on goal.

Claudy pointed the resultant free but Glenullin responded with an excellent solo goal from Donal O'Kane.

Glenullin continued to dominant with further points by Neil McNicholl, Bradley but in the 20th minute Claudy hit back with an excellent fisted goal from their Full Forward.

McNicholl pointed again from play before a well take 'Skinner' goal had Glenullin ahead 2.05 - 1.04 at half-time.

Glenullin dominated the opening exchanges of the 2nd half with 2 McNicholl points and one each from Hasson and Donal O'Kane against 2 pointed frees by Claudy leaving Glenullin in a strong 6-point lead with 15mins gone.

However 2 well taken goals inside a minute by Claudy's No. 11 turned the game on its head. Although Glenullin responded with a free by Bradley Claudy went ahead with 2 scores from play by their No. 14.

That was to be Claudy's last scores however with points from play by McNicholl, Bradley and Ronan Close and a well taken goal from substitute Paul Rafferty looking to take Glenullin to a comfortable win.

The drama was not over however, with a Claudy penalty saved by keeper, Niall O'Kane and Claudy hitting the post after they won possession back from the rebound, Glenullin holding on to run out 5-point winners.

The game saw a debut for Ruairi McNicholl at wing back who acquitted himself well!

Glenullin team & scorers

Niall O'Kane, Diarmuid McNicholl, Daniel O'Kane, Eamonn Hasson, Ruairi McNicholl, John O'Kane, Conor Rafferty, Neil McNicholl (0.05), Traglach Bradley, Mark O'Kane, Cathal Hasson (0.02), Ronan Close (0.01), Donal O'Kane (1.01), Eoin Bradley (1.04, 1f) Christopher Dempsey.  Subs: Paul Rafferty (1.00) for Traglach Bradley (48 mins), Eunan O'Kane for Eamonn Hasson (52mins)

Greenlough 0-8

Limavady 0-6

Greenlough fight back

Limavady started well in this one and went three points clear before James O’Neill got Greenlough on the board.

The visitors remained on top however, and come half time they held a three-point lead, 0-6, 0-3 and were looking comfortable. But the Wolfhounds failed to register a single score in the second half and that cost them dearly.

Greenlough slowly chipped away at the Limavady lead, and went in front for the first time just four minutes from time, completing a strong comeback on day one of the season.

Lavey 3-10

Ballymaguigan 1-4

Craigbane 1-11

Desertmartin 1-9

Lissan 0-6

Drumsurn 0-7

Notice to all clubs

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