H&A League Round Up - League leaders hold firm after busy weekend

Faughanvale defeated Desertmartin on Sunday afternoon. Pic by Margaret McLaughlin

placeholder image — Faughanvale defeated Desertmartin on Sunday afternoon. Pic by Margaret McLaughlin

Wednesday, June 7

H&A Group Division 1 Football League

Sean O'Leary GAC Newbridge 0-9

Newbridge made the short journey towards Pairc Sean de Brun to play neighbours Bellaghy in what was a closely contested affair on a balmy summers evening.

Newbridge started the brightest of the two teams, getting their first score from Conor McAteer after 7 minutes. They then hit 3 further unanswered points from Conor McAteer (2) & Callum McGrogan (1). McAteer particularly dangerous up front.

Bellaghy registered their first score after a free from Charlie Diamond and got back into the game thanks to a neatly taken penalty from Damon Gallagher. A second free from Diamond before the half left it all square at the break.

Newbridge started the break with intent, winning a free inside the first minute from the throw-in which McAteer converted. Bellaghy however played with greater purpose in the second half with Damon Gallagher accurate from placed balls while Eoghan Brown and Charlie Diamond converted from play after good build putting the Tones in front for the first time mid way through the second half.

Referee Benny Quinn was kept busy as the local rivalry was evident in both sets of players, though played in a good spirit. Bellaghy went two up with another placed ball by the trusty left foot of Gallagher.

Newbridge pressed hard for the final 10 minutes and could have had an opportune goal only for Bellaghy to tip the ball away from the direction of the goal. Newbridge scored the final score of the game from a placed ball late in injury time. The 'Bridge perhaps felt it was one that got away after their impressive start, though the Blues just about deserved the win thanks to an improved attacking second half.

Bellaghy team and scorers: Peter Stuart, Lee Brady, Karl McCallion, Oisin McCLafferty, Conleth McShane, James Diamond, Declan Brown, Kaelan Friel, Oisin McErlean, Caolan Milne, Damon Gallagher (1-3 f), Charlie Diamond (0-3, 0-2f), Eoghan Brown (0-1), Ciaran Chambers, Luke Diamond.

Newbridge team and scorers: James Gribben, Shea McAteer, Killian Burke, Declan McKeever, Patrick McMullan, Mark McGrogan, Ciaran Brooks, Nathan Rocks, Shane McGrogan, Callum McGrogan (0-1), Conor McAteer (0-5, 0-2 frees), Sean Young, Conor McGrogan (0-1, 45), Odhran McGlone (0-1), Conleth McGrogan Subs used: Fintan Burke for Sean Young, Aidan McGlone for Patrick McMullan, Danny Mulholland (0-1) for Callum McGrogan.

Thursday, June 8

H&A Group Division Football League 2

St Malachy’s Castledawson 1-17

O’Brien’s G.F.C Foreglen 1-12

Dara O'Kane scored 0-7 and Shea McKenna scored 0-5 as Castledawson stayed top of Division Two with victory over an understrength Foreglen.

In an entertaining game, the home side led by four points at the break, with Ryan Connery's goal putting daylight between the sides.

Castledawson remained on top in the second half although a Foreglen goal ten minutes from time gave them something to think about.

It was a close enough contest in the end, but the hosts just had enough to get the job done to get the points which keeps them ahead of Banagher at the top.

Castledawson scorers: Ryan Connery 1-0, Aidan Keenan 0-1, Ciaran O'Kane 0-1, Dara O'Kane 0-7, Shea McKenna 0-5, Cormac Mullan 0-2, Odhran Mullan 0-1.

Saturday, June 10

Eoghan Rua 3-9

Dungiven 0-9

After a closely contested first half where the sides went in level 0-4 each, Eogahn Rua fired in three second half goals to earn a 3-9 to 0-9 home win over Dungiven last Saturday afternoon.

The Coleraine men took an early lead with an Emmett Morrison point but Dungiven went on to dominate the first quarter with four points in a row despite playing against the breeze. The home side gradually battled their way back and points from Ciaran (2) and Colm McGoldrick levelled matters at the half-time break.

Dungiven looked lively on the restart again and were back in front with a good long range point. However Eoghan Rua grabbed the first of their three goals just five minutes in, Lorcan McMullen cut in along the end line to square to the back post where Ciaran McGoldrick palmed to the net. The sides then exchanged points through the third quarter to leave matters still tight at 1-7 to 0-7. Coleraine's second goal was another well worked effort as Dara Mooney blasted to the corner of the net to open a six point gap, 2-7 to 0-7.

Dungiven just about kept in touch as they traded another two points leaving it 2-9 to 0-9 going into the last five minutes, however they were unable to create a real goal chance that would have put pressure on the home side.

Coleraine were able to manage the closing minutes before Dara Mooney placed Lorcan McMullen for his side's third goal, a bullet to the roof of the Dungiven net, for a slightly flattering nine point win.

Eoghan Rua team and scorers: Cillian Butler, Dermot Lynch, Ruari Mooney, Tomas Magee, Devlin Donnelly, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Emmett Morrison (0-1), Colm McGoldrick (0-2, 0-1 free) ,Finn McEwan (0-1), Lorcan McMullen (1-0), Ciaran McGoldrick (1-2), Pearse McGonigle, Liam Ferris, Dara Mooney (1-2), Eoin Daly (0-1).

H&A Group Division 2 Football League

St Oliver Plunkett’s GAC, Greenlough 2-15

Drumsurn 1-8

Greenlough secured the points after a hard fought win against Drumsurn. The away side started brightly and scored with a couple of long range efforts and a goal after some pinball in the Greenlough area which had them 1.03 to 0.01 ahead.

Drumsurn pushed their lead out to five before the Lough began to settle. Two fine Shea Birt efforts closed the gap and the sides traded scores as the half ended with the score 0-8, 1-7.

Greenlough started the second half brightly and a Patrick Feeney goal set them on the way to victory.

Sorcha Lagan and Cillian Moore added scores and a Caolan Tohill goal finished the game as a contest as the Lough finished strongly to win by ten, with a good second half performance as both teams struggled in the heat.

Greenlough team and scorers: Brian Henry, Jude Moore, Conal McErlean (0-1), Christopher Kearney, Shea Birt (0-2), Paul Quinn (0-1), Matthew Bradley (0-1), Brian McCallion, Kevin McCann (0-1), Patrick Feeney (1-0), Conor Mullan, Ruairi Henry, Stephen Bradley, Cillian Moore, Sorcha Lagan. Subs used: Joel Lynn, Caolan Tohill (1-0), Jack McCann.

OTHER SCORES:

Lavey 0-10

O’Donovan Rossa GAC 0-12

Steelstown Brian Og’s 1-13

Kilrea 3-6

Slaughtneil 2-12

Ballinascreen 1-10

Swatragh 1-16

Ballinderry 1-16

St Michael’s GAC Lissan 0-12

John Mitchel’s GAC, Claudy 1-15

Glenullin 0-13