Naomh Treasa v Clan na hEireann Carragan – SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL Ballymena – Sun 28th Sept 2014 - 1.30pm Referee – Brendan Toland
One of the most important matches for years, saw the Super Tees take on the might of Cargin, the kingpins of Division One and a team that had been unbeaten all-year. A fantastic travelling support, willed on their team in the Ballymena sun, in this apparent David against Goliath struggle.
The Glen Road men were up for the challenge and their young guns were winning early ball, with Conor Mallon and Darren McCann using their speed to good effect. Their first attempt on Cargin’s goal went wide and the Division One oleanders broken straight down field and won a free with county star Thomas McCann converting. St Teresa’s responded and an Anton Taylor attack, after good work from Philly Maguire saw the keeper save Taylorslong range effort. Maguire and Eoghan Hamill combined to put Taylorthrough before he was fouled. Aaron Thompson stepped up and calmly converted to level the scores at a point a piece. St Teresa’s were starting to find their feet with Piaras McCaffery and Joe Rainey battling hard at Midfield. Conor O’Rawe, Paul Johnston Mallon, and McCann were working well off each other well and Thompson providing a steadying influence. Taylor and Maguire seemed to be getting "close” attention by the Cargin backs, and were afforded little protection by the man in black. Both teams were keeping things tight in defence as both team shared a couple of wides each. Full-back, Stevie Carey and Colm McGoldrick, worked the ball well through Hamill who found corner forward Robbie Gallagher in space who was fouled just as he broke free of his marker. Full-forward Brendy Agnew pointed the free to put the Division Two side the lead.
A very dubious free kick was awarded to Cargin and this was pointed by McCann. In the next attack McCann scored his and Cargin's third with a free kick from 25 yards. Cargin were piling on the pressure and 2 quick points from the boot of Michael Magill, the fist of half back John Caron & a fine effort from half-forward Odhran McAuley had the Toome men quickly four points in front. 0-6 to 0-2. Good work from Maguire and Rainey found Taylor, who was again was hauled down and his claims for a penalty fell on deaf ears. Thompson scored the free. The Cargin men then went on a mini scoring spree with great individual points; two from full forward, McGill, Midfielder Michael McCann, and another free from Thomas McCann. 25 minutes gone and at 0-11 to 0-3 Cargin seemed to be running away as expected. But unlike the many that have failed, this St Teresa’s outfit are made of sterner stuff. Mallon, Johnston, O’Rawe, McCann and Rainey combined to find Maguire. Agnew scored the free. Super Tees were finishing the stronger. O’Rawe, Hamill and Johnston were darting out of defence, with little joy in front of goal. Mallon, McCaffery and Rainey combined to find Taylor who shot a magnificent point from 50yards on his left boot. The next move, again started by Mallon, worked through midfield with Colm McGoldrick find Taylor who stormed through the defence and shot at goal. He had wrong footed the Cargin keeper John McNabb, but the keeper still managed to keep the ball out, but it fell into the path of Agnew who blasted the ball to the back of the net. The roar from the Citymens supporters raised the tempo of the game and Cargin realised they were in a match.
HALF TIME: Naomh Treasa 1-5 Cargin 0-11
With nothing to fear, SuperTees, picked off where they finished the first half. McCaffrey, Rainey, Thompson and Maguire looked assured around midfield. O ‘Rawe, Johnston and Hamill were escaping the tackles of the Cargin forwards with Taylor, Agnew and Gallagher beginning to cause Cargin headaches. Carey combined with Hamill and Gallagher and Gallagher found O’Rawe bursting through before he was stopped in his tracts by the Cargin defence. Agnew pointed his third free of the afternoon and there were two points in the game. Cargin needed to look to their subs bench in what one sensed that these Belfastyoungsters were a more difficult opponent than they thought. On came Justin Crozier & Ciaran Close. Cargin registered their first point of the half thanks to a great parry by Conal Hamill in the St Teresa’s goal from the effort of Thomas McCann. Then three quick fire points in three minutes knocked the momentum out of the Division two side. Though sub Close took all three points well, though the St Teresa’s defence feel hard done by some bizarre refereeing decisions. 0-15 to 1-6 for Cargin. Not to be overrun the SuperTee warriors battled on and a great move involving Mallon, Maguire, McCann, McGoldrick and O’Rawe found Taylor who scored a classy point from 40yards on the left wing. Again the Cargin stars attacked and surely they would have scored 2 goals in as many minutes if it were not for two great saves from keeper Hamill, especially from O’Boyle at point blank range. Carey cleared well and McCaffery found Gallagher, who was fouled by Tony Scullion. Agnew converted the free. 0-15 to 1-8.
Going into the final quarter, Cargin finally began to master the Glen Road men. A point from Magill was quickly followed by another from sub Mark Kelly and the difference was six points again. A great move from Rainey, McCaffery and Agnew was picked up by Maguire and he scored a fine point from out on the left wing. Another point from Close kept the gap at six and with time running out, St Teresa’s were needing goals. 5 minutes of St Teresa’s pressure proved fruitless with keeper John McNabb, stopping a low drive from Hamill. Another point from Magill eased the pressure on the hot favourites, before a darting run from Mallon found Maguire in space, and the long ball sailed over the bar. Crozier then scored the final point of the match before the whistle blew. Whilst the seven point margin looked decisive, amongst the neutrals in the large crowd, they believed St Teresa’s acquitted themselves with pride and honesty. The SuperTees heroes can hold their heads very high and despite their critics, they fully deserved their place in the Antrim Senior Semi-Final.
Gallery:
http://www.cumannnaomhtreasaclg.com/gallery/sfc-semi-final-v-cargin-32
FINAL SCORE: Naomh Treasa 1-10 Cargin 0-20
St Teresa's scorers:
B Agnew 1-4
A Thompson 0-2
A Taylor 0-2
P Maguire 0-2
Cargin Scorers:
J Caron 0-2
M McCann 0-1
K O'Boyle 0-1
O McAuley 0-1
T McCann 0-4
M Magill 0-3
G O’Boyle 0-2
C Close 0-4
M Kelly 0-1
J Crozier 0-1