Casements win their first ever Antrim Senior Football League title

Ahoghill 0-9 Portglenone 2-13

Portglenone 0-13 Creggan 0-9

Casements were crowned Antrim senior football league champions for the first time after a week when everything appeared to be in the melting pot.

They certainly believed in keeping everyone in suspense. Just a couple of weeks back they looked to be cantering to the title but a recent defeat to Cargin, their nearest challengers, certainly put the pressure back on John McKeever and his side.

Following that home defeat things had changed and the Casements now found it essential that no further slip ups occur if their dream was to be fulfilled.

They got over the first hurdle successfully, beating neighbours Ahoghill by ten points in this midweek game and now only Creggan, the reigning league champions can, deny them. That is assuming that Cargin do the needful in their final game, also against Ahoghill which seems highly likely.

A draw against Creggan will do if history is to be made.

There was little between the sides during the opening exchanges as James O’ Connell’s opening point for Ahoghill found quick reply at the other end as Paddy Kelly raised white.

Gerard Graham nudged the home side ahead with a fourth minute point but the visitors replied again and Ciaran McKenna brought the sides level for the second time.

A Fionbar O’ Neill point delivered in splendour from distance saw the Clooney men ahead and Paddy Kelly and Gerard Graham swapped further points before the visitors struck for the game’s opening goal.

Conor Mc Gee made a strong run on the left wing to finish in style to the back of the net to see the Casement’s men take the lead and when Paddy Kelly followed with another point they were at 1-4 to 0-4 ahead.

The home side responded in the latter stages of the half however and pointed frees from Gerard Graham and James O’ Connell closed the gap to the minimum.

A late black card to the home side’s Patrick Graham, who had been dominant at mid-field was to cost the Clooney men dearly with Casement’s leading by the narrowest of margins, 1-5 to 0-07 at the break.

Portglenone took advantage of the extra man at the start of the second half and a couple of early points from replacement Conor Mc Aleese and Ruairi Hagen and a goal from Oisin Doherty put them in control.

The visitors went on to dominate as points from Caolan Tierney and Oisin Doherty ensured a hefty 2-9 to 0-7 lead at the end of the third quarter and the Bannsider’s, with Niall McKeever dominant at mid-field were on their way to victory.

A Paddy Kelly point from an acute left sided angle received answer in kind at the other end from the back in harness Patrick Graham but the end result looked inevitable.

The league leaders finished strongly as replacement Conor McAleese, who looks like a youngster with a big future, added his second point before Ronan Delargy came forward to fist another.

Gerard Graham came forward to add another point to his personal tally but the last say was to belong to the visitors as an injury time Michael Kelly point ensured a comfortable winning verdict.

Teams and scorers: Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, D Graham, James Magee, Harry O’ Donnell, Gerard Graham (0-4), Fionnbar O’ Neill (0-1), Patrick Graham (0-1), Tom Mc Glone, Danny O’ Neill, Donal Graham, Conor Crossey, Ronan Graham (0-1), James O’ Connell (0-3)

Replacements: Patrick Dougan , PJ O’ Connell

Casements: Rian O’ Neill, Ronan Delargy (0-01), Daniel Mc Nicholl, Jonny Convery, Caolan Tierney (0-1), Niall Delargy (0-1), Conor Mc Ghee (1-0), Stephen Kelly, Niall Mc Keever, Michael Hagen, Ruairi Hagen, Ronan Kelly, Oisin Doherty (1-1), Paddy Kelly (0-5)

Replacements : Conor Mc Aleese (0-2), Eamon Mc Garry (0-1)

Referee: Colm Mc Donald (St. Gall’s)

Portglenone 0 – 13 Creggan. 0 – 9

Then came the decider on Sunday afternoon where last seasons league champions Creggan came up short in the game that could have halted the scenes of jubilant scenes which followed in Kelly Park as County and Casements treasurer Donal Murphy presented the magnificent Eddie Fitzsimons Memorial Trophy to Casements joint captains Niall Delargy and Ryan Convery.

Whilst many in the crowd remember the late Hannastown clubman Eddie with fondness, Murphy poignantly asked the assembled throng to take a moment and also remember the recent passing of club sponsor Paddy Fullan who was taken suddenly from this life just a few weeks ago.

John Mc Keever’s men had done enough over the previous hour to ensure there would be no last minute collapses, no heart in mouth moments that this club and panel has had to endure in recent seasons.

In doing so they will go into the annals of history by being the first club from the Bannside town to bring home grade A silverware in senior football.

Creggan players and supporters stayed behind to sportingly recognise the occasion, having used this route to build their own momentum that ended up delivering their own big one, the McNamee cup for the senior championship only three years previously.

If the moment will be captured for a long time in the memory, the game itself will certainly not.

It was hard to know what Creggan were bringing to the tie, it being a bit of a dead rubber, but to be fair they kept their hungrier opponents honest throughout, particularly Paddy Coey who chipped in with a total of six points throughout the hour.

Casements started nicely, going into a five point lead by the end of the first quarter and maintaining this until referee Kevin Parke blew his half time whistle, 0-8 to 0–3 in favour of the hosts, a feature being the excellent long range free taking from in form Paddy Kelly.

Any nerves amongst the large home support were soon dispelled when Casements started the second half in style. Within five minutes the gap had grown to eight, courtesy of a quick fire double from the hugely influential Niall McKeever and an impressive long range effort from Ronan Kelly.

Creggan hadn’t come just to join the party though, firing over four of the next five scores and,as a little bit of apprehension set in Aidan McAleese joined the fray, returning from a recent injury and immediately made his presence felt by tapping over to relieve the pressure somewhat.

A dazzling solo run from impressive Casements captain Niall Delargy then allowed Mc Aleese to double his tally with a fine effort, and from here on it was just a case of seeing the game out for the last five minutes.

Casements will enjoy their night, and deservedly so, whilst Gerard McNulty will reset and go about his business of producing a Creggan team who will rightly have championship aspirations as the summer progresses.

The Casements team and replacements who made club history was: Ryan O Neill, Ronan Delargy Daniel McNicholl, Jonny Convery, Caolan Tierney, Niall Delargy, Ruairi Hagan, Stephen Kelly, Niall McKeever, Ciaran McKenna, Michael Hagan, Ronan Kelly, Ciaran Mc Aleese, Oisin Doherty and Paddy Kelly.

Rep[lacements introduced: Aidan McAleese, Conall Delargy, Shane Delargy.

One interesting footnote. All three Antrim Football league titles were won by teams from the South West, Poartglenone, Glenravel and Rasharkin.