Cargin Add Under 19 title to Senior Crown

Cargin ...............................2-13

St Brigid’s ..........................0-10

THINGS look bright for the future of gaelic football in Cargin. Having already retained their senior championship title a few weeks back the Under 19's continued the good work when winning that crown with a nine point victory against St Brigids.

Dominance in the second period and a couple of late goals, the first from the eye catching Callum Gribbin, and another from Diarmuid Quinn ensured a double celebration for the club in this Dunsilly final.

The Toome lads having dominated the middle sector in the opening period, where the impressive Charlie Mc Cann reigned supreme, were only a point in front at the change of ends with three Conhuir Johnston helping them to a 0-6 to 0-5 lead.

St Brigid’s had stayed alongside the Toome lads for much of the first period and were on terms at five each in the twenty ninth minute when Rory Mc Erlaine sent a forty metre free between the posts but when a Charlie Mc Cann fetch opened the way for Conhuir Johnston to follow suit at the other end Cargin had earned an advantage which they were set to maintain, and eventually increase to nine,

Cargin were first to strike as Jack Harney, who had an excellent game, scored a fifth minute point with the St Brigids response a couple, one each from Conor Downey and and Aodhan McNicholl.

Cargin were level by the tenth minute with points from Tom Shivers and Conhuir Johnston after Brigid’s had nipped ahead with a point from midfielder Conor Logue to make it three each at the end of the first quarter.

Another pointed free from the ever accurate Tom Shivers gave the Toome side the advantage by the twentieth minute and a couple from Conhuir Johnston who managed to escape his marker, matched back to back points from Rory Mc Erlaine and Aodhan Nicholl for the south Belfast side.

Cargin however got their noses in front at the interval to head down the tunnel with an 0-6 to 0-5 advantage.

The South West side started the second period as in the first with Callum Gribbin opening his account with a second minute minute point after good work from the hard grafting Jack Harney opened the way, and when the corner forward added another, a few minutes later, the Erin’s Own lads were three points clear, 0-8 to 0-5.

St Brigid’s again closed the gap to the minimum with back-to-back converted free kicks from Brian Mc Gurk and Rory Mc Erlaine and for a time it looked like they were getting the upper hand.

Cargin however came back strong and Tom Shivers sent one between the posts after man of the match Charlie McCann had risen highest again to collect and deliver.

A foul on the incoming Niall Duffy was firmly punished in the seventeenth minute as the ever accurate Rory Mc Erlaine despatched the resultant award between the posts to reduce the gap again to the minimum again.

A Conhuir Johnston delivery to Callum Gribbin was knocked over to give the Erin’s Own lads breathing space of a two point advantage 0-10 to 0-8 with just eight minutes remaining.

Brian Mc Gurk kept St Brigid’s in touch when he converted a thirty metre free but Cargin were gaining the upper hand and a clearance from corner man O’ Neill gave Tom Shivers his chance to convert with just five minutes remaining.

Impressive Cargin replacement Cahir O’ Boyle got his forwards back into action and a high Conhuir Johnston delivery opened the way for Callum Gribbin to find the back of the net, the score that clinched it.

A late Rory Mc Erlaine converted free for St Brigid’s cut the gap but the Toome side delivered another killer blow when a Tom Shivers cross saw Diarmuid Quinn flick the leather to the back of the net as the title went Cargins way.

Teams and scorers: Daniel Mc Cann, Caomhinn Kennedy, Patryck Matchyk, Jack O’ Neill, Patrick O’ Neill, Cahir Donnelly, Ben Mc Larnon, Charlie Mc Cann, Conan Johnston, Jack Harney (0-1), Conhuir Johnston (0-3), Kian Scullion. Callum Gribbin (1-3), Tom Shivers (0-06), Diarmuid Quinn (1-0)

Replacements: Cahir O’ Boyle for B Mc Larnon

St Brigids ; Donnach Mc Gurk, Thomas Lloyd, Conor O’ Connell, Samir O’ Hare, Sonny Doyle, Thomas Mc Kenna, Conor Logue (0-2), Brian Mc Gurk (0-1), Dara Quinn, Conor Downey (0-1), Niall Duffy, JJ Higgins, Aodhan Mc Nicholl (0-2), Rory Mc Erlaine (0-4)

Referee: R Leahy (Moneyglass)