Leagues drawing to a close

Friday 01.10.2010

Club

It’s that time of year again when strange results are the norm in the league and that was certainly the case in the first division last Saturday when the bottom five sides all recorded wins. The big winners were Trillick as they came away from fellow strugglers Greencastle with a crucial two points to bring to an end the St.Patricks winning run of late. Richard Donnelly, Niall Donnelly and Eoin Gormley were among the points for the St.Macartans with John McCullagh and Martin Conway on target for Greencastle as the visitors won 0-9 to 0-7 for a result that leaves both sides level on ten points in the table and still requiring something from their last games.

Galbally travelled to Ardboe and came away with a 1-13 to 0-13 victory with Barry Hurson getting the only goal of the game and Mickey Murphy and Paddy Corrigan featuring among the points for the Pearses, Kyle Coney and Anthony Devlin responding with scores for the Rossas.  That victory though wasn’t enough to lift Galbally off the foot of the table as the two sides immediately above them Kildress and Aghyaran won against Killyclogher and Omagh respectively. The Wolfe Tones hosted Killyclogher at Gortacladdy and they emerged convincing 1-13 to 1-4 winners with Frank McGurk getting their goal and Des Treacy, Martin Grimes and Damian Kelly featuring among the points for the championship semi finalists. Simon O’Neill got the goal for the visitors with Leo Meenan registering a few points.

Omagh are another side who have a championship semi final on their minds and it showed away to Aghyaran as the St.Davogs triumphed on a 1-11 to 1-6 score line against a St.Endas side who are already safely through to the league semi finals. The home side led 1-6 to 0-4 at the break with Brian McHugh getting their goal, Jason McAnulla with a couple of points for Omagh. Martin Penrose and Conan Grugan were among the points for their respective sides in the second period with Chris Gallagher bagging a late goal for Omagh.

Donaghmore made the trip to Father Campbell Park to play joint leaders Coalisland and the St.Patricks emerged 1-10 to 0-8 winners for a result that moved them onto double points in the table. Shane Mulgrew got the only goal of the game and he also featured among the points for the winners as did Richard Hetherington, Niall Fox and Eoghan Carberry among the Fianna marksmen. Cookstown required a win at home to Moy to guarantee their senior status for next season and that’s exactly what they achieved on a 1-12 to 2-4 score line.  The visitors were the better side in the opening period and they led at the break thanks to goals from Ryan Mellon and Tommy Conlon, Jason Quinn and John Gilmore with points for the Father Rocks. In the second half though Cookstown assumed control with Gilmore and Owen Mulligan supplying points and Niall Glackin scoring a goal as they won 1-12 to 2-4.

Errigal Ciaran moved clear at the top of the table after winning 1-12 to 1-10 away to a Clonoe side who finished the contest with only fourteen men after defender David Hanna was sent off in the second half. The visitors were boosted by an early Caolan Tierney goal but Clonoe kept in touch with scores from Ryan T O’Neill and Stephen McNulty. In the second half Martin Hughes and Ciaran McGinley were among the points for their respective sides with Conor McAliskey scoring Clonoe’s goal but the visitors held out for victory.

Dromore secured the last remaining league semi final place when they got the better of Carrickmore in a contest that threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions. It was the visitors who led 0-7 to 0-4 at the break with Kevin McNally and half back duo Ciaran McAleer and Paul Daly among their points, Eoin McCusker with all but one of his side’s scores. A penalty goal from Colm McCullagh helped draw Dromore level in the early stages of the second half only for midfielder Niall Loughran to edge Carrickmore in front. It was Dromore though who had the finishing kick with a brace from county defender Ryan McMenamin and another point from McCusker.