Round Two All County League And Some Surprises.

Saturday 23.04.2011

Club

Omagh and Trillick are the early pacesetters in division one after both made it two wins in a row on Saturday. The St.Macartans emerged 2-10 to 0-14 winners away to Coalisland with Eunan McAnespie and Niall Gormley their goal scorers, Paddy McNeice with half a dozen points for the Fianna. The St.Endas took on Derrylaughan at Healy Park and they proved too strong on a 3-9 to 0-9 score line with Cathal McCarron, Dean O’Neill and Conor Clarke getting their goals, Liam Gervin weighing in with three points for the visitors.

Four other sides maintained their unbeaten starts to the season after Saturday’s action. Errigal Ciaran were held to a 2-5 to 0-11 draw away to Donaghmore with Pauric Gallagher and Shane Mulgrew getting the St.Patricks’ goals and Ronan McRory and Peter Harte hitting half a dozen points between them for the defending champions. Dromore followed up their opening day draw away to Coalisland by winning in Moortown. Eoin McCusker was the star of the show for the St.Dympnas with eight points to his name with Colum Campbell on target for the St.Malachys with five points.

Greencastle had the minimum to spare at home to Cookstown with Martin Conway’s early goal proving crucial, Mark Carson and John McCullagh with points for the home side as well. Conor Mullan got the Father Rocks’ goal with Owen Mulligan landing five points. Two goals from Nishy O’Neill and one from Ronan Campbell helped Ardboe win away to Killyclogher, Simon O’Neill scoring 1-3 for the hosts with Leo Meenan getting three as well. Clonoe were emphatic 1-18 to 0-6 winners away to Moy with Conor McAliskey 1-7 for the winners and Colm Donnelly and Declan Coney also on target, Anthony Rafferty and Karl McQuade with Moy points.

Carrickmore made it two wins from two games with a very convincing but hard earned 1-14 to 1-9 win away to Eglish. The home side got off to the perfect start with a scrambled but disputed goal in the sixth minute from Gregory Jordan and could have been further ahead but for a great save by John Donnelly from Peter Mc Cann. The St. Patrick’s played some good football in the opening thirty minutes and led 1-3 to 0-5 at the break. Indeed it was only in the last quarter that Carrickmore got on top with Mark Donnelly, Barry Daly and Kevin Mc Nally all in good form as they ran out the game deserving winners. Peadar Mc Mahon came in for Carrickmore and produced a performance worthy of a starting berth next time out.

It is a sure sign of the strength and competitiveness of the Intermediate Football league that only three teams remain unbeaten after Saturday’s second round fixture instalment.

Edendork, Pomeroy and Loughmacrory sharing pole position after contrasting wins over Rock, Newtownstewart and Urney respectively. Edendork travelled to Rock and aided by goals from Brian O’Rourke and Darren McCurry, they enjoyed a 2-7 to 1-7 triumph. Meanwhile Pomeroy recovered from the dismissal of two defenders to defeat Newtownstewart by a point, 13-12, at Plunkett Park. Brendan Boyle and Damien Patton leading the visitors challenge.

Aghyaran bounced back from their opening day upset against Pomeroy by defeating Kildress, at Gortacladdy. First half goals from Aidan Connolly and a Martin Penrose penalty doing the trick, as the St Davog’s eased to a 2-13 to 1-7 win over a Kildress outfit that finished the contest with fourteen men,.

Killyman collected their first win of the season thanks to a narrow 0-11 to 0-10 win over Eskra. Minor star Caolan Morgan and Mickey Donnelly accounting for a combined tally of 0-8 between them, with Eskra responding through Peter Hughes and Paul Turbett.

Stewartstown recorded a three point 0-12 to 0-9 success over Augher thanks to a strong second half showing that allowed them to overturn a three point interval deficit. Colm Sherry and Jamie Donnelly registering first half points for the St Macartan’s, but a five point burst midway through the second half from Malachy Coyle’s troops saw them take control with Gareth Devlin and Martin Campbell among the visiting marksmen.

Gortin opened their league account following a hard fought three point win over a Strabane side that saw out the closing side with fourteen players, while Clann Na Gael are also up and running courtesy of a superb 2-10 to 1-11 win over Ulster Intermediate champions Galbally. First half goals from Sean O‘Kane and Gareth McDermott allowing the Clansmen to establish a match winning 2-3 to 0-2 interval lead and even though full back Kieran McCrory registered a three pointer for Galbally in the closing stages it wasn’t enough to prevent them slipping to a second successive reversal

Urney and Loughmacrory served up a real thriller on the border in division two this afternoon as the Loch came from four points down with six minutes left to win by two. Played in splendid conditions the play was fast and frenetic as the game swung from end to end. Both teams had chances early on but scores were hard to come by in the first half. Urney benefitted from some indecision in the Loughmacrory defence and goaled twice through Ronan and Johnny Lafferty to lead 2-2 to five points at the break. Enda  Ward 0-4 and Pearse Gallagher on target for the visitors.

The second half was every bit as pacy and committed as the first as Loughmacrory chased the game. A goal from Stephen Grimes put them ahead but Urney refused to give up and with Ronan and Johnny Lafferty constant threats they regained the lead following Ronan’s second goal and with time running out it looked like the home side might win it.

However Loughmacrory continued to carry the game to their opponents and driven on by Damien Mc Aleer, John Gallagher and Niall Donaghy they drew level before two late points from Paul Donnelly and John Gallagher ensured a perfect four points from two games start for the winners. Final score Urney 3-6, Loughmacrory 2-11.