McCann late show spares Cargin’s blushes
ANTRIM senior football champions Cargin came close to relinquishing their crown when they were held to a draw by St John’s in yesterday’s semi-final.
Two late points from Tomas McCann rescued the title-holders and allowed them to fight another day when the match ended in stalemate at 0-11 each.
Cargin looked in trouble at one stage when they trailed by 0-11 to 0-5 but the injection of inspiration that Tony Scullion provided when he was sent in from the bench proved crucial.
The veteran defender’s surging bursts discomfited the St John’s defence and paved the way for Ciaran Close, John McCarron and McCann to grab points.
With St John’s forced onto the back foot, Cargin finished strongly and McCann’s equalising point from a free keeps their hopes to adding to the title haul intact.
Meanwhile, Paddy Cunningham’s accuracy from frees in particular cemented a 1-13 to 1-9 win over Creggan Kickhams in the other semi-final.
The former Antrim skipper was in imperious form from all angles and distances and played a big part in helping his side into their 1-6 to 1-3 interval lead.
It was after Kevin Small had plundered a Creggan Kickhams goal in the first minute that Lamh Dhearg were forced to show their character and Cunningham sealed their first-half recovery by stabbing home their goal in the 26th minute.
Lamh Dhearg remained in control in the second-half with Cunningham again to th fore as the Creggan Kickhams defence strove to contain him.
Along with the industrious Conor Murray he shared 1-7 of the winners’ total while the Small brothers Kevin and Conor snapped up scores for Creggan Kickhams – but not enough of them to prevent Lamh Dhearg sealing their place in the final. THE Tyrone championship final will be between Errigal Ciaran and Omagh after both sides came through tough tests over the weekend.
Errigal Ciaran took on giant-killers Pomeroy at Carrickmore yesterday afternoon and they had to pull out all the stops to record an impressive 1-12 to 0-11 victory.
The winners boasted a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage at the interval with Ronan McRory, Peter Harte and Davy Harte supplying points.
Two superb Ollie McCreesh scores had the sides level within five minutes of the restart before Peter Harte and Brendan Burns swapped scores.
As the second half wore on Pomeroy grew in stature and with 10 minutes to go they were 0-10 to 0-8 in front thanks to McCreesh and an outstanding effort from full back Hugh Pat McGeary.
Former Tyrone star Davy Harte though held his nerve to convert two frees to level matters before substitute Ryan Lynch put Errigal Ciaran in front with a minute left to play.
A poor kick out from Pomeroy keeper John McCourt proved decisive as defender Niall Kelly got in for the only goal of the game to send his side through to their first final since 2012.
In that final they will face 2014 winners Omagh who accounted for 2015 champions Trillick on Saturday evening.
After the sides had gone in level at the break Trillick looked to have taken control on the restart with points from Mattie Donnelly and James Garrity coupled with a Richard Donnelly goal.
They were to score just once more though as Tyrone attacker Ronan O’Neill found the net for Omagh and after Conan Grugan and Barry Tierney had helped draw them level former Red Hands star Joe McMahon won it with a “45” as it finished 1-11 to 1-10.