Gribben puts seal on thrilling Erin’s Own win

ERIN’S OWN CARGIN 3-16 LÁMH DHEARG HANNAHSTOWN 0-23

ERIN’S OWN, Cargin retained the Antrim SFC title after 80 minutes of pulsating football against rivals Lámh Dhearg in Saturday’s replayed final at Corrigan Park.

The sides finished level at 3-10 to 0-19 after the 60 minutes. Tomás McCann and Michael Magill

(2) scored the goals for Cargin while Paddy Cunningham and Conor Murray led the second-half comeback for the Hannahstown men.

Lámh Dhearg, playing their fifth game in 21 days, faced into another period of extra-time and led early on through Eoin McKeown.

Two Kevin McShane points either side of a Murray effort ensured the sides entered the second period of extra time level. Cargin edged ahead through Tomás McCann and the superb Kieran Close.

Another fine Conor Murray point cut the gap but Tomás McCann’s free restored the two-point gap. The excitement didn’t end there, with Cunningham landing a free in the second minute of injury time to leave just a point between them.

Lámh Dhearg pressed for the equaliser but Jamie Gribben settled the issue with a 74th-minute point. Erin’s Own will face Fermanagh champions Derrygonnelly in the Ulster club championship on Sunday, also at Corrigan Park.

SCORERS – Erin’s Own: T McCann 1-5 (2f); M Magill 2-0; K Close 0-4; J Gribben 0-3; K McShane 0-2; P Shivers, C Bradley 0-1 each. Lámh Dhearg: P Cunningham (8f), C Murray 0-8 each; E McKeown, R Murray 0-3 each, D Dunne 0-1.

ERIN’S OWN – J McNabb; D McKeever, M Kane, J Laverty; T Scullion, J Crozier, K O’Boyle; G McCann, P Shivers; P McCann, M McCann, C Bradley; T McCann, M Magill, J Gribben. Subs: J Carron for G McCann (10), D Johnston for P McCann (35, bc), K Close for P Shivers (52), M Clarke for T Scullion (55), K McShane for M McCann (60 +1), T Scullion for D Johnston (Extra time), G McCorley for M Kane (69).

LÁMH DHEARG – J Finucane; C Nolan, P Mervyn, M Herron; M McGarry, D Lynch, B Rice; C Murray, M Jordan; E McKeown, K Quinn, T McCrudden; P Cunningham, D Dunne, R Murray. Subs: P Larkin for C Nolan (ht), M Finnegan for R Murray (73), C Maxwell for E McKeown (77).

REF – D McKeown (St Galls).