McGarry Leads the Way as Aldergrove Collect the B Title

Under-21 B (Final) 

Mc Garry Leads the Way as Aldergrove Collect the B Title 

St James Aldergrove 1-09 St Joseph’s Glenavy 3-12 

Aldergrove are the under-21 B champions 2016 and in the process gained the bragging rights of the parish for a while after they proved too strong for near neighbours Glenavy in the decider at the Toome venue on Sunday last. 

The Crumlin men having gained access to the final on the previous week at the expense of a fancied All Saint’s started cast in the role of firm favourites to take the silverware and in the event led onward by the excellent Seamus Mc Garry they always looked in charge. 

The centre forward who had impressed in the ranks of the senior fifteen for a while took another lead role again in this one, and indeed he was to make a firm mark shortly into proceedings. 

Glenavy had started as if they meant business and they were a trifle unlucky not to have opened account first, but after James Gallagher was defied in his intentions on the target by the intervention of the woodwork and Peter Treanor followed with a wide as he fired past the post, Aldergrove, and the impressive Seamus Mc Garry were not to be denied in the 8th minute. 

Ryan Owens had made interception in the central zone and when he sent the centre forward on his way with delivery Seamus Mc Garry carried on through the middle before unleashing into the top corner of the net. 

Away in style Aldergrove, with an early major score to banish the butterflies looked on the way, but Glenavy were stirred to action and back they came with a couple of points delivered in turn by James Gallagher and Peter Treanor. 

Having gotten into stride the St Joseph’s side looked likely to move onwards in pursuit of the title but in the event the feel good factor most likely entertained within the ranks of their support base was to be dealt another hammer blow with the impressive Mc Garry who was about to strike again. 

Glenavy having gotten into stride were about to be punished, and made to pay dearly for a moment of carelessness and unforced error as a stray pass on their own ‘40’ was grabbed by centre back Conal Brazier, and as the ball was quickly transferred to the ever available centre forward via Conor Browning and Jude 

Mc Peake, Seamus Mc Garry concluded in stylish movement as he fired to the back of the net at the end of the opening quarter. 

Aldergrove had gone into a 2-00 to 0-02 lead courtesy of those Mc Garry majors and when James Gallagher was denied by the woodwork at the other end a couple of minutes later things were not looking good for the Chapel Hill residents. 

Peter Treanor did offer better when he added a point for the St Joseph’s men in the 18th minute but when Ronan Hanna added a couple in reply at the other end the Crumlin men had gone five points clear. 

Fergal Green did gain add another Glenavy point as he fetched an Oisin Hamill clearance to forward between the posts in the 23rd minute to reduce the deficit. 

Sean Fay did reply in kind as he added a point for Aldergrove but after the St Joseph’s men missed several chances to add to their tally the last mark was to be made by Glenavy’s Peter Treanor as he sent a 50 metre free kick all the way over the bar just in time added. 

Aldergrove did take respite as the short whistle sounded with a 2-03 to 0-05 lead but the Glenavy men were still in firm contention. 

Having dithered a while at the outset Aldergrove were not to replicate such as the second period commenced and they were quickly into action and attack mode. 

Seamus Mc Garry was just off target with a long range free in the opening minute and Ronan Hanna despatched against the post when he looked in for a goal a minute later but they were firmly in attack mode and soon to add further scores. 

Seamus Mc Garry added a couple of scores in the 33rd and 34th minutes and when to diminutive impressive Sean Fay weighed in with another Aldergrove looked on the way and leading by 2-06 to 0-05. 

Glenavy were on the back foot, under pressure and Aldergrove were not about to hold back as they kept on the offensive. 

Seamus Mc Garry added another point in the 37th minute and when Ronan Hanna sent him away on the right hand side a couple of minutes thereafter the result was the same. 

Another mark on the boar and although a third of the contest remained Aldergrove had earned a nine point lead at 2-09 to 0-05. 

Glenavy did return to the coal face again in the 42nd minute as Peter Treanor sent the ever accurate Peter Treanor despatched a long range free between the posts and the score did add impetus. 

The St Joseph’s men went forward with some purpose led onward by the excellent Oisin Hamill and indeed after the centre back found Malachai Doherty after his direct approach it took a splendid save by the Aldergrove net-minder Chris Taggart to prevent the wing half forward in his intentions at finding the net. 

Ryan Owens did add another point to the Aldergrove lead when he fired over the bar in the 40th minute but although the Glenavy men’s cause did look lost they were not about to hoist semblance of a white flag and the Aldergrove net-minder who had defied Malachai Doherty as he looked for goal a few minutes previous was called on again to deny James Gallagher. 

Gallagher had seized on a loose ball on the ‘40’ and although his delivery was good the Aldergrove keeper stood tall again to deny 

Seamus Mc Garry added another brace of points and as the game clock passed into the last five minutes of the decider the die was most certainly cast as the St James’s men had gone 2-11 to 0-06 ahead. 

Glenavy were down but not finished as the sought to gain recovery after Peter Treanor added a point Fergal Green nipped in from the left hand side to blast to the corner of the net in the 56th minute. 

A smashing score from the corner man but back came the Aldergrove men as Seamus Mc Garry stroked a 40 metre free all the way over the bar. 

Glenavy did finish with a flourish although it had long since been apparent that they were fighting a lost cause but they did keep at it to the end and with a couple of points from Fergal Green and Peter Treanor which did arrive as compensation. 

Aldergrove completed at 2-12 to 1-09 to take the B title back to Crumlin. 

Referee Fiontan Mc Cotter (Sarsfield’s) 

Teams 

Aldergrove 

Chris Taggart, Michael Sheridan, Stephen Johnston, Ronan Wilkinson, Fergal Hanna, Conal Brazier, Tomas O’ Callaghan, Conor Browning, Ryan Owens (0-01), Jude Mc Peake, Seamus Mc Garry (2-07), Ronan Hanna (0-02), Michael Smart, James Trolan, Sean Fay. 

Matthew Mc Greevey for M Smart 

Eoin Masterson for J Trolan 

Michael Mc Carthy for R Wilkinson 

Anthony Brown for S Fay 

Glenavy 

Owen Mc Cormack, Martin Nelson, Damian Mc Kavanagh, David Nelson, Michael Small, Oisin Hamill, Lorcan Small, Peter Trainor (0-06), Sean O’ Doherty, Malachai Doherty, Lorcan Heenan, Eoin Henry, Fergal Green (1-02), James Gallagher (0-01), Ciaran Loney 

Subs 

Stephen Doone for J Gallagher