Lamh Dhearg pay penalty as Erin’s Own claim sixth crown

Erin's Own 2-11 Lamh Dhearg 1-5

Erin's Own, Cargin, comfortably claimed the Antrim Senior Football Championship title in perfect conditions at Ahoghill, fully justifying their favourite's tag against Lamh Dhearg with nine points to spare over their opposition.

Two Mick McCann penalties, one in each half, helped Cargin to their sixth title, and their first since 2006.

The Erin’s Own men were never behind throughout the game and, although Lamh Dhearg closed an early deficit with a Gareth Galway goal to draw level, the result never really looked in doubt.

Cargin led 0-4 to no score after eight minutes with Tomás McCann and Ciarán Close sharing the scores.

Lamh Dhearg got off the mark through Paddy Cunningham who converted a free and a 45 to half the deficit.

The eventual winners were awarded the first of three penalties on 20 minutes but Tomás McCann hit his effort high off the post, and the sides were level a minute later when Galway palmed Cunningham’s pass to the net.

No mistake

Parity didn’t last long. Three minutes later Cargin forward Ryan McKernan was dragged to the ground inside the square, and this time Mick McCann made no mistake with the penalty.

Cunningham’s third closed the gap to two points but Close and Paul McCann gave Cargin a four-point cushion, 1-7 to 1-3, at the break.

Midway through the second half, Cargin had stretched their lead to five, 1-10 to 1-5, when referee Seán Laverty awarded their third penalty of the game.

Lamh Dhearg goalkeeper John Finucane received a black card for the challenge, and Mick McCann stepped up to convert past substitute keeper Mark McIlvenny.

The game produced just one more score, a second point of the day for Paul McCann.

Cargin were reduced to 14 men when Mick McCann received a black card whilst already being on a caution, but at that stage the title was safely in the bag for Cargin who face Armagh champions Crossmaglen Rangers on November 1st in the Ulster club quarter-final.

ERIN’S OWN, CARGIN: C O’Reilly; K O’Boyle, J Laverty, M Kane; T Scullion, J Crozier, P McCann (0-2); M McCann (2-0, penalties), J Carron; C Close (0-5, three frees), T McCann (0-4, two frees), E McGrogan; R McKernan, G McCann, M Magill. Subs: M Clarke for M Magill, M Kelly for G McCann, B Laverty for E McGrogan, D McKeever for J Laverty.

LAMH DHEARG: J Finucane; C Nolan, A McAufield, M McGarry; P Mervyn, M Herron, B McComb; C Murray, G Galway (1-0); M Jordan, K Quinn, P Fitzsimons; P Cunningham (0-5, two frees, one 45), D Lynch, R Murray. Subs: G Slane for B McComb, G Walls for G Galway, B Rice for P Fitzsimons, J Quinn for K Quinn, M McIlvenny for J Finucane (Black card), C McIlvenny for C Nolan.

Referee: S Laverty (Moneyglass)