ACL Div 2 round-up: Harps edge out Fintona

Fintona 1-12 Stewartstown 2-11

FINTONA were the last side to play in Intermediate football this season but it proved to be a disappointing result for them on Tuesday evening as Stewartstown collected their first points at the third time of asking.

In the end only two points separated the two sides after a late rally from the Pearses that saw them hit 1-4 without reply just came up short.

The Harps began well with points from Macaulay Quinn and Shea O’Neill only for Fintona to respond through Aaron McCarney, Cathal Starrs, Niall Murray and wing half back Jared Brogan. Stewartstown centre half back Conor Quinn bagged a goal and Dan Lowe kicked three points in a row before Gareth Devlin had the final say of the half from a two point free to leave it 1-9 to 0-7.

The Harps made the best possible start to the second half when a Conor McElhatton goal left them in complete control. Macaulay Quinn and Brogan swapped points before Devlin got the visitors last score of the night.

Fintona finished strongly with a goal from Starrs as well as single points from Caolan Donnelly and Conan Hegarty as well as a two pointer from McCarney but it came too late to save them.

Rampant Eglish maintain perfect start

Aghyaran 3-3 Eglish 5-22

AGHYARAN are without the services of a few key players at present and while they managed to take three points from their opening two games this was an altogether different story as a rampant Eglish side coasted to victory.

It took Aghyaran twenty eight minutes to open their account and while it was a goal from Gerard Carlin the writing was already on the wall. Eglish ran up a healthy 3-8 in the first half to put the issue beyond any doubt with Luke Donnelly, Conall McNulty and Nathan Horsfield getting their goals.

Caolan McGinity hit a two pointer for the St.Davogs while they got further goals from Eoghan McHugh and Ciaran McGlinchey but it was only academic. The on song Ethan Jordan found the net on his way to a 1-11 tally with Jack Muldoon also raising a green flag and points coming from Ryan Donnelly and Colm Byrne as they won with plenty to spare.

Moy well in control

Kildress 0-7 Moy 3-14

MOY are among the early pacesetters in Intermediate football and at no stage at Gortacladdy did it look as though their perfect start to the campaign was in any danger as they eased to victory over Kildress.

Michael Conroy is a man performing at the top of his game at the moment and the Kildress defence simply couldn’t cope. He set things rolling with the opening goal and after Eoin McGeary had raised a green flag as well it helped Moy into a 2-8 to 0-4 interval lead, Shea Quinn, Corey Holland and Caolan McNamee with Kildress points.

The Wolfe Tones had the wind at their back sin the second half but could only add another three points with the Moy full back line of Paddy Lavery, Steve Donaghy and Ronan O’Hanlon to the fore. Ryan and Jamie Conroy had Moy points with Conroy converting a penalty to finish with an impressive 2-9 to his name.

Fox goals prove decisive

Greencastle 2-10 Killeeshil 0-11

IT’S two out of two for Greencastle after a brace of goals from Sean Fox proved to be the difference as they condemned newly promoted Killeeshil to a third straight defeat.

The first major from Fox arrived in the opening period and that allowed the hosts to greet the short whistle 1-5 to 0-4 in front. Mark Carson and Sean Warnock supplied points for the winners with the reliable Packie McMullan carrying the fight for the visitors.

The home side were always able to keep their opponents at arms length in the second half with good displays coming from Mark McNulty and Seamus Warnock. A second Fox major gave them extra breathing space with Carson adding a point, McMullan finishing with 0-6 to his name with Michael and Dillon O’Neill both getting a brace each for Killeeshil as well.

Brilliant McShane ensures victory

Owen Roes 1-14 Drumquin 0-15

AN outstanding display of marksmanship from former Tyrone star Cathal McShane ensured that Owen Roes collected their second win of the campaign to leave newly promoted Drumquin still looking for their first after three outings.

McShane kicked all five of the home side’s first half points while midfielder Tony Devine grabbed a late goal but it was the Wolfe Tones who led at the break. Oisin Gormley was in fine form for the visitors with 0-4 while Sean McDonagh and defender Stephen Gormley had a brace each to leave it 0-10 to 1-5.

Oisin Gormley landed another four points in the second period including a two pointer from a free but it was the McShane show. He kicked his side’s opening six points of the half, including a two pointer, and after Daire McGonigle had scored he rounded things of with another two to give him a personal haul of 0-13.

Opening quarter decisive for Fianna

Aghaloo 2-15 Coalisland 3-17

AGHALOO outscored Coalisland after the opening quarter but it was that start from the Fianna that ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides as they made it three wins from three.

Paddy McNeice had the ball in the Aghaloo net after only three minutes and a Tiarnan Quinn penalty was followed by a major from Mark Hamilton as the visitors blitzed their opponents in the opening quarter to lead 3-6 to 0-3. Aghaloo recovered slightly before the break with the help of a Niall McElroy penalty but they had it all to do.

Peter Herron, Bailey Leonard, Donal Sheeran and McNeice all had second half points for the visitors as they kept the scoreboard ticking over. Aghaloo kept plugging away with Tiernan Donnelly kicking 0-8 and McElroy finishing with 1-5 while Ruairi McGlone got their second goal but they were always fighting a losing battle following that opening quarter.

Red Knights up and running

Rock 1-13 Beragh 0-18

AS was the case in most fixtures last weekend the wind played a part in this game at Rock as Beragh came from six down at the break to secure victory in their first outing of the season.

Rock played some good football in the first half and they deservedly led 0-11 to 0-5 at the short whistle with points coming from Shane Murphy, Shea Daly, Peter Loughran and Conor McGarrity. Conor Owens weighed in with three of those points for the Red Knights who were a different side in the second period.

Owens, Martin Rodgers and Oisin Donnelly all hit crucial two pointers in the second half with the latter finishing with 0-6 after the break alone. Loughran scored the only goal of the game for the home side but it was Beragh who took the spoils with Ben and Matthew McSorley both landing vital points in injury time at the end of the game.