THE Antrim Senior Football Championship saw a terrific weekend of knockout football action as the quarter-finals took place with eight teams battling out for the final four spots as well as claiming a seeding in next season's group stage draw.
Derbies fulfilled their promises and underdogs defied the odds throughout the weekend with action starting on Friday evening with a clash between two old foes when Cargin clashed with Creggan.
Saturday saw an all-Belfast derby between the Biddies and Johnnies, before Sunday's culmination of the quarters as Rossa battled with Portglenone and Dunloy faced off against Lámh Dhearg in the final game of the weekend.
There was also some action on the other end of the spectrum as Moneyglass and Sarsfields went toe-to-toe in a battle for survival.
Erin's Own Cargin 2-17 Creggan Kickhams 0-14
Cargin produced a timely reminder of their class as they delivered their best performance of the championship to date, defeating rivals Creggan at a rain-swept Quinn Park, to book their place in the final four.
The Toome men were outstanding after the break, combining patience, controlled aggression and some moments of individual brilliance to pull clear of the Kickhams.
Creggan elected to play against the wind after winning the toss and Conor Small opened the scoring, but Cargin quickly exploited the conditions. Conhuir Johnston, Jamie Gribbin and Pat Shivers all landed two-pointers inside a devastating two-minute spell.
Keelan McCann reduced the deficit before Cargin struck for the game's opening goal. John Carron's high delivery eventually broke to Jack O'Neill, who finished superbly first time to put Cargin seven points clear.
The contest became increasingly physical and Pat Shivers received a black card after a flashpoint in the 15th minute. Creggan capitalised on the numerical advantage, reeling off five unanswered points through Conor Small, Kevin Small, Conor Johnston and Jamie McCann.
However, Johnston had the final say before half-time, firing over from outside the 40-metre arc to give Cargin a four-point interval advantage.
Creggan remained within touching distance early in the second half, with Michael McCann and Ethan Carey-Small exchanging scores before John McNabb landed a superb two-point free for Cargin and Kevin Small responded in kind.
Cargin took complete control, with James Laverty producing the game's decisive moment in the 44th minute. Found in space after a patient passage of possession, Laverty unleashed a thunderous effort from 20 yards that flew past Oisin Kerr.
Further scores from Conan Johnston and Conhuir Johnston extended the advantage as Cargin ruthlessly punished Creggan.
Conor Small added two late two-point frees, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Cargin advance to yet another semi-final after a hugely impressive display, with Conhuir Johnston, Jack O'Neill, Fiontan Hardy, Kevin O'Boyle and Tom Shivers among their standout performers.
St Brigid’s 3-11 St John’s 1-16
St Brigid’s held their nerve to secure a dramatic one-point victory over St John’s and book their place in the semi-finals of the Antrim SFC after a thrilling, wind-affected quarter-final at Hannahstown.
The conditions made life difficult for both sides throughout, but it was St Brigid’s who opened the scoring when Ronan McGrady converted a free in the sixth minute.
JJ Higgins added a fist-passed point before St John’s finally settled. Paddy McBride struck two frees in quick succession, while Bohill also found the target as the Johnnies moved in front.
The lead changed hands again when James Smith finished clinically after a powerful run from John Morgan, but St John’s responded immediately with a penalty.
Ronan Quinn was impeded as he attempted to shoot for goal and defender Conor McEvoy stepped up to fire an emphatic spot-kick into the top corner.
Conor Adams then added a two-pointer before McBride’s short free extended the Johnnies’ advantage.
St Brigid’s responded brilliantly. McGrady buried a low shot for their second goal before Smith and McGrady, with a superb two-pointer, helped swing momentum back in their favour.
Conor Hand replied for St John’s before Patrick Finnegan struck a crucial goal on the stroke of half-time.
Ryan McNulty opened the second-half scoring for St John’s, but St Brigid’s remained composed and Paul Bradley landed an excellent two-pointer from play.
McBride continued to keep St John’s alive from frees, while Hand produced a superb 45 into the wind.
The Johnnies refused to surrender, and McBride reduced the deficit to two points in the 53rd minute. St John’s then thought substitute Andy McGowan had found the net, but the referee had already brought play back for the initial foul.
Another McBride free left just one between them and in the dying seconds, McBride had the chance to level from a free and send the game to extra-time, but the swirling wind caught his effort and pushed it wide.
That proved the final action as St Brigid’s survived a frantic finish to secure their place in the last four.
Rossa 2-24 Roger Casement’s Portglenone 3-20
Rossa produced a remarkable late fightback to edge Portglenone in an extraordinary Corrigan Park thriller, eventually prevailing 2-24 to 3-20 after extra-time.
The sides could hardly be separated throughout a pulsating contest, with Portglenone holding a narrow 2-8 to 0-9 advantage at half-time after goals from Odhran Doherty and Paddy Graffin.
Rossa had started brightly through Thomas Morgan and Stephen Beatty, but Portglenone gradually took control, with Doherty’s frees and a Colm Fleming two-pointer helping Casements establish their lead.
Morgan and McEnhill kept Rossa within touching distance, but Portglenone struck twice in the closing stages of the first half to take command.
Rossa needed a response after the restart and they got one with Thomas Morgan and Corey Walsh finding the target before Eoghan McMenamin produced two superb two-pointers to bring the hosts right back into contention.
Portglenone responded through Ciaran McAleese and Paddy Kelly, before Oisin Doherty smashed home in the 46th minute to restore their advantage.
Rossa refused to fold, however, and McEnhill’s scores kept them alive before Dominic McEnhill eventually found the net in the 67th minute.
The drama intensified in extra-time. Paddy Graffin and Doherty traded scores with Rossa, while McEnhill’s free brought them level before Aidan McAleese restored the Portglenone lead.
Diarmaid Rogan levelled once again before McEnhill put Rossa ahead, only for Portglenone to respond through Ruairi Hagan.
A last man challenge resulted in a Rossa penalty, but Kevin Mullan produced a superb save to deny the spot-kick from McEnhill.
Thomas Morgan settled the contest with a point in the 84th minute when he finished off a scrambling move with a fist-pass, completing an astonishing Rossa comeback and sending them through after one of the most dramatic finishes imaginable.
Dunloy 5-15 Lámh Dhearg 3-12
Dunloy booked their place in the Antrim SFC semi-finals with a convincing nine-point victory over Lámh Dhearg at Toome, in a thrilling contest packed with goals, attacking flair and moments of controversy.
The returning Seaan Elliott was the outstanding figure early on, despite not having played football since last November. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute and continued to glide across the Toome surface, finishing with eight points, including two two-pointers.
Lámh Dhearg initially matched Dunloy in the middle third, with Conor Murray converting two frees to level the game. However, once the Cuchullains settled, they took complete control, reeling off 1-6 without reply.
Nigel Elliott scored the opening Dunloy goal after his initial attempt to find a team-mate broke back into his path, allowing him to finish past John Finnucane.
Seaan Elliott then took centre stage, adding a point and two two-pointers in a devastating six-minute spell. Keelan Molloy extended Dunloy's advantage before Lámh Dhearg finally found the net through Donal Martin, although Dunloy players protested that there had been a square-ball infringement.
Dunloy finished the half strongly, with Ryan McGarry pointing before Nigel Elliott grabbed his second goal after excellent vision from Barry McCloskey.
The champions led 2-11 to 1-2 at the interval, but Lámh Dhearg emerged with renewed purpose after the introduction of Paddy Cunningham.
Ben Rice and Pearse Fitzsimons reduced the deficit before an unfortunate own goal from James Scally brought the Hannahstown side back into contention.
Dunloy responded through Conor Kinsella, who bundled the ball home after Nigel Elliott and Keelan Molloy combined superbly.
Barry McCloskey then added Dunloy's fourth goal in the 46th minute, cutting inside before firing expertly into the bottom corner.
Lámh Dhearg refused to surrender and Ryan Murray struck their third goal after being released by Declan Lynch and Cunningham. But once again Dunloy had an answer.
Luke McFerran, McCloskey and Seaan Elliott all added scores before McFerran bundled home Dunloy's fifth goal.
Paddy Cunningham added a superb two-pointer late on, but Callum Fegan-Lappin had the final say with the last score of the game.
Dunloy advance to the semi-finals, where St Brigid's await, after another impressive attacking display from the reigning champions.
Rossa overcame all the odds to clinch an extra-time win over Portglenone
Relegation Play-Off One
Moneyglass 6-14 Sarsfields 3-14
Moneyglass took a major step towards Senior Championship safety with a convincing nine-point victory over Patrick Sarsfields in a high-scoring relegation play-off encounter at Moneyglass.
The home side effectively settled the contest during a devastating opening half, scoring five goals as they raced into a commanding 5-9 to 1-3 lead at the interval.
St Ergnat’s made the perfect start, with Tiernan McCormick and Aidan McErlain finding the net inside the opening five minutes. McErlain added a point soon afterwards to leave Moneyglass six ahead.
Daniel Smyth opened Sarsfields’ account, but the visitors were left chasing the game as St Ergnat’s continued to punish them.
Seanchan Duffin, Tyler Cassidy and McCormick all found the net as the hosts tore through the Sarsfields defence, while McCormick and Colum Duffin added further points.
Conor Laverty briefly offered Sarsfields some hope with a 22nd-minute goal, but Duffin responded with a two-pointer before McErlain and McCormick added scores.
A further point from Laverty was little consolation as St Ergnat’s went into the break 19 points clear.
Sarsfields emerged from the interval with far greater purpose and, with the elements now in their favour, dominated much of the third quarter. Caolan McDonnell struck twice for goals to give the Stewartstown Road side renewed hope, but St Ergnat’s remained composed.
Seanchan Duffin, Tyler Cassidy and Dermot McErlain kept the scoreboard moving for Moneyglass before Laverty and Philip McPeake replied for Sarsfields.
St Ergnat’s then delivered the decisive blow when Seanchjan Duffin found the net, effectively ending any realistic hopes of a remarkable comeback.
Thomas Skillen continued to impress for Sarsfields with a number of well-taken points, while Daniel Smyth added two further goals, but the visitors could not bridge the gap.
Late points from Paul Duffin and Aidan McErlain completed a comprehensive St Ergnat’s victory.
The result leaves Sarsfields needing to beat St Paul’s in their final game to maintain their Senior Championship status, while Moneyglass can look forward to their next challenge with a significant boost to their survival hopes.
Semi-Final Draw
St Brigid's v Dunloy
Cargin v Rossa
