Brackaville bounce back in a tough test

Newtownstewart 1-14

Brackaville bounced back from their first defeat of the year, to secure a hard fought two point win over Newtownstewart.

The home side were hampered by injuries throughout the game, and had to play the last ten minutes with 14 men, having had to use their five substitutes, all related to injury .

Trailing by four points at half time and down three key personnel, the young Roes showed battling qualities to pick up two points and keep the pressure on Dungannon.

A Marty Gervin point and Joe Rafferty brace helped them in to an early three point lead, before Newtownstewart began to take control and helped by a Kevin Gallagher goal, led 1-8 to 0-7 at half time, Mick McCarron, Che O’Donnell and Sean Corr, kicking first half points for the hosts.

The sides traded early second half points, before James McEllvana hit a goal for the home side to reduce the deficit to one.

Paul O’Neill and Gallagher traded points before the visitors Ryan Mayse missed a penalty twice, a score which would have regained his sides four point lead.

It was end to end flowing football, as Rafferty and Mayse traded six points between them, before Ciaran Gervin drew the game level for the fourth time, entering the final minutes.

Brackaville, down to 14 at this stage pushed forward, with Gary Ferguson and O’Donnell holding their nerve, kicking great points apiece, to ensure a deserved two points for the injury stricken home side.

Brackaville scorers - Joe Rafferty 0-5, Martin Gervin 0-4, James McEllvana 1-0, Che O’Donnell 0-2, Gary Ferguson 0-1, Paul O’Neill 0-1, Sean Corr 0-1, Ciaran Gervin 0-1, Mick McCarron 0-1

Castlederg 2-2

Aghaloo 4-20

Aghaloo gave their championship final preparations an injection of confidence as they cantered to victory, on their travels to take on a disappointing Castlederg side.

It was the home side who scored a goal on the first attack but that was as good as it got for them, as Neil Morrison, Cathal Cuddy and Niall Henderson all hit majors for the visitors to give them a commanding 3-7 to 1-1 interval lead.

The visitors raised the tempo again in the second half and, led by Kevin O’Gorman, Brian McKenna and Geard McCaughey’s expertise shooting, they added another 1-13 to the scoreboard, with Niall Henderson scoring his second and his side’s fourth goal of the afternoon.

Shea Loughran, Shane McGee, Cuddy and Henderson all added further points, keeping Aghaloo’s hopes of promotion on two fronts well and truly alive.

Aghaloo scorers - Niall Henderson 2-2, Brian McKenna 0-5, Kevin O’Gorman 0-5, Cathal Cuddy 1-2, Gerard McCaughey 0-3, Neil Morrison 1-0, James O’Neill 0-1, Shea Loughran 0-1, Shane McGee 0-1

Errigal Ciaran 4-10

Glenelly 2-10

Errigal Manager Tiffy Quinn can just do no wrong these past few weeks, as he sees his side climb closer to a valued promotion play-off spot.

Quinn led Errigal ladies to senior championship glory a fortnight ago and on Friday night helped guide Antrim kingpins St. Galls to another county championship.

And, 24 hours later, later and his luck rubbed off on two of his nephews, as Eoin - a backroom member of Tiffy’s ladies management winning team - and Emmet both hit majors for their side.

This win for Errigal was a lot more comfortable than the score-line suggests, with Ronan Tierney and teenager Sean McGirr grabbing their other goals.

As always Michael Harte showed great accuracy, finishing with four points to his credit, with Tierney adding three points to his well-taken goal. Veteran of the team Eoin Gormley weighed in with a brace of points.

On the evidence of this performance, and the winning mentality currently surrounding the Errigal club, you would be foolish to rule this youthful enough side out of promotion to the Intermediate ranks for 2013.

Errigal scorers - Ronan Tierney 1-3, Michael Harte 0-4, Emmet Quinn 1-1,Sean McGirr 1-0, Eoin Quinn 1-0, Eoin Gormley 0-2

Elsewhere, scored a good 2-11 to 3-4 win away to Drumquin, Killyman had a disappointing 0-9 to 2-13 defeat at home to Beragh, as the Red Knights talisman Marty Rogers, put in a man of the match performance, contributing ten of his sides thirteen points, keeping them fifth place in the league and every chance of promotion. Chrissy Devlin and Damien Meenagh adding the other majors.

Dregish played host to Clogher on Saturday afternoon inflicting a 0-10 to 0-7 defeat on the visitors. This win moves Dregish to within a point of the play-offs, as Clogher missed a massive chance to move two points away from the remaining chasing teams.