Galbally take advantage

It is still mathematically possible for the Clansmen to avoid automatic relegation, but with only three games remaining, the best they can hope for now is a relegation play off as a disappointing season for them draws to a close. The hosts competed well in the opening quarter as a Michael O’Neill goal kept Galbally in sight.

However, three goals in the final ten minutes propelled the visitors into a comfortable lead with Neil Hagan’s 20th minute strike opening the floodgates. Paul Rafferty and Sean Murphy also finding the rigging before the half ended for a 1-3 to 3-6 advantage.

Murphy continued to run riot on the restart, as he finished with 1-7 to his name and, as Clann Na Gael wilted Galbally brought a two game losing streak to an end. Rafferty, Hagan and Eamon McElroy landing points as Galbally moved back into second place on 17 points alongside Strabane.

Clann Na Gael scorers - Michael O’Neill 1-0, Shane McGill 0-1, Niall Kerlin 0-1, Mark Henry 0-1, Cathal McGill 0-1

Galbally scorers - Sean Murphy 1-7, Paul Rafferty 1-3, Neil Hagan 1-2, Eamon McElroy 0-3, Blaine Nugent 0-1

BRACKAVILLE 0-11 ROCK 0-11

Joe Rafferty is making a habit of posting winning points for Brackaville, but his latest contribution against Rock, at O’Brien Park on Friday evening could be the most valuable one yet as the Roes took a massive step towards intermediate survival.

The Reds shaded a low scoring first segment as Sean Corr and Ciaran Currie traded points with Aidan McGarrity and Conor McCreesh for a fragile 0-4 to 0-3 halftime lead. The second half continued to be a competitive affair with scores swapped regularly through Martin Gervin, Rafferty and Stefan Gervin with Rock responding in kind via the boots of McGarrity, James McCreesh and Cathal McWilliams.

Conn Gervin and Martin McCreesh both spurned goal chances - the woodwork denying Gervin’s effort, while home goalkeeper Gerard O’Hanlon thwarted McCreesh as the respective sides chased the winning scores, but just when a draw looked likely up stepped Rafferty to guide over what could prove to be a priceless winner.

Rock’s relegation worries intensified with results elsewhere going against them.

Brackaville scorers - Ciaran Currie 0-4, Sean Corr 0-2, Martin Gervin 0-2, Joe Rafferty 0-2, Stefan Gervin 0-1

Rock scorers - Conor McCreesh 0-5, Aidan McGarrity 0-3, James McCreesh 0-1, Cathal McWilliams 0-1

ESKRA 2-14 DERRYTRESK -04

Eskra chalked up the anticipated victory many expected when they eased past Derrytresk, at Emmett Park for a result that keeps their promotion play off ambitions intact.

The hosts set the foundations for a dominant showing in the opening period as Joe McCarroll bagged a 4th minute goal to augment points from Eoin McCaffrey and Johnny Hackett as they established a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. Ronan O’Neill supplied the visitor’s first point on 14 minutes and, even though Joe McKee and Caolan Corr weighed in with points, they were struggling to make an impression up front. In fact, Shane Campbell’s point on 20 minutes proved to be the Fir an Chnoics final score of the evening, as Eskra turned the screw in the run up to half time. Peter Hughes landed a few frees before Shane Hackett’s goal on the stroke of half time effectively settled the issue.

Eskra led 2-5 to 0-4 at half time and, with their defence on top, they tagged on the necessary scores to illustrate their supremacy. Hughes, McCaffrey, Thomas Meegan and Niall Marlow all harvested points before full back Adrian Scullion sealed an impressive showing with the final point of the evening. Eskra up to 15 points in the table while Derrytresk are now anxiously looking over their shoulder in the relegation zone.

Eskra scorers - Shane Hackett 1-2, Joe McCarroll 1-1, Peter Hughes 0-4, Niall Marlowe 0-2, Eoin McCaffrey 0-2, Johnny Hackett 0-1, Thomas Meegan 0-1, Adrian Scullion 0-1

Derrytresk scorers - Ronan O’Neill 0-1, Joe McKee 0-1, Caolan Corr 0-1, Shane Campbell 0-1

GORTIN 0-11 URNEY 0-11

Gortin needed a last gasp Kevin McCullagh free to salvage a share of the spoils on offer against Urney, at the St Patrick’s base on Saturday.

The necessity of such a score didn’t seem likely for the St Patrick’s, as they stormed out of the blocks to establish a 0-7 to 0-1 lead.

McCullagh, Diarmuid McNulty and Kevin Mossey providing points from play and frees with Urney’s sole response coming from PJ McMenamin in the 14th minute. Urney made a few changes and, in the run up to halftime, they staged a scoring burst to haul their way back into contention as Stephen Lafferty and Jamie McAleer yielded a quartet of points for a 7-5 deficit.

The St Columba’s continued to dictate on the restart with Gary Lafferty, Ronan Lafferty and Fergal McNulty helping them to nose ahead. Gortin stayed in contention through Mossey and a Brian McGarvey, who landed the score of the evening before McAleer looked to have given Urney victory. Gortin though had one final chance with McGarvey winning the free that allowed McCullagh to send both teams home with something to show for their efforts.

Gortin scorers - Kevin Mossey 0-4, Kevin Mossey 0-4, Diarmuid McNulty 0-2, Brian McGarvey 0-1

Urney scorers - Jamie McAleer 0-4, Stephen Lafferty 0-2, Gary Lafferty 0-2, PJ McMenamin 0-1, Ronan Lafferty 0-1, Fergal McNulty 0-1

KILDRESS 1-7 DUNGANNON 1-6

Kildress gave their survival prospects a massive lift, when Damian Kelly’s goal five minutes from time handed them the narrowest of wins over Dungannon, at Gortacladdy on Saturday evening.

Kelly guided home when he met a Phillip Lennon cross for a 1-7 to 1-6 lead and, while the Clarke’s battled to the final whistle, the dismissal of Padraig McNulty effectively ended their challenge. McNulty collecting a second yellow card from Castlederg referee Brian McCallion in the closing stages.

There was nothing to choose between the teams in a very entertaining opening period, as the lead changed hand a few times before two Eoin Brannigan points helped the Tones into a narrow 5-4 interval lead. Lennon opened the scoring for the hosts with Des Treacy and Shane Kelly accounting for their other scores in response to away efforts from Patrick Quinn and Barry Cassidy amongst others.

Brannigan and Cassidy swapped points on the resumption before Quinn goaled on 40 minutes to give Dungannon a 1-5 to 0-6 lead. Cassidy increased the lead, but Kildress rallied and after Frank McGurk trimmed the deficit Kelly’s goal changed the complexion of the contest. Following that dismissal

Dungannon applied relentless pressure but they were unable to restore parity as Kildress secured what could prove to be an important set of points.

Kildress scorers - Damian Kelly 1-0, Eoin Brannigan 0-3, Phillip Lennon 0-1, Des Treacy 0-1, Shane Kelly 0-1, Frank McGurk 0-1

Dungannon scorers - Patrick Quinn 1-2, Barry Cassidy 0-3, Aaron Brannigan 0-1

MOORTOWN P STRABANE P

The much anticipated game of the day in the second tier failed to go ahead, to the annoyance of several clubs, who fielded depleted teams to fulfil their games. Holidays abroad and weekend stays in Dublin among some of the reasons why this match never materialised.