On Saturday 27th July Collegeland O’Rahillys travelled to Whitecross to play St Michaels Killean in the first round of the Armagh Junior Championship. This evening fixture was played on a greasy surface with a strong wind blowing left to right straight down the field which was going to make the game the proverbial game of two halves. Fortunately Collegeland played with the wind in the first half. Collegeland going in to this game as hot favourites did not disappoint in the early stages as Gareth Mc Ardle had the opening point in the first minute. Further points by Paul Cullen, Brian Mc Geary, and Barry O’ Neill had Collegeland four points up after five minutes. The next fifteen minutes saw the O’Rahillys add just three further scores by Brian Mc Geary, Tom Murphy, and Mickey Cullen despite playing with the strong wind at their backs to lead by seven. Collegeland then closed out the final ten minutes of the half with points by Mathew Murphy, Tom Murphy, and Gareth Mc Ardle pointed from a free. Half Time Collegeland 0-10 Killean 0-0.
The second half saw more heavy blustery showers and the conditions seemed to affect the performances from both sides. Killean were awarded a penalty in the fifth minute which they converted. Both sides were then guilty of poor shooting in the second half and will blame the weather. Killean mounted several well-co-ordinated attacks but the Collegeland defence held solid. Collegeland had to battle for twenty-two minutes to get their only score of the second half with a point from Mathew Murphy following a lovely cross-field ball from Brian McGeary. Kevin McNicholl and Sean McNicholl then took over the two corner forward positions and quickly got involved in the action. Final score Collegeland O’Rahillys 0-11, St Michaels Killean 1-0. Well done to managers Tommy Corr and Leo McGeary.
Collegeland Team: Macartan McGeary; Brian Mitchell; Stephen Clancy; Eamonn McGeary; Matthew Murphy; Tom Murphy; Ruari Mc Geary; Karol McGeary; Paul Cullen; Michael Cullen; Ryan McParland; Gareth McArdle; Odhran Campbell; Brian McGeary; Barry O’Neill; Tommy McGeary; Kevin McNicholl; Sean McNicholl; Cathal McCracken; Chris McCann; Micheal Hughes; Barry Colhoun; Bernard Mackle; Jack McGeary; Kieran Hayes; Colm Mitchell; Gary McCann.
The Draw for the Junior Championship Quarter-Finals takes place at Wednesday’s Co Board meeting with matches down for playing on the weekend of 17/18/19 August.
Intermediate League Shield and Reserves
The Shield section of the Intermediate League gets underway this week and the next Fixtures are due out on Tuesday. The next round of Reserves fixtures are also due to be announced. So hopefully plenty of football left to play and everyone on the panel is needed at training over the next few weeks.
Naomh Eoin GFC Fixtures.
Meanwhile underage football continues and the latest fixtures are;-
uI6 Thursday 2nd August, Naomh Eoin v Maghery in Annaghmore 7.15pm
u12 Saturday 4th August, Clan Na Gael v Naomh Eoin in Lurgan at 4 pm
u10 Saturday 4th August Naomh Eoin v Granemore in Collegeland – not yet confirmed.
u18 Monday 6th August, Naomh Eoin v Cavanakill Emmett’s in Annaghmore 7 15pm
u14 Tuesday 7th August, Newtown Emmett’s v Naomh Eoin in Dorsey.