Antrim SFC Final

Cargin 1-18 St Mary's, Aghagallon 3-9 AET

By David Mohan at Corrigan Park

A strong finish saw Cargin regain the Antrim Senior Football Championship title to deny Aghagallon their first Padraig MacNamee Cup success in an absorbing game at a wet Corrigan Park.

The Toome outfit battled back from right down in normal time, but it was Aghagallon who forced the additional period and in the second period of this, the momentum was with Cargin as they found the answers.

After a hugely disappointing showing in last year's final, Aghagallon's intentions were to get off on the right foot and they did just that with the long ball - that would prove to be a huge weapon in the opening half with wind advantage - claimed by Ruairi for a mark he pointed.

After Pat Shivers levelled, a pair of Gareth Magee points had the St Mary's men in front, but Cargin began to get into a groove with Tomás McCann (free), Shivers and substitute Benen Kelly with his first touch edging them ahead.

But that long ball would pay dividends for Aghagallon on 20 minutes as a sideline was pumped into Adam Loughran who caught, and finished expertly.

After Magee pointed a free, they would have their second goal on 24 minutes as another long ball found Ruairi McCann who buried the chance and another Magee opened a seven-point gap.

Cargin looked shellshocked, but did narrow the gap before the break with pointed frees from Shivers and McCann leaving Aghagallon's lead at 2-5 to 0-6 at the half.

It seemed Aghagallon were well on their way when their third goal arrived two minutes after the restart as Ciaran Magennis made a break with the ball squirting free for McCann to finish to the empty net.

Yet Cargin didn't panic and worked their way back in well as they chipped away at the lead with the next five points through McCann (two frees), Paul McCann, Jamie Gribbin and a 45 from goalkeeper John McNabb.

It appeared Aghagallon had lost their way but 17 barren minutes came to an end with Gareth Magee finishing a good move, but in the 51st minute Tomás McCann went long to older brother Michael who gathered in front of goal, spun and found the net.

A McNabb 45 levelled and Cargin thought they had won it when James Laverty thumped over a wonder score out on the right, yet Aghagallon summoned one more attack with Oisin Lenehan curling over to force extra-time with the score 3-7 to 1-13.

The sides hit just one point apiece in the first period of extra time through Magee and Shivers.

There was 10 minutes to settle this and avoid a replay and Aghagallon edged ahead on 10 seconds through Pauric Magennis with McCann levelling from a free, but a fine score from Pat Shivers put Cargin ahead and they stayed on the front foot, turning Aghagallon over a couple of times with Bevan Kelly and Sean O'Neill landing the insurance scores as Cargin claimed title number 11.

Scorers for Cargin: Pat Shivers 0-5 (1 free),Tomás McCann 0-5 (all frees), Michael McCann 1-0, John McNabb 0-2 (both 45s), Benen Kelly 0-2, Jamie Gribbin 0-1, Paul McCann 0-1, James Laverty 0-1, Sean O'Neill 0-1

Scorers for Aghagallon: Ruairi McCann 2-1 (0-1 M), Gareth Magee (0-6 (4 frees), Adam Loughran 1-0, Oisin Lenehan 0-1, Pauric Magennis 0-1

CARGIN: John McNabb; Kevin O'Boyle, Justin Crozier, Cathair Donnelly; Ronan Gribbin, James Laverty, Sean O'Neill; John Carron, Gerard McCann; Ciaran Bradley, Jamie Gribbin, Paul McCann; Pat Shivers, Michael McCann, Tomás McCann

Subs: Benen Kelly for S O'Neill (16), Sean O'Neill for R Gribbin (37), Mark Kelly for M McCann (60+2); Brendan Laverty for C Donnelly (ET 8), Kevin McShane for M Kelly (ET 13), David Johnston for B Kelly (ET 16)

AGHAGALLON: Damian O'Hagan; Dan Donnelly, Jamie Lamont, Paul Mulholland; Ciaran Magennis, Pat Brannigan, Daryl McAlernon; Oisin Lenehan, Jack Lenehan; Eunan Walsh, Adam Loughran, Mark McAfee; Gareth Magee, Ruairi McCann, Jonny Hannon

Subs: Davy McAlernon for Daryl McAlernon (HT), Padraig Gowdy for J Hannon (HT), Enda McCartan for P Gowdy (42), Pauric Magennis for M McAfee (50), Stephen Devlin for P Mulholland (SET 16), Niall McShane for P Brannigan (ET 20).

REFEREE: Conla Roberts (St John's).