Greencastle look formidable during Championship victory over Aghaloo

Greencastle 1-13 Aghaloo 1-8

Greencastle St Patrick’s are through to the semi finals of the LCC Tyrone Intermediate Championship after a very convincing 1-13 to 1-8 win over Aghaloo at Ballinamullan on Saturday afternoon.

Early points from the industrious Peter Teague and Sean Fox gave Greencastle the start they were looking for. Aghaloo were struggling to settle and their chances of victory were dealt a huge blow when they lost their captain and talisman, Ruairi Mc Glone, to a serious knee injury 10 minutes into the game. Minus their leader, the O’Neills side looked bereft of ideas and confidence.

Greencastle made hay and added a goal and two further points to lead 1-4 to no score after 20 minutes. Mark Carson converted a free before Cahir Mc Cullagh sent over a 'mark' and Ryan Gumley rounded off a superb move to hit the net for Sean Teague’s side.

Conor Mullen eventually broke the Aghaloo duck after 20 minutes but Barry McGarvey drove upfield to restore the seven point differential.

With less than three minutes of the first half remaining Aghaloo were dealt another huge blow when veteran goalkeeper Stevie Donnelly suffered a leg injury that led to him having to leave the field on a stretcher.

Niall McElroy and Niall Henderson added points for Aghaloo but Greencastle kept them at arm’s length with further scores from Cahir McCullagh and Mark Carson. Deep in injury time Aghaloo lost Jody Mc Glone to a straight red card and a difficult job for Mickey Donnelly at the break suddenly became a whole lot harder.

'Man of the Match' Peter Teague opened the scoring for Greencastle at the start of the second half. Credit to Aghaloo they carried the fight to the men in green and white in the second half but just could not penetrate the well organised Greencastle defence in which Dan Tuohey, Ronan Hollywood, Seamus Warnock, Conor Carson and Shane Mc Cullagh were superb.

The teams swapped scores with Conor Mullen and Niall McElroy scoring for Aghaloo and Cahir McCullagh, Dan Tuohey, Mark Carson, Patrick Mc Elhatton and Peter Teague added points to the Greencastle tally.

Aghaloo’s Conor Mullen eventually broke the St Patrick’s resistance with a goal seven minutes from time. They added another point through Padraig Mc Geary but those scores were not enough to deny Greencastle the win and a place in the last four.