Minor 2005

Eire Og players in the photo are:
Back row – Niall Rice(second from right), Keyvan Vesali(4th from right)
Front Row - Micky Hughes(2nd from right), Niall Cochrane(3rd from right)

Other Eire Og squad members missing from photo are Aiden McGowan, David Whelan, Emmet Magee and Ciaran Ferguson

Eire Og minor footballers have amalgamated with their St Teresa's and St Agnes' counterparts for 2005 Minor Football League.

They are joined in Section A of the All County Minor league by All Saints, Ballymena, Ardoyne, Aldergrove, Davitt's, Gort na Mona, Moneyglass, O'Donnell's, Sarsfields and St Brigid's.

The minor Ogs are Niall Rice, Niall Cochrane, Aiden McGowan, Keyvan Vesali, Ciaran Ferguson, David Whelan, Emmet Magee and Andrew Brady. The management team is Johnny Smye (Eire Og), Sean McGoldrick and Paul Jordan both from St Teresa’s.

Winter League Results

Naomh Nua 3-12 Davitts 1-3 23/01/05

This was the first match in the All County Winter League, with the Ogs entering the competition in amalgamation with St Teresa’s and St Agnes under the name Naomh Nua. Opponents were Davitts, who were widely fancied to do well in this competition following last year’s success in the competition. However the match ended in an emphatic win for Naomh Nua.
The first half was a keenly contested affair with some fine flowing moves by the Naomh Nua players. As the half progressed, Naomh Nua gradually gained the upper hand due mainly to a solid defensive performance by players such as Kyvan Vesali and a dominant midfield pairing of Phillip Maguire and Conor McClean. Naomh Nua went in at half time with a 7 point lead and never looked back.
In the second half, Naomh Nua stepped up the performance again to such an extent that Davitts failed to score in the second half. Goals from Noel McGarry and one from Niall Cochrane sealed the victory. Eight Eire Og players featured in this victory, with impressive performances from Niall Rice and Niall Cochrane in attack and Kyvan Vesali and Aidan McGowan solid in defence. An encouraging start to the competition.

Scorers:Noel McGarry (2-0), Niall Cochrane (1-0), Jim Magee (0-5), Niall Rice (0-3), Ciaran Murtagh (0-1), Phillip Maguire (0-2), Niall Porter (0-1)

Naomh Nua 4-9 Ardoyne 2-4 30/01/05

The second match of the winter league turned into another impressive win for Naomh Nua. Ardoyne, with an apparently young side were no match for a stronger, fluent Noamh Nua side.
Naomh Nua dominated the first half with strong performances from the Eire Og contingent of Kyvan Vesali, Niall Rice, Niall Cochrane, Aidan McGowan, Ciaran Ferguson, David Whelan, Aidan Brady and Gary McVeigh. Ardoyne were unable to make any impression on the Naomh Nua defence while Naomh Nua forwards scored at will. Ardoyne improved somewhat in the second half and gained confidence with 2 well taken goals. However the end result was never in doubt.
Eire Og players, Niall Rice, Niall Cochrane and Kyvan Vesali had impressive performances while other Og players all played their part in this victory.

Scorers: Matt Cocace (2-0), Niall Rice (1-0), Ciaran Murtagh (1-1), Phillip Maguire (0-3) Jim Magee (0-3), Paul McGoldrick (0-1), Niall Cochrane (0-1)

Naomh Nua Won by Walk Over O’Donnells Did not field 06/02/05

Naomh Nua 2-6 Gort Na Mona 2-3 13/02/05

This match proved to be a tough, uncompromising contest between two teams, both determined to win. Gort Na Mona are reigning All County Champions and were intent on proving their credentials in this match. However Naomh Nua ran out worthy winners. With a bitterly cold gale force wind blowing throughout the game, tactics and determination were always going to dictate who would win this game.
In the first half, Naomh Nua did not capitalize on the wind advantage they enjoyed and went into the break only one point up. A Gort Na Mona goal scored in one of their few breaks away in this half left the score at half time 0-5 to 1-1 in favour of Naomh Nua.
In the second half, Naomh Nua played the right kind of football for the prevailing conditions. A solid defensive performance led by Kyvan Vesali snuffed out the pacy Gort Na Mona forwards while the Naomh Nua midfield and forwards made the most of the limited procession in this half. A Jim Magee goal scored after a well worked move broke the Gort Na Mona lad’s hearts 15 minutes into the second half. This was followed shortly after by a well taken Noel McGarry goal. Despite wind advantage, Gort Na Mona were never able to claw their way back into this game. Solid defensive work from Naomh Nua frustrated Gort Na Mona attempts to get on level terms and Naomh Nua ran out winners 2-6 to 2-3.
Best for Naomh Nua were Kyvan Vesali, Phillip Maguire and Aidan McGowan in defence, while up front Jim Magee, Niall Cochrane, Paul McGoldrick and Ciaran Murtagh were the stars. A hard earned victory which should inspire confidence for future games.

Scorers: Jim Magee (1-1), Noel McGarry (1-1), Paul McGoldrick (0-1), Phillip Maguire (0-1), Niall Cochrane (0-1), Conor McClean (0-1)

Naomh Nua Won by Walk Over All Saints, Ballymena have withdrawn from the League 20/02/05

Naomh Nua 3-11 Sarsfields 1-2 28/02/05

This was a comfortable victory for Naomh Nua in a game which was characterised by some excellent second half football.
In a first half which saw Sarsfields limited to 2 points, the Naomh Nua side was slow to settle down unlike previous games. Points from Matt Cacace(2), Jim Magee(2), Ciaran Murtagh(1) and Conor McClean(1) allowed Naomh Nua to build up a significant lead but the football in this half was laboured. A goal just before half time from Niall Cochrane provided a comfortable lead going into the break 1-6 to 0-2.
The second half was dominated by Naomh Nua who put some excellent scores on the board due mainly to some excellent fielding and passing of the ball. The midfield sector was dominated by Conor McClean and Stephen McIlhatton while the defence were solid with impressive performances from Aidan McGowan, Kyvan Vesali and Kieran Ferguson. Up front, Jim Magee starred with a goal and 2 points in the half with further points from Gary McVeigh, Phillip Maguire, Stephen McIlhatton and a well taken goal by Matt Cacace secured the victory for Naomh Nua. Sarsfields’ only score in the half was a goal resulting from a rare lapse in concentration from the Naomh Nua defence.
This was Naomh Nua’s 6th victory in the Winter League earning them the favourites tag along with Aldergrove in this section. With only 3 games to go in their section, reaching the Winter League final is a distinct possibility for this Naomh Nua side.

Scorers: Jim Magee(1-4), Matt Cacace(1-2), Niall Cochrane(1-0), Phillip Maguire(0-1), Gary McVeigh(0-1), Stephen McIlhatton(0-1), Conor McClean(0-1), Ciaran Murtagh(0-1).

Naomh Nua 0-7 Moneyglass 1-4 06/03/05

This 6th round match was to be a close run affair between two teams giving 100 per cent effort. Moneyglass travelled to Belfast clearly intent on toppling the unbeaten Naomh Nua side and nearly did so.
The first half began with Moneyglass laying siege to the Naomh Nua goalmouth, scoring two unanswered points before the Naomh Nua lads got into first gear. Moneyglass at this point were first to the ball on most occasions and could have built up a larger points total with more accurate shooting. Good defensive performances from Kyvan Vesali, Niall Porter and Phillip Maguire kept Moneyglass’ points total to a minimum and gradually Naomh Nua managed to start putting a few moves together. Points from Phillip Maguire, Jim Magee and Matt Cacace made the half time score 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Moneyglass.
The second half was a closely contested affair which for the most part lacked any free flowing football and on occasions boiled over into an ill-tempered contest between two committed teams. This half was largely dominated by Naomh Nua and points from Noel McGarry and Conor McClean saw Naomh Nua edge ahead. At this stage they looked the likely winners. However 2 sending offs for the Naomh Nua side after ten minutes, and a “lucky” goal by Moneyglass from a post rebound put the pressure on Naomh Nua again. In a dramatic last ten minutes, the 13 man Naomh Nua side pulled out all the stops to secure a draw with 2 final points from Phillip Maguire and Jim Magee.
Best for Naomh Nua on this occasion were Conor McClean, Phillip Maguire, Kyvan Vesali and Jim Magee.

Scorers: Jim Magee(0-2), Phillip Maguire(0-2), Matt Cacace(0-1), Noel McGarry(0-1), Conor McClean(0-1).

St Brigid’s 0-4 Naomh Nua 2-12

This was another comfortable win for Naomh Nua in this penultimate game of this section of the winter league. The first quarter of this game however suggested that a comfortable win was not on the cards: St Brigid’s, during this period were first to the ball and played a more controlled passing game which saw them take a 2 point lead after 5 minutes. Indeed it was 20 minutes into the half before Naomh Nua finally settled down to playing the football they are capable of. Jim Magee in the forward line provided the spark which brought Naomh Nua to life, with a goal and 3 points to his credit in this half. This helped Naomh Nua to a narrow 3-point lead at half time: 1-04 to 0-04.

The 2nd half of this game was a complete contrast to the 1st half. Naomh Nua upped their game into a higher gear and camped in the St Brigid’s half. Points from Noel McGarry(2), Niall Rice(1), Paul McGoldrick(1), Niall Porter(1) and Niall Cochrane(1) without reply from St Brigid’s provided the platform for Naomh Nua’s dominance in this half. Solid defensive work from Philip Maguire, Aidan Magowan and Kyvan Velsali cancelled out any St Brigid’s incursions into Naomh Nua territory. Indeed St Brigid’s failed to score in this half. This emphatic 2nd period display was capped off with a well taken Niall Cochrane goal leaving the final score 2-12 to 0-4. Man of the match was the Og’s Niall Rice returning after injury and giving a brilliant display of passing and support play. Final score: Naomh Nua 2-12 St Brigids 0-04.

Scorers: J Magee(1-05), N Cochrane(1-01), N McGarry(0-02), P McGoldrick(0-02), N Rice(0-01), N Porter(0-01)

Naomh Nua 3-11 Aldergrove 0-08

The final game in this section of the winter league was to be the decisive game with the winners going on to compete in the final against the winners of Section A - both teams being undefeated in this side of the draw.

Unlike previous games the result was to be decided in the 1st half of the game. From the throw in Naomh Nua laid siege to the Aldergrove goal and stamped their authority on the game with a brilliantly taken Noel McGary point. This was followed by points from Connor McClean(2) Paul McGoldrick(2) and Niall Cochrane(1) before Aldergrove got on the scoreboard. Further points for Paul McGoldrick, Jim Magee and Niall Rice accompanied by a well taken Jim Magee goal left the half time score 1-09 to 0-02 and Naomh Nua well on their way to the league final.

On the restart Aldergrove put up a better display with a brace of well taken points. However, Naomh Nua, with Kyvan Vesali and Philip Maguire leading the defence, never looked in serious trouble. The highlight of the half was a brilliantly taken Niall Rice goal finishing off some brilliant lead-up play. This was followed shortly after by a Jim Magee goal which rounded off Naomh Nua’s best performance to date. Best for Naomh Nua were Philip Maguire, Kyvan Vesali and Niall Porter in defence, Connor McClean in midfield and Niall Rice, Niall Cochrane and Jim Magee in the forwards - a fine display also from goalkeeper Chris McKee. Final score Naomh Nua 3-11 Aldergrove 0-8

Scorers: J Magee(2-02), N Rice(1-01), C McClean(0-02), P McGoldrick(0-03), N Cochrane(0-01), C Murtagh(0-01), N McGarry(0-01)

Back Row: Fintan Duffy, Niall Cochrane, Stephen McIlhatton, Ciaran Murtagh, Conor McClean, Chris McKee, Ciaran Kerr, Jim Magee, Cormac McCloskey, Niall Rice, Ciaran Ferguson
Front Row: Colm McGoldrick, Thomas Heaney, Kyvan Vesali, Daniel McGuigan, Noel McGarry, Aidan Magowan, Philip Maguire, Niall Porter, Paul McGoldrick

Minor Ogs in bold

St Galls 2-08 Naomh Nua 0-06

St. Gall’s are the new Antrim minor football league champions when they defeated Naomh Nua in a hard-fought game on a scoreline of 2-8 to 0-6.
In a very competitive and close opening half the sides were level at 0-4 apiece and it was all to play for. However, the St. Gall’s side hit two goals early in the second-half from Mickey McNeill and Brendan Earley and these proved the decisive scores in the game, and they went on to record an eight points win at the finish.
To be honest the scoreline didn’t do justice to the efforts of the amalgamation side, Naomh Nua (St. Teresa’s, St. Agnes and Eire Og combination) who battled gamely to the very end, but could not break down a very solid St. Gall’s defence.
All in all, a very exciting and competitive decider, and a fitting final to the minor league season.

Match Report on hoganstand.com

Two goals, just three minutes apart in the early stages of the second half, put clear blue water between these sides bidding for their first Antrim league crown, writes Jim Smyth.
St Gall’s pulled away from the tenacious St Teresa’s/St Agnes’s/Eire Og combination side when Mickey McNeill and Brendan Early delivered in the 35th and 38th minutes.
After a first half which saw Naomh Nua, thanks mainly to Jim Magee, reply to two Conal Mulhern points, and one each from McNeill and Early, the game was level at 0-04 each, and with everything to play for.
The Milltown lads, powered by Sean Burke and Conor McGourty, grabbed an early second half lead with Aaron Thompson and McGourty points before McNeill and Early pounced. There was no way back for Naomh Nua.

Match report from the Irish News

 South Antrim Minor Football League