ACIRFC: Greenlough 4-04 Glen 1-14 (20/08/14) - Heartbreak for Reserves at championship exit
When the sides met in the league in Maghera at the start of July there was ten points in favour of Glen; so when Greenlough hosted the Wattys in the Quarter-Final of the Intermediate Reserve Championship on Wednesday evening, 20th August, the home side were hoping to put a better performance and hope for a win.

It looked bad for Greenlough after the first minute as Glen raced into a two point lead and started where they left off in the league. However, unlike the league Greenlough responded immediately through Brian O'Neill's point, and then Matthew Bradley lost his man, made a great run and fired past the keeper to give the St Oliver Plunkett's men the lead for the first time.

A further point from Gary Loughlin after a great pass from Brian O'Neill pushed Greenlough further ahead in the sixth minute. After an injury forced Gary O'Neill to be replaced by Jamie Kennedy, Glen hit back with three points in three minutes to draw level in the twelfth minute.

Over the next ten minutes Greenlough should have taken the lead on a number of occasions; hitting four wides and being rewarded two '45s, as well as dropping the ball short and losing possession in scoring positions. After such a sustained period of pressure from Greenlough, along with some excellent defending from the whole defence, particularly the full back line of Christopher Lagan, Ciaran Cassidy and Eoin Connolly, Glen then went onto get the next score to retake the lead with a point in the 23rd minute from a free.

It took five minutes, but Greenlough did then get back on level terms after dominating possession, and then in the final minute of normal time a sublime pass through the centre of the Glen defence from Thomas McCann found Brian O'Neill who rifled the ball into the net for a brilliant goal.

Lifted by the goal Greenlough continued to push on, and should have had another goal with the last kick of the half, but the effort hit the outside of the net instead of the inside.
Half-Time: Greenlough 2-03 Glen 0-06

The three point lead was all but gone within two minutes of the resumption of the game, as Glen hit two points, and could have had a third only for the ball to go wide.

Greenlough could initially only respond with a wide, but then in the 37th minute, after a great tackle by Christopher Lagan and strong run from defence by Eoin Connolly, veteran Greenlough player Thomas McCann provided a moment of magic when his pin point shot lobbed the Glen keeper and the ball was in the back of the net for the home side's third goal.

With a four point lead Greenlough should have pushed on again, but put two efforts wide, and again Glen responded after the wastefulness with a point from a free.

The St Oliver Plunkett's men were still winning a lot of possession around the middle and continued to be strong in defence, and when another wide was recorded it looked as though they would never pull away from the visitors. However then within a minute of that wide, mid way through the half, Christopher Maguire broke away from his man and slid the ball low past the Glen's second goalkeeper of the evening; pushing Greenlough into a six point lead with under fifteen minutes to go.

Glen responded with a point three minutes later, but Matthew Bradley pointed from a free to keep the gap at six with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

There were a number of stoppages for injuries in the match, particularly the second half, and with two minutes of normal time remaining the gap was still at six, and Greenlough had chances to add to the lead, but in the space of three minutes the game turned on its head in favour of the visitors.

Firstly they were awarded and pointed two frees in the 58th minute, then in the first minute of injury time they found the back of the net for the first time. Directly from the kick-out the ball was returned over the bar to bring the sides level, and then the killer blow came from another point two minutes into injury time.

Greenlough battled on, and when a '45 was awarded and the shot came off the post, the Greenlough player who picked up the rebound was mobbed by 5 or 6 Glen players in the large rectangle, but no penalty or even free was awarded, and the visitors gained possession, and with that final whistle was blown to end a frantic and heart-breaking match for the Greenlough players who had come so close to reaching the semi-finals after a great display.
Full-Time: Greenlough 4-04 Glen 1-14

Hard luck to players and management after a great performance which proved to be just not enough, despite being the better team for large periods of the game. Thanks also to the players and management team of Paul Henry and Noel Henry for the dedication throughout the year, in which they finished runners-up in the league. Their help and management was much appreciated by the players and club.

Team and Scorers: Vincent McDonnell, Christopher Lagan, Ciaran Cassidy, Eoin Connolly, Gary Loughlin 0-1, Niall Kearney, Liam Quinn, Brian O'Neill 1-1, Gary O'Neill, Robert Kelly, Michael Clarke, Ruairi McGlinchey, Matthew Bradley 1-2 (1f), Christopher Maguire 1-0, Thomas McCann 1-0. Subs: Jamie Kennedy for G O'Neill (7min inj), Michael Taggart for N Kearney (HT inj), Kevin McDonnell for R Kelly (black card 39 min), Leo Madden for M Clarke (46 min), Diarmuid Clarke for C Maguire (black card 51 min), Fergal Clarke, Darren Brown, Kevin McNally, Breandan McNally. 

ACFL Div 2: Greenlough 7-22 Lissan 0-06 (24/08/14) - Emphatic victory in final home game of 2014
Greenlough Seniors' final game of the League was on Sunday 24th of August at home to Lissan.
With Lissan in mid-table safety and Greenlough already in the promotion play-offs, there was little to play for in the game at St Oliver Plunkett Park, and from early on it was evident it would be one way traffic.

Brian McCallion started the scoring with a fisted point after a minute and a half, before Niall Loughlin fired over from 25 meters.

Lissan responded with their first point in the fifth minute, only for Niall Loughlin to catch the ball from a kick out and play Enda Lynn in who found the back of the net.

Enda returned the favour for Niall when he provided the pass through for Niall to hit a goal in the 12th minute. Lissan got a second point in the 14th minute, but from then til two minutes before half time it was all Greenlough.

The next five minutes saw four points from four different scorers for Greenlough, one each from Enda Lynn, Brian O'Neill, Ryan Tohill and Niall Loughlin to leave ten in it with ten remaining of the first half.

The home side's complete domination continued for the next seven minutes with Ryan Tohill hitting four points, while Stefan Lynn responded quickest to a Lissan save and pointed, along with two points from Enda Lynn.

Lissan finished the half with two points in the final two minutes, to leave fifteen in it by the break.
Half-Time: Greenlough 2-13 Lissan 0-04

Lissan started the second half brighter with a pointed free after 45 seconds, only for Greenlough to respond with a goal and two points in the second minute. Brian McCallion and Ryan Tohill hit the points before Niall Loughlin found the net for a second time having side stepped his way past three Lissan players.

Niall Loughlin then turned provider, and set up sub Christopher Maguire who first pointed a minute after his introduction, and then found the net two minutes later.

Enda Lynn then blasted to the net for Greenlough's fifth goal, followed by a point from Stefan Lynn.

Lissan pointed for the sixth and final time in the 41st minute; however there would be seven more scores for Greenlough before the one-sided contest would be brought to an end.

Enda Lynn pointed from a free a minute later, before two of Greenlough's defenders got in on the scoring; Paul Quinn from close range despite having taken a knock in the build up, followed by James McCallion from 30 meters.

Two goals in two minutes pushed the St Oliver Plunkett's men further ahead still; Ryan Tohill adding to his six points with a deflected goal, before Thomas McCann continued his rich goal scoring vein when he blasted high to the net from close range.

The final scores of the game came in the 56th minute, both from Niall Loughlin, the first from play, the second from a free; confirming what was suspected after ten minutes; a comfortable victory for Greenlough.

Full-Time: Greenlough 7-22 Lissan 0-06

The win means Greenlough now enter the promotion play-offs for a second year in a row, with a chance to move up to Division 1 again. Details have not yet been confirmed, but in the mean time the focus shifts to championship, with Greenlough taking on Claudy on Saturday 30th.

Team and Scorers: Vincent McDonnell, Paul Quinn 0-1, Justin Madden, Christopher Lagan, Christopher Kearney, Joseph Kearney, James McCallion 0-1, Brian O'Neill 0-1, Niall Bradley, Stefan Lynn 0-2, Enda Lynn 2-4 (1f), Connor Madden, Ryan Tohill 1-6, Niall Loughlin 2-4, Brian McCallion 0-2. Subs: Matthew Bradley for C Madden (HT), Thomas McCann 1-0 for B O'Neill, Christopher Maguire 1-1 for M Bradley (35 min inj), Ciaran Cassidy, Michael Clarke for S Lynn (40 min), Fergal Clarke, Cormac O'Neill for E Lynn (52 min), Eoin Connolly for P Quinn (51 min).

Clapping at the Lough and 10k Run - The Cow Clap draw has been postponed until Sunday 7th September, when there will be a 10k & 5K Run. Registration from 12 noon to 12.50pm; Run commences at 1pm; Men, Women and Children of all ages welcome from everywhere. Cow Clap event from 12 noon. Tickets still available at £5 each. Prize £1000.

Greenlough Fight Night - Greenlough GAC are proposing organising a Fight Night to take place on the 8th November 2014. There will be a minimum of 10 bouts, each one will be 3 by 1 minute rounds. Therefore we need a minimum of 20 people to take part. If you volunteer to fight there will be an 8 week training programme which will be 2 nights a week in Toome at a cost of £2.00 per session. This will commence at the end of August/start of September. Also each fighter will have to get a certain amount of sponsorship which is still to be determined. Anyone interested please contact Connor Madden(07866671491) by the 30th June to determine if it is feasible to run the event.

Lotto Results 18/08/14 - Letters: B D T U. Jackpot £2900 - not won. £25 Winners - Clare Madden, Newbridge & Gerard Reid, Clady. Jackpot for 25/08/14: £2950. NB: Please buy a ticket from any of the sellers or local outlets, or return your lotto envelopes to the box provided or sellers. Thank you for your support.

More club details: www.greenloughgac.com or GreenloughGAC on Facebook, or @GreenloughGAC on Twitter.

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