An Mhaigh Tir na nÓg G.A.C. Notes (week comm 12/06/06) A.C.L. Division 1B Senior An Mhaigh 4-10 Cabhan a Chaortainn 0-5 Moy seniors overcame the loss of nine first choice players to produce their most complete team performance of the season at home to a hapless Pomeroy side in Division 1B, last Sunday afternoon. It was an amazing display by the vastly understrength Sky Blues, who were full value for their seventeen point win on a glorious summer day at Pairc Thir na nOg. Most importantly, having reached the halfway point in the league, this result improves Moy's position in the bottom half of the table. Coming just a week after the encouraging display away to Division 1B leaders Galbally, the Moy management will feel their team is perhaps turning the corner following a poor enough start to the campaign. Several of the reserve side got their chance to impress last weekend with players such as Adrian Jordan in goals, Niall Conlon, Dirar Jomar, Ciaran Conroy, Anthony Rafferty, Brendan O'Neill and substitute Matt Murren all contributing handsomely to Moy's emphatic victory. Playing with the advantage of a fairly stiff breeze in the first half, Dee Lavery and Gerry Mallon's men got off to the perfect start with a goal after just 25 seconds. Full forward Colm Cavanagh was the man on target very early on, shooting to the net after being put through by Ciaran Conroy. Things got even better for Moy when Conroy added a point and Ryan O'Neill's long ball into the edge of the square bounced over the goalkeeper's head and into the net. Even the most optimistic of Moy followers could not have imagined their team being ahead 2-1 to 0-0 by the sixth minute and, although Pomeroy opened their account with a point soon after, the homesters continued to dominate for the remainder of this half. Excellent points from Neil Donaghy and Mickey McCann stretched Moy's advantage entering the second quarter and, with Francie McQuade and Ryan O'Neill leading the way in a highly disciplined and determined defence, Pomeroy's scoring chances were few and far between. The visitors did manage to notch a second point after 22 minutes but it was followed by another barrage of scores from a clinical Moy outfit. Shots from Mickey McCann, Ryan O'Neill and Brendan O'Neill all raised white flags before a foul on Padraig Laverty inside the large square resulted in Colm Cavanagh converting from the penalty spot. Half-Time: Moy 3-6 Pomeroy 0-2. Any hopes Pomeroy had of staging a comeback in the second half were quickly dashed when Ciaran Conroy pointed five minutes after the restart and Moy's third choice goalkeeper Adrian Jordan - deputising for Barry Gribbin and Ryan Kelly who are both at the World Cup in Germany - saved a penalty. Pomeroy's only score in the third quarter came after 42 minutes when they fired over from open play, but this was soon cancelled out by a similar effort at the other end from Mickey McCann. With Neil Donaghy and Colm Jordan in complete control at midfield, Moy continued to press forward at every opportunity and added a fourth goal nine minutes before the end when Ciaran Conroy palmed a Matt Murren crossfield pass to the net. Pomeroy responded with two more points but it was not nearly enough as the rampant Tir na nOgs, who began the game with a bang, finished with a flourish. Mickey McCann grabbed his fourth point while Colm Cavanagh completed the scoring with his side's only point from a free-kick. Moy could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty in the 59th minute as Colm Cavanagh gave up the chance to score a hat-trick of goals, allowing Ciaran Conroy instead to take the kick. Conroy's effort was saved but it mattered little as Moy ran out easiest of winners on a scoreline of 4-10 to 0-5. Team & Scorers: Adrian Jordan; Ryan O'Neill (1-1), Francie McQuade (capt), Mark Donnelly; Niall Conlon, Thomas McNicholl, Dirar Jomar; Neil Donaghy (0-1) and Colm Jordan; Padraig Laverty, Ciaran Conroy (1-2), Anthony Rafferty; Mickey McCann (0-4), Colm Cavanagh (2-1, 1 pen, 1 free), Brendan O'Neill (0-1). Sub used: Matt Murren (46 mins). League Record: Played 11, Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 6, Points 9. Remaining Fixtures: v Trillick (home); v Clan na Gael (away); v Galbally (home); v Killeeshil (away); v Aghaloo (home); v Drumquin (home); v Edendork (away); v Gortin (away); v Loughmacrory (home); v Pomeroy (away); v Moortown (away). A.C.L. Division 1B Reserve Achadh Lu 0-8 An Mhaigh 0-16 Due to the large number of players who were unavailable last weekend, Moy reserves were forced to concede their game at home to Pomeroy. However, they returned to league action on Tuesday evening past with a rearranged fixture away to Aghaloo and, although still understrength, Adrian Jordan and Ciaran Campbell's men registered a comfortable eight point win. The foundation for Moy's victory lay in the first half performance. The Sky Blues went all out on attack during those opening thirty minutes and turned on the style at times to torment the opposition. Division 1B strugglers Aghaloo found it difficult to stem the tide and they went in at the interval trailing 0-4 to 0-11. The winners were not quite as dominant in the second half due to a combination of some wayward shooting by the Tir na nOg forwards and more determined play by the home side. Moy's lead, however, was never seriously threatened and the men from the riverbank still managed to win the game by double scores (0-16 to 0-8). Team: Adrian Jordan; Philip McQuade, Niall Kelly, Declan Cavanagh; Thomas McNicholl, Mark Currie, Dirar Jomar; Niall Conlon and James Devlin; Martin Conroy, Ciaran Conroy, Ciaran Campbell; Emmett Rafferty, Brendan O'Neill, Matt Murren. Subs used: Anthony Rafferty and Stephen Hetherington. League Record: Played 11, Won 5, Drawn 1, Lost 5, Points 11. Under 8 Tournament Moy Under 8s were invited by Clonduff G.A.C. to participate in the Brian McGreevy Perpetual Tournament, last Saturday. Twenty four teams in total took part, with Moy being the only Tyrone representatives and the rest hailing from counties Armagh and Down. Tir na nOg youth team mentor Liam Lynch states: "Moy's first match in the group stages was against the host club Clonduff, who proved to be too strong for the visitors. However, Moy were to improve, drawing with Saval, then recording wins against Mitchels, Drumgrath and Mayobridge. Our boys eventually finished second in their group, qualifying for the quarter finals of the cup and being drawn against Clann Eireann. Not for the first time in the day, the Moy boys were up for the challenge and, although we did not get any further in the tournament, the coaches were very proud of the players who did themselves and their club proud. We would also like to thank the parents who came along to support this young team of possible future all-stars on what was a very enjoyable day." Team: Ruairi Ballantine, Jack Campbell, Michael Conroy, Cormac Corr, Cara Corr, Sean Farmer, Ciaran Foster, Darren Heatherington, Francie Kelly, Emmett Lavery, Tom Loughran, Sean Lynch, Cormac Mallon, Ronan Mallon, Diarmaid McKeown, Conall O'Hanlon, Mark Regan, Arturs Pumpure. Snippets Good luck to Philip, Ryan, Sean and everyone associated with the Tyrone senior team in the All-Ireland Qualifier first round match against Louth this Saturday. An Mhaigh G.A.C. also wish Neil Donaghy and Antrim every success in this weekend's Qualifiers, and we will be keeping our fingers crossed as well for Thomas Conlon and the Tyrone minors in their Ulster Championship semi-final clash with Donegal on Sunday. The committee, players and members of An Mhaigh Tir na nOg G.A.C. were saddened to learn of the death last weekend of Mr Tommy McGrath, brother of our esteemed club member Jim. The deceased was a very well known figure throughout this community and will be in the thoughts and prayers of many Moy Gaels this week. May he rest in peace. To Jim and the entire McGrath family circle, we at the club extend our heartfelt condolences. Ladies Notes Last Saturday evening saw Moy senior ladies record their third consecutive home win to remain among the early pacesetters in Division Two. They faced their toughest test yet against a Sperrin Og side who only recently made the drop from first division football, but another impressive attacking display from the girls in Sky Blue saw them emerge victorious by eleven points. The start of this game at Pairc Thir na nOg was greeted with a heavy shower of rain, yet Susan McCann made light of these conditions to kick a goal for Moy in the very first attack. Although a Caroline Kelly point after five minutes consolidated Moy's early advantage, the homesters did not get it all their own way in that opening quarter. Sperrin Og also fired over from play during those opening exchanges and it required a brave block from defender Michelle Gribbin and an excellent save by Eimear McKearney in the Moy goals to deny them further scores. It was not until the 14th minute, when Maeve McKearney fisted to the net, that Moy took full control. The Tir na nOg cailini completely dominated the second quarter and, with Claire Devlin and Frances Begley in inspired form at wing back, Moy's defence succeeded in keeping the Sperrin Og attack at bay for the remainder of the half. At the other end, further scores from Susan McCann (0-1), Caroline Kelly (1-0) and Maeve McKearney (0-2) helped put their side into a match-winning lead by the break. Moy could even afford the luxury of eight first half wides. Half-Time: Moy 3-4 Sperrin Og 0-1. The visitors were faced with an almost impossible task after the interval but, to their credit, they played with terrific spirit and actually succeeded in outscoring Moy by a point (1-5 to 0-7) in the second half. Although they never seriously threatened Moy's lead, the Sperrin Og girls did give as good as they got during this period and could have given the winners a real scare had they not kicked five wides within ten minutes of the restart. Solid defending from the likes of Colleen McCance and Collette Jordan ensured Moy were always in the driving seat while points from Claire Ogle, Caroline Kelly (2), Maeve McKearney and super-sub Kelley Fay (3) helped maintain their side's healthy advantage in this half. Full-Time Score: Moy 3-11 Sperrin Og 1-6. Team & Scorers: Eimear McKearney; Collette Jordan, Michelle Clancy, Michelle Gribbin; Claire Devlin, Colleen McCance, Frances Begley; Sarah Rafferty and Rionach Laverty; Maeve McKearney (1-3, 1 free), Leona Gallagher, Claire Ogle (0-1); Susan McCann (1-1), Caroline Kelly (1-3), Patricia Conroy. Subs: Kelley Fay (56 mins, 0-3), Jenna Hagan (56 mins), Aisling McCann, Maria Jordan, Alice Murphy and Nina Murphy. Moy ladies will now turn their attentions to the Intermediate Championship and a first round clash with Omagh St Enda's in Killeeshil this Friday evening (16 June) at 6.45pm. The game will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Aodh Ruadh v St Macartan's senior championship tie that has a throw-in time of 8.15pm. Moy Gaels are urged to get behind the ladies in their quest to go one step further than last season. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to star forward Nina Murphy, who sustained a foot injury in the recent home win against Badoney and is expected to be out of action for several weeks. Nina will be sorely missed, and we look forward to her return to the Moy colours in the not too distant future. Tweet

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