June 5 - Senior Football: Armagh-Notre Dame v Christopher's

Christopher’s 4-15 Armagh-Notre Dame 0-14


It was a major about turn for Christopher’s following their first outing of the year as they comfortably won two championship points at the expense of Armagh-Notre Dame. Christopher’s team featured a number of new additions, most notably Colm O’Driscoll at center forward and Shane Beston at wing forward. Adrian Greaney anchored the back line while Eric Hegarty, who featured in the 2009 championship side, made a return at corner forward. Christopher’s established and early lead and from that point were in cruise control, while Armagh-ND worked hard and enjoyed some good spells, but never got close enough to put any doubt in the outcome.

Colm O'Driscoll was in great form for Christopher's Sunday.

Christopher’s hit early and hard. A powerful forward line had their opponents on their heels right from the get go. Beston buried a goal in the first minute to get his side off to a great start. Eric Hegarty followed with two points from frees, and after Adrian Greaney won a free in his own back line Aidan Walsh added a third in the points column. Beston added another point and with their opponents still to register a score, Christopher’s tallied their second goal through wing forward Beston to open a ten point lead with scarcely 10 minutes gone. Armagh-Notre Dame lifted their game and made a contest of the remainder of the half. Seamie O’Hare notched two points from frees, and Ruairi O’Connor added a well taken third point for the northerners. The Brighton team’s backs tightened up and won some ball that was well used. Further scores followed from James Lavery, Kevin Campion, and Frank Meehan. All the while, however, Christopher’s maintained the distance between the teams. Kevin O’Regan and O’Driscoll in the forward line pointed, while Paudie Kenneally registered a third goal for Christopher’s. At the half it was 3-8 to 0-6 in favour of the 2009 senior champions.




Donnacha Culliton wins this battle with Eric Hegarty.

 Shortly after the restart Christopher’s had extended the lead by a further seven points. Kevin O’Regan and O’Driscoll combined well for the first point, while Hegarty tallied two more points. Some great interplay led to goal number four. A long ball into Hegarty was dished to the inrushing O’Driscoll and the man who came from the Tadhg MacCarthaigh club it inside the far post. Christopher’s felt comfortable enough to put on the subs at that point while the Brighton side set about putting some respectability on the scoreboard. Corner backs, Gerard Cairns and Donnacha Culliton worked hard to close down their men and Frank Meehan got forward from his wing back berth to notch a couple of scores. Ruairi O’Connor and James Lavery also did well for the orchard men. Beginning to look like it could be a long season for Armagh-Notre Dame while Christopher’s look like they will be competitive again this year.

Christopher’s: S. Kelly, N. Ryan, E. O’Neill, P. Manning, A. Greaney, S. McNally, D. Kenneally, Al Walsh, S. Beston, C. O’Driscoll, K. O’Regan, E. Hegarty, P. Kenneally. Armagh-ND: D. Fields, G. Cairns, D. Culliton, T. Cassidy, F. Meehan, K. Campion, J. Cumiskey, J. Lavery, M. Tiffany, S. O’Hare, G. Hall, N. Finnegan, R. O’Connor.


By Rory O'Donnell