U21 Football Championship Grading Round
All Saints 0-8 Moneyglass 1-15
As expected, a strong St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass proved too good in the end for a young All Saints, Ballymena in this opening grading round game of the U21 Football Championship at Quinn Park, Ballymena today but it was not until the second half that they began to stamp their superiority on the game.
The Ballymena side played some good football during the opening half with youngster, Shea O’Brien kicking a number of excellent points but a goal from Jack McCoy in the 11th minute ensured the visitors led by four points at half time.
All Saints closed the gap to three with a point from Brendan McDonnell in the opening minute of the second half and it looked like we could be in for a tight game but it was the visitors, St. Ergnat’s who pushed on, restricting the opposition to just one more second half point.
Conaill Prenter opened the scoring with a St. Ergnat’s point in the opening minute before Padraig Magill responded with a point for the home side to draw level with six minutes gone. All Saints were giving as good as they got during the early stages, playing some good possession football and a teasing delivery from Shea O’Brien was fisted goal ward by Luke O’Rawe, forcing a save from Gavin Murray at the expense of a ‘45’.
A couple of minutes later the All Saints defence got itself in a tangle as Conaill Prenter set up Jack McCoy for the game’s only goal but the home side responded well and Shea O’Brien sent over an excellent free from near the touchline in the 12th minute.
Lorenzo Dawkens added another from play to reduce the gap to the minimum and the impressive O’Brien followed with another fine effort to square the contest. Moneyglass edged ahead again as Tiernan Duffin and Jack McCoy split the posts but Shea O’Brien replied at the other end to leave just one in it with ten minutes remaining to the break.
The Ballymena side were putting some excellent build ups together but too often a bad final ball or some fine defensive play from a solid Moneyglass defence in which Sean Kelly excelled, saw promising moves break down and at the other end Seanchann Duffin and Conaill Prenter replied with points to move their side three in front.
Tiernan Duffin added another just before half time to move the visitors four in front before Connell Lemon set up Eoin Campbell who responded with an All Saints point. The final score of the half fell to Conaill Prenter however and at the short whistle it was St. Ergnat’s who led by four points.
Brendan McDonnell closed the gap to three once more as he sent over in the opening minute but it was visitors Moneyglass who began to take control as Dermot McErlain and Seanchann Duffin replied from frees and McErlain, Paul Tohill and McErlain again from a ‘45’ added unanswered points to open up an eight point lead by the three quarter stage.
Moneyglass were now controlling the contest with their defence sweeping up everything All Saints could throw at them and Dermot McErlain added to his ever increasing total with a point in the 20th minute and then Emmet McAllister in the All Saints goals came off his line to make a brave save and deny Conaill Prenter what looked a certain goal.
Padraig Magill, who impressed for All Saints throughout came forward to send over only their second point of the half and despite playing second fiddle the home side were still battling but the crisp passing that had marked their play in the opening half was now missing as players started to tire.
As gaps began to appear Seanchann Duffin and Conaill Prenter collected a rebound of the crossbar to return it between the uprights to conclude the scoring and send the Marrian Hill side through to a place in the first round proper of the A competition while All Saints will now take their place in the B Championship.
The winners look a strong side backboned by quite a number of their Senior team and strengthened by the inclusion of Dan O’Neill and James Magee from St. Mary’s Ahoghill. Sean Kelly, Patrick McCormick, Paul Tohill, Tiernan Duffin, Dermot McErlain Jack McCoy and Conaill Prenter were all in excellent form for the winners.
All Saints started with 7 minors in their line-up and had only one sub with a number of players missing but certainly gave it a lash for the opening 40 minutes. Emmet McAllister, Padraig Magill, Ronan Ward, James McDonnell, Connell Lemon, Shea O’Brien, Eoin Campbell and Lorenzo Dawkens were their best on view.
All Saints: Emmet McAllister: Padraig Magill, Aiden O’Connell, Eoin Walsh: James McDonnell, Ronan Ward, Rhys O’Mullan: Luke O’Rawe, Connell Lemon: Brendan McDonnell, Shea O’Brien, Lorenzo Dawkens: Lee Kirk, Cormac Lemon, Eoin Campbell. Sub: Matthew Downey for Lee Kirk.
Moneyglass: Gavin Murray: Callum McStocker, Sean Kelly, Michael McLaughlin: Patrick McCormick, Paul Tohill, Eamon Kelly: Tiernan Duffin, James Magee: Seanchann Duffin, Dermot McErlain, Danny O’Neill: Jack McCoy, Conaill Prenter, Padraig MacKle. Subs: Christopher McGreevey for Padraig Mackle
Referee: Jarlath O’Donnell (Glenravel)
