Chapel Hill Was a Winner on Finals Day
Mother Nature smiled and the weather paid a part as the pristine Chapel Hill venue and at home of St Joseph’s Glenavy set to play hosts to the Antrim senior and minor football championship final on Sunday.
The South West Antrim venue had originally been selected to host the 2016 senior decider but in an eleventh hour decision this had been switched to Corrigan Park.
Glenavy had hosted the semi final replay involving Cargin and St John’s the previous week and such was the fluency of the affair on an immaculate sod and the availability of parking therein which provided accommodation for a big crowd it was back to Chapel Hill for the showpiece event.
A first ever county final to be at St Joseph’s and a huge crowd was set to assemble to enjoy the double header affair on what was to prove a momentous occasion.
The opening game was a town country affair as St Mary’s Aghagallon in search of their first ever minor title were set to cross swords with O’ Donavan Rossa.
The Rossa side had borne the tag of favourites from the outset of the season more than well and although fully tested by a trip to Toome in their quarter final assignment and again by Creggan in a keenly fought semi they had progressed to the final in style.
Aghagallon had really impressed on their progress past Glenavy and All Saint’s and more than a few had suggested that they were more than capable of causing upset.
The arena had attracted a good crowd for the opening event with the green and white flags in support of Aghagallon flying in unison with the blue and gold of Rossa in equal anticipation.
The opening phase proved close but when the impressive Michael Mallon bagged an early goal to open up a three point lead the Shaw’s Road men were on their merry way to a second under -18 title in four years.
Aghagallon did their best to recover but a second Mallon goal aided the city boys to a ten point winning margin 2-13 to 0-10.
The second game was to proceed in a different mode and as the red and white of those who proclaimed their allegiance to the men from Hannahstown made their way into the arena to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who came in support of the Johnnies proudly clad in the blue and white of the Whiterock road side.
St John’s having gotthe better of the defending champions Cargin following 140 minutes of intense struggle arrivedon the well manicured Chapel Hill sod burdened with the tag of favourites but only just, with more than a few suggesting wins against St Gall’s and Creggan loudly proclaimed the undoubted credentials of the Lamhs.
In the event those who had confidently predicted a ‘close encounter’ were to prove quite correct in such but when another drawn affair and a replay to decide outcome looked possible as the game clock moved past the allotted sixty minutes and nothing separated the sides Paddy Cunningham, who had been on the losing side on five previous occasions, held his nerve and indeed his aim to snatch an injury time point the Hannahstown men were in front.
The drama was set to continue and the remaining minutes and after altercations aplenty with an assortment of red yellow and black cards produced Lamh Dhearg wing half back Declan Lynch proved a hero to claim a 69th minute point and the Mac Namee trophy was on the way to the Hannahstown venue to enjoy a third tenure.
The dust settled and the presentations made the huge attendance having plenty to talk on as they made their way out of the ground.
No problems in the exit with tangerine clad stewards lining the route home, courteous and helpful in the extreme and offering information as to the quickest route home for those on the homeward journey and indeed more than a few on traffic duty to aid a smooth passage.
A most enjoyable day on the Chapel Hill and although this was the first time than the Glenavy venue had played hosts to a county senior final on the evidence of such it will not be the last.
Lamh Dhearg and Rossa were winners on the day, but so too was the Glenavy club and the Chapel Hill venue.
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The big day at Chapel Hill – Pics by John McIlwaine