U21B football championship quarter-final
All Saints 7-16 Glenavy 1-3
After turning in a couple of poor performances in the qualifiers, All Saints travelled to Crumlin leisure centre on Saturday to face a Glenavy side who had suffered a similar fate in their qualifying games and neither knowing just quite what to expect in the U21B quarter-final.
Both sides were short a number of players but it was the Ballymena side who made the better start with Matthew Downey stealing forward from defence to fire to the net in the second minute and it was a lead they were never to relinquish.
Brendan McDonnell added a 4th minute point and Conor O’Rawe followed with another before Eoin Campbell got in for goal number two to put the Slemish Park side in control with only seven minutes on the clock.
Glenavy were handed the opportunity to get themselves off the mark when Anthony McAvoy conceded a penalty but were wide of the mark from the award and it was All Saints who responded with points from Brendan McDonnell, Shea O’Brien and youngster Conor O’Rawe to extend their lead.
Glenavy finally opened their account with a point in the 14th minute but a minute later they were struck another killer blow as Brendan McDonnell raced through for the Ballymena men’s third goal of the half.
All Saints were in control in nearly e very sector of the field as the excellent McDonnell added a point and his brother James followed with another. Brendan McDonnell, Kieran O’Boyle added points and then Emmet McAllister denied Glenavy from the penalty spot in the 27th minute and it was clear it wasn’t going to be St. Joseph’s day.
Niall Shannon and Brendan McDonnell completed the first half scoring with late points to leave Peter McCann’s side leading 3-11 to 0-1 at the break and even at this stage it was as good as over.
There was to be no respite for the Chapel Hill side as play resumed as Conor O’Rawe pointed and Shea O’Brien followed with their fourth goal and with McDonnell and O’Brien in fine form the scores continued to flow.
Glenavy did enjoy a bit of success during the second period adding 1-2 of their own but further goals from Eoin Campbell, James McDonnell and Kieran O’Boyle ensured that it is the Ballymena side who will take their place in the U21B semi-final.
All Saints: Emmett McAlister, James Hayburn, Conall ONeill, Kevin Brady, Anthony McAvoy, Rhys O’Mullan, Matthew Downey, James McDonnell, Luke O’Rawe, Niall Shannon, Shea O’Brien, Conor O’Rawe, Kieran O’Boyle, Eoin Campbell, Brendan McDonnell.