ACHL Division 4
Larne 1-08 All Saints 2-15
All Saints travelled to Larne for the side’s third game of the present league campaign and a first league meeting in a number of years with the Latharna Og club. The youthful Saints side started the game the brightest with Niall McGarry splitting the posts for the game’s first score. Larne hit back immediately before Gary Miskella pointed from an acute angle to restore the visitors lead. Damian Gillan stretched the sides lead to 4 with 3 points in a row, two from placed balls as the visitors began to get their game together. Latharna Og were battling hard around the middle of the pitch with Conor Matthews at centre back performing well. They hit the next score before some indiscipline allowed Gillan to point another free. A long delivery into the All Saints full forward Kieran Bulter was missed by everyone and Niall McGarry was on hand to fire the ball past the Larne keeper. Larne to their credit battled back well, they forced the Saints defence into silly fouls which midfielder Ryan O’Donnell was happy to fire over the bar. Another long ball into the heart of the Larne defence was gathered by Butler this time who fed Niall McGarry to finish from a tight angle to the net for his second goal of the game.
Half time:Larne 0-5 All Saints 2-8
The second half started with two early scores from Gillan although Larne cancelled these out with a couple of fine efforts from play. Brendan McDonnell soloed through and tapped over before Cormac Magill added another. Gary Miskella got his second of the game as he punished a poor puck out and split the posts as the visitors continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges. Latharna Og immediately responded with a point followed by an excellent goal, the ball pulled on the ground and it flew past the helpless Daire Hasson in the All Saints goal. Another couple of points for Larne followed and aided with a breeze they sensed they may well get something out of this game but late points from McGarry and Gillan sealed a comprehensive ten point win for the away side and their second win of the season.
This win came on the same day that the All Saints U14 hurlers collected a North Antrim Feile title while tonight their U16 hurlers recorded a creditable draw with Tir na nOg so the future of hurling in the club looks good at present.
All Saints: Daire Hasson, PJ O’Kane, Chris McAfee, Frank Casey, Sean O’Rawe, Colum Neeson, Vinney Esler, Brendan McDonnell (0-1), Luke O’Rawe, Padhraig Magill, Gary Miskella (0-2), Cormac Magill (0-1), Niall McGarry (2-2), Kieran Butler, Damian Gillan ( 0-9 5 frees)
Subs. Martin McNally for Vinney Esler, James McDonnell for Frank Casey, Paul Scullion for Sean O’Rawe, Ciaran McLarnon for Cormac Magill. Steven Andrews, Anthony Mitchell. Barry Dorrity
