ACFL Division 2
All Saints 0-14 Moneyglass 1-11
All Saints were adamant that they had won this feisty contest at Slemish Park when referee Paul Burns sounded the full time whistle but the St. Comgall’s official had the sides even on his score card and in the end a draw was the least that the Marian Hill side deserved.
Over the hour the visitors missed four goal scoring opportunities, three in a first half where they threatened to over-run the opposition. All Saints survived the early onslaught however and slowly played their way back into contention before going on to lead by two at half time.
The game itself was spoiled somewhat by a number of unsavoury flare-ups with Connell Lemon and Kavan Keenan seeing Red in injury time and quite a number of others lucky not to have preceded them over the hour.
In between we had some excellent passages of football with visitors, Moneyglass racing into a 1-3 to 0-3 lead by the 16th minute with the goal coming from Colum Duffin and points from Seanchann Duffin , Pat McCormick and Dermot McErlain.
Michael McCarry punished a couple of indiscretions by the St. Ergnat’s defence and added another from play to keep the Ballymena side in touch but Moneyglass should have been further ahead as a number of goaling opportunities went a begging.
Emmet Killoughs second half penalty sails over Mark Careys bar.
Seanchann Duffin rose to palm a Padraig Mackle delivery against the crossbar with keeper Emmet McAllister beaten, McAllister then pulled of a great save to deny Duffin and Padraig Mackle blazed badly wide when through on goals.
All Saints rode the early storm as their defence tightened considerably and with ‘Gooch’ McCarry in great form they hit the next three points to draw level, two from McCarry and the other from Rory McVeigh
Michael McCarry put the home side ahead with a good point from play and Anthony McAvoy fired over from close range when he might have had a goal to leave it 0-8 to 1-3 for the Slemish Park side at the half way stage.
Despite their bright start St. Ergnat’s hadn’t scored since the 16th minute but they quickly put that matter right on the restart as the excellent Patrick McCormick, Seanchann Duffin, Dermot McErlain and Duffin again fired over unanswered points in the opening ten minutes to put them two in front.
St. Ergnat’s were well on top at this stage and Dermot McErlain sent a shot from an acute angle of an upright with the ball spinning to safety much to the relief of the home defence.
Seanchann Duffin who scored 0-5 for St. Ergnats gets out in front of Peter McNicholl, All Saints
As in the first half, All Saints somehow weathered the early onslaught and Shea O’Brien fisted over to close the gap to one before Michael McCarry levelled matters once more from a free in the 16th minute.
The home side introduced Paddy McAleer and Eoghan Daly at this stage and McAleer set up Daly who edged All Saints ahead once more and then Cormac Lemon moved forward from defence to increase that lead.
As the Ballymena side began to enjoy the better of the exchanges they were awarded a penalty and an opportunity to put the contest to bed but Emmet Killough’s effort sailed over the bar. They never the less looked to have done enough but in a storming finish Seanchann Duffin (0-2) and Kevin ‘Kindo’ Marron sent over to tie the contest.
This result leaves Moneyglass two points ahead of All Saints going into the league split with Rossa three points ahead at the top and Dunloy , Tir na nOg and Sarsfields claiming the next three places.
The game itself had all the fire and fervour of a championship game as second and third in the league battled for the bragging rights and despite the bad tempered nature of some of the exchanges it had much to excite followers of both sides.
All Saints: Emmet McAllister, James Gillan, Peter McNicholl, Phelim Killough, Ciaran McCarry, Reece O’Mullan, Connell Killough, Sean McVeigh, Emmet Killough, , Shea O’Brien, Michae McCarry, Kavan Keenan, Anthony McAvoy, Rory McVeigh Brendan McDonnell
Moneyglass: Mark Carey, Miran Neeson, Tiernan Duffin, Peter McCormick, Eamon Kelly, James McMeel, Padraig Mackle, Niall Boyd, Dermot McErlain, Sean Kelly, Paul Tohill, Patrick McCormick, Gavin Murray, Seanchann Duffin, Colum Duffin.
Referee: Paul Burns (St. Comgall’s)
