ACFL Division 1B

St Mary’s Aghagallon 3-15 Gort na Móna 0-11

St. Mary’s Aghagallon completed the double over last year’s promoted side, Gort na Mona to ensure their division 1 status for another season and maintain their position at the top of division 1B.

St. Mary’s had emerged from a sticky period to defeat the ‘Gorts’ at Enright Park earlier in the year as they put a run of good results together and they never really looked likje losing this one at Páirc na nGael.

Both sides went into this one knowing a win would keep them safe and there was an intensity to the game right from the off.

It was visitors Gort na Mona who got off to an excellent start with Padraig McHugh opening his side’s account from a free in the first minute before Shane Scullion and Patrick McCaffrey added points soon after to put the visitors three in front.

Ruairi McCann got his side on their way after five minutes before getting in for the game’s opening goal moments later. A direct ball in from Ciaran Brady found McCann lurking at full-forward and he slipped the ball into the far corner of the net beyond the reach of Thomas McCaffrey.

McCann’s goal edged Aghagallon in front for the first time and it was a lead they were not to lose for the remainder of the game with Dessie marshall following with aq point to extend the gap to two.

A superb point from midfieler Caomhin Magee raised the visitors hopes but just as they were looking like regaining the upper hand, Aghagallon struck for their second goal.

Adam Loughran cut inside Connor Connolly before setting up McCann for his second major to put the hosts 2-2 to 0-4 to the good after 12 minutes.

Gort na Móna could manage only two further points to their tally for the remainder of the first half as Aghagallon took control of proceedings.

With Loughran and McCann causing problems in attack the home side moved into a commanding lead, though there there was an element of good fortune with their third goal.

A foul on Loughran gave the youngster a chance to increase his side’s lead from a 30-metre free and it seemed to be heading over but it dipped at the last second. Thomas McGoran attempted to palm the ball away from goal to prevent a point but only managed to deflect it into his own net. It was a hammer blow for the West Belfast men and Brady and Loughran (free) added further points before the break to give Aghagallon a comfortable 3-7 to 0-6 lead at half-time.

Any notion that St Mary’s would ease off in the second half were dismissed instantly from the throw-in as midfielder Eunan Walsh won the break and proceeded to sprint down the pitch before splitting the posts.

Wing-back Adam Shanks pushed the gap out to 12 points a minute later before Gort na Móna staged a brief rally of their own.

McHugh, Boyd (free) and Aidan McDonagh all raised white flags as the Gorts hit three unanswered points. A brace of Loughran efforts restored Aghagallon’s advantage and they were never troubled after that with Gort na Mona reverting rto long balls into the danger area.

They looked like they had succeeded after Patrick McCaffrey’s effort looked like it may have been carried over the line by Damien O’Hagan, but referee Brendan Toland waved play on despite protests from the visitors.

Frustration crept into the visitors side as their discipline slipped in the closing stages.

Goalkeeper Thomas McCaffrey was shown a yellow card after a bizzare row with the referee for failing to take a kick-out from the correct position while his brother Patrick saw red late on for dissent.

Aghagallon pushed on with Adam Loughran bringing his tally for the evening to 1-7 as St Mary’s claimed an emphatic 3-15 to 0-11 victory.

Gort Na Móna remain well placed to retain their Division One status after gaining promotion last season as Division Two champions, but they’ll want to claim at least one more win to be sure.

Sean McKenna’s side face a trip to St Brigid’s in their penultimate game before a home game against Ahoghill in the final round.

AGHAGALLON: D O’Hagan; P Mulholland, D Donnelly, S Branagan; S Donnelly, A Mulholland, A Shanks 0-1; E Walsh 0-1, D McAlernon; D Marshall 0-2 (0-1f), C Farr, C Brady 0-1; M McAfee 0-2, R McCann 2-1, A Loughran 1-7 (0-2fs).

Subs: J Harbinson for Shanks (45mins), C Fitzpatrick for S Branagan (45mins), R Mulholland for S Donnelly (59mins).

GORT NA MÓNA: T McCaffrey; C Connolly, T McGoran, M Rea; Christopher Browning, D McErlean, A McDonagh 0-1; C Carson, C Magee 0-1; Conor Browning, D Boyd 0-2 (0-2fs), D McClean 0-1; P McHugh 0-2 (0-1f), P McCaffrey (0-1), S Scullion 0-3.

Subs: P Conlon for Carson (38mins), P Mulvenna for McDonagh (45mins), G Doyle for Conor Browning (45mins), J McDonnell for Scullion (50mins).

REFEREE: B Toland (Lámh Dhearg).