Aldergrove go tops in Division 2B as Glenravel falter

ACFL Division 2B

Aldergrove 2-19 Rasharkin 2-12

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

St. James Aldergrove move to the top of division 2B following this seven point win over Rasharkin in Crumlin last night and Glenravel’s surprise defeat to bottom club Naomh Padraig in Glenravel while Rasharkin find themselves stuck in the relegation zone.

The visitors made a bold bid to earn some needed points as they matched the opposition during the opening half and an Eamon McNeill goal on the cusp of half time saw them level at the short whistle and they must have fancied their chances of pushing on in the second half.

It was St. James’ Aldergrove who stepped it up a gear after the break however and with Seamus McGarry and Brian McQuillan causing problems in attack they pushed on to win by seven points as the Rasharkin challenge faded.

Eamon McNeill led the Rasharkin challenge and after Shane Hasson had opened the visitors account McNeill raised white flags in the 6^th, 11^th and 29^th minute and with Brendan Etherson adding a couple from full forward and Killian O’Boyle also on target, McNeill’s goal in stoppage time gave the Dreen side a real lift.

Aldergrove had led most of the way during the opening thirty minutes with Ryan Owens, McQuillan, McGarry, Conor Morris and Seany Fay involved in everything good they produced but McNeill’s goal left them with all still to do in the second half.

Aldergrove stepped it up a gear after thre break and goals from Seamus McGarry and Brian McQuillan gave them control with McQuillan finishing with 1-5, McGarry 1-4, Conor Morris 0-5, Ryan Owens 0-3 and Chris McSteen the men on target.

The visitors were never able to reproduce their first half effort however and despite a goal from substitute Johnny McAleese and points from Conor McFerran, Gerard O’Hagan and Ryan Lynch it was the Crumlin side who pushed on, adding 2-9 to their first half total.

Ferdia Carson, Oisin Graham, Christopher McVeigh, Daniel Bell, Ryan Owens, Seamus McGarry, Brian McQuillan and Seany Fay were prominent as James pulled away to win fairly comfortably in the end and they look to be running into a bit of form with the championship just around the corner.

Aldergrove: Shane O’Neill, Paul Cushley, Ferdia Carson, Ronan Wilkinson, Oisin Graham, Christopher McVeigh, Eamon McCourt, Daniel Bell, Ryan Owens, Seamus McGarry, Brian McQuillan, Conor Morris, Seany Fay, James Trowlen,

Rasharkin: Ryan Doherty, Colm Kennedy, Emmett McFerran, Dominic McFerran, Pearce Kelly, Conor Hasson, Fergus Quigg, Shane Hasson, Thomas McMullan, Killian O’Boyle, Eamon McNeill, Thomas Doherty, Gerard O’Hagan, Brendan Etherson, Conor McFerran.

Subs:

Johnny McAleese for Killian OBoyle (44th min).

Ryan Lynch for Gerard O’Hagan (46th min)

Liam Quigg for Colm Kennedy (55th min)

Rasharkin scorers:

Shane Hasson 0-1 (4th min)

Eamon McNeill 1-4 (Points: 6th, 11th, 29th and 51st min. Goal: 30th min before half-time)

Brendan Etherson 0-2 (9th and 24th min)

Killian OBoyle 0-1 (25th min)

Gerard O’Hagan 0-1 (34th min)

Conor McFerran 0-2 (41st and 42nd min)

Johnny McAleese 1-0 (49 min)