ACFL U16A League Play-off
St. Mary’s Aghagallon 2-14 All Saints Ballymena 2-10
St. Mary’s Aghagallon are the 2019 U16A Football League winners following this four point win over All Saints Ballymena in Portglenone tonight. In a game that had an edge to it from early on the Lough shore side led from start to finish and their team work, defending and finishing was superior to their opponents for most of the hour.
The Ballymena side will rue the fact that they shot more than a dozen wides over the course of the game, most of them from scoreable positions but they lacked the cohesion and finishing power of the Aghagallon side who had excellent finishers in Jonathan Hannon, Hugh Hannon and Michael McStravick.
It was Hugh Hannon who pointed his side ahead and both sides missed chances before Johnny Hannon extended Aghagallon’s two point lead before Harry Wylie opened All Saints account from a free in the 10th minute.
Jonathan Hannon replied with a point for the Greens from a ‘45’ and points from the excellent Ciaran Magennis and Michael McStravick had Aghagallon four in front after 15 minutes though All Saints might have been on level terms at this stage but Jimmy Montgomery’s goal bound shot rebounded of an upright to safety.
All Saints were building from the back but were much too slow in their approach play and when they did play ball into their forward line it was outnumbered by a well marshalled Aghagallon defence.
Harry Wylie finally raised a second white flag for the Slemish Park side from an 18th minute free but again St. Mary’s replied with points from Jonathan Hannon and Hugh Hannon as they continued to open up the All Saints defence.
Jonathan Hannon had been a constant threat to the opposition but things looked to have turned in favour of All Saints when he was given his marching orders after receiving Yellow and then Black for a trip on Patrick Ferris.
It failed to disrupt the St. Mary’s rhythm however as Padraig Gowdy added a point from a free with Jack Nelson following with another before parity was restored when Ciaran Campbell was shown Red as the All Saints frustration increased.
All Saints continued to play the ball slowly and very often across the field, or back, as Ethan Laverty extended the Aghagallon lead to eight but the Ballymena side struck with a late and somewhat fortunate goal from Ryan McCart, which dipped under the crossbar as the half came to an end.
Now with the wind at their back, could All Saints stage a come-back? It certainly looked possible as Harry Wylie split the posts direct from a ‘45’ after Jamie Montgomery shot had been parried wide to close the gap to four.
Aghagallon were having none of it and they replied with a somewhat fortunate goal of their own as Enda McCartan soloed through and his shot dipped beneath Daniel McCoy’s crossbar to restore his sides seven point advantage.
Hugh Hannon added a point from a 5th minute free and Ciaran Magennis added another from play to move the Lough Shore side nine in front after ten minutes as the All Saints wide count continued to grow.
Oisin O’Mullan responded with a point for All Saints which was quickly cancelled out as Hugh Hannon pointed at the other end but the Ballymena side were starting to enjoy a wee bit of success as their best player, Patrick Ferris moved forward to send over a couple of quick points.
Ronan McKillop finally escaped the clutches of Magennis to add another but All Saints continued to take the wrong options, persisting with their slow build up strategy when a quick ball forward with the wind at their backs might have paid better dividends.
Still when substitute Tristan Ferguson added another point the All Saints chances looked to be increasing but the dismissal of Patrick Ferris following an off the ball incident put paid to that notion. Things threatened to get out of hand with an unsavoury flare up as the game went deep into injury time but order was quickly restored as wiser heads prevailed.
CCC Chairman, Seamus McMullan presented the shield to Aghagallon captain, Padraig Gowdy and there were scenes of celebration from the St. Mary’s team and their supporters after a deserved victory and a job well done.
St. Mary’s Aghagallon: 1. Ronan Blaney, 2. Eoin Brown, 3. Stephen Devlin, 4. Leo Mallon, 5. Edward Wilson, 6. Ciaran Magennis, 7. Ben McBarron, 8. Padraig Gowdy, 9. Jack Hannon, 10. Enda McCartan, 11. Jonathan Hannon, 12. Ethan Lavery, 13. Hugh Hannon, 14. Michael McStravick, 15. Jack Nelson.
Sub:s
Sean Gowdy for Ethan Lavery
James Hamill for Leo Mallon
Eoin Magennis for Ben McBarron
All Saints; Daniel McCoy, Ryan Martin, Jude Casey, Paddy O’Brien, Richard McCann, Patrick Ferris, Ryan McCart, Shaun O’Callaghan, Tyrone Mitchell, Ronan McKillop, Harry Wylie, Jammie Montgomery, Oisin O’Mullan, Ciaran Campbell, Joesph O’Rawe
Subs:
Niall Devine
Dara Killough
Pearse Esler
Tristan Ferguson
Ciaran McQuillan
Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)
