ACFL Division One Promotion Play Off (2nd leg)
St Mary’s Ahoghill 1-11 St Ergnat’s Moneyglass 0-13
A pointed free in the 65th minute by Donal Graham proved the decisive score in this excellent division 1 promotion play-off second leg in Portglenone on Sunday night and secured division 1 status for another season for St Mary’s Ahoghill.
The sides couldn’t be separated at the same venue in the opening leg two week’s ago and it looked like ending that way again as the clock ticked deep into time added on.
Only seconds earlier Patrick Graham had blotted his copy book when he had his shot on goal saved by substitute keeper Ryan Doyle when right through on goal, but Graham redeemed himself minutes later when winning possession against two defenders before being dragged down.
Up stepped Donal Graham to convert the resulting free to the delight of the large Ahoghill support and ensure their place in division 1 for yet another season.
A game brimful of intense effort which ebbed and flowed over the hour with the pendulum swinging one way and then another and nothing separated them at the end of the opening period.
A 19th minute Patrick Graham goal saw the Clooney men gain the advantage but as the pendulum swung a strong late burst from St Ergnat’s, with the impressive Collum Duffin leading the charge, saw them claim the last four scores of the half and it was all square, 1-06 to 0-09 at the half-way mark.
The second half proceeded in much the same vein as the opening thirty minutes with the Cloney men securing a three point cushion by the three quarter mark.
Moneyglass, again with Collum Duffin leading the way, came back strongly and raised three unanswered white flags which saw them back on terms at the end of the allotted sixty minutes.
As injury time proceeded the game continued to flow from end to end and after Patrick Graham was denied by keeper Ryan Doyle the latter was soon to redeem himself.
Moneyglass went in search of a winner but were stopped in their tracks and a long PJ O’ Connell clearance was claimed by Patrick Graham who was grounded by an illegal challenge and Donal Graham strode forward to deliver the placed effort between the posts.
Moneyglass, who will contest an Intermediate championship semi-final this week-end started the better and after Collum Duffin opened their account with a point in the opening minute he added another a minute later.
Donal Graham replied for the Cloney men when he punished a foul on Eamon Graham by splitting the posts at the other end in the 4th minute and after Gavin Murray made it 0-03 to 0-01 for St Ergnat’s , PJ O’ Connell, Patrick Graham and Fionnbar O’ Neill responded to see Ahoghill move 0-04 to 0-03 ahead by the 10th minute.
A game of high intensity which was to continue throughout and the lead was soon to change hands as back to back Collum Duffin points saw Moneyglass move ahead once more.
Ahoghill were quick to return fire and PJ O’ Connell pounced on a slack clearance to despatch the leather between the posts before a Stephen O’ Connell intervention and a well organised counter attack involving Eamon Brady, and Danny O’ Neill, opened the way for Patrick Graham to finish to the net.
Fionnbar O’ Neill then added a point to see the St Mary’s men open up a four point lead, 1-06 to 0-05.
Moneyglass were quick to respond however with Niall Boyd, Liam Brady and Collum Duffin (2), raising white flags apiece in the latter minutes it was all square, 1-06 to 0-09 at the short whistle.
Moneyglass were first into action in the second half as Seanachan Duffin’s fetch and delivery opened the way for Gavin Murray to split the posts. Both sides were then guilty of spurning opportunities before Ahoghill took control and Donal Graham, Tom Mc Glone, Fionnbar O’ Neill, and Gerard Graham fired over unanswered points to move them into a three point lead entering the last quarter.
At this stage Ahoghill looked to be taking control but Moneyglass responded once more with Collum Duffin’s 49th minute point initiating a revival. He added another from a 40 metre free a few minutes later and only a point separated the near neighbours.
The momentum was now with the Marrion Hill side as they moved forward in pursuit of the equaliser and a foul on Gavin Murray saw the unerring Collum Duffin stroke the resultant award between the posts in the 57th minute.
The closing minutes were tense in the extreme as both sides battled for the deciding score and Patrick Graham was denied by stand in keeper Ryan Doyle when a goal looked certain.
In the event the corner man was to make full restitution when he claimed a booted PJ O’ Connell clearance before being fouled and Donal Graham held his nerve to send the resultant 35 metre free kick over the bar to ensure a place at the top table in 2020.
Ahoghill: Frankie Neeson, Gerard Graham (0-01), Stephen O’ Connell, Bernard Graham, Eamon Brady, Sean Mc Mahon, Fionnbar O’ Neill (0-03), Martin Graham, Neil O’ Connell, Eamon Graham, PJ O’ Connell (0-02), Patrick Graham (1-01), Donal Graham (0-03), Danny O’ Neill (1-02)
Subs
Diarmuid Graham for G Graham
James Magee for P Graham
James O’ Connell for D O’ Neill
G Graham for T Mc Glone (black card)
Moneyglass: Mark Carey, Sean Kelly, Tiernan Duffin, Peter Mc Cormick, Jack Mc Coy, Conor Boyd, Eamon Kelly, Niall Boyd (0-01), Collum Duffin (0-09), gavin Murray (0-02), Paul Tohill, Patrick Mc Cormick, Liam Brady (0-01), Seanachain Duffin, Dermot Mc Erlean
Subs
Ryan Doyle for M Carey
Jervis weir for P Tohill
Myron Neeson for L Brady
Referee C Mc Donald (St Gall’s)
