Superior Dunloy through to semi-final

U21 Football Championship

All Saints 0-7 Dunloy 0-14

The superior finishing of visitors Dunloy proved the difference in the end against an All Saints side who enjoyed as much possession but took the wrong options on too many occasions in this U21 quarter-final at Quinn Park on Sunday.

The Ballymena side matched their opponents in most departments and trailed by only two points going into the final quarter but were turned over on a number of occasions as they pressed forward and were punished by a slick counter attacking visitors attack.

Anthony Smith opened the scoring for the visitors with an early point but All Saints responded and James McDonnell got on the end of a good move to send over the equaliser with seven minutes gone.

The home side were enjoying a good deal of possession during the opening exchanges and might have gone ahead but Brendan McDonnell’s attempt on goal came back of an upright and was cleared to safety.

Anthony Smith restored the visitors lead from a close range free but Brendan McDonnell restored parity once more when he split the posts at the other end with 14 minutes on the clock.

At this stage All Saints were looking good but too often they were taking the wrong option as they kicked away good possession but Conor Doherty gave them the lead for the first time as he fired over from 30 meters.

Dunloy responded immediately through Keelan Molloy in the 16^th minute and they took the lead through the same player who fired over after a well worked approach with 22 minutes gone.

All Saints tried to respond but poor shooting and misplaced passes proved their downfall as Oisin McErlaine replaced Patrick Kinsella in the visitors defence. As the home side pressed Brendan McDonnell’s shot was well off target and then Shea O’Brien fired wide from a scoreable free.

O’Brien made amends from another free to bring the sides level with three minutes remaining to the break but Dunloy replied from the kick-out and Ryan McFarlane cut through the home defence but Emmet McAllister came of his line to deny the number 10 at the expense of a ‘45’.

It was visitors Dunloy who finished strongly however and Anthony Smith restored their lead from a close range free and Eoghan McGrath extended that lead to two with virtually the last kick of the half.

GOOD START

All Saints, who had been forced to start without the injured Eoghan Daly and Ronan Ward and the unavailable Kavan Keenan started the second half with a clearly unfit Ronnie Marshall moved to full-forward but got off to a good start when James McDonnell pointed to close the gap to the minimum in the opening minute.

As the home team pressed for the equaliser Shea O’Brien had his shot blocked down and Dunloy broke at pace and Keelan Molloy finished superbly to restore their two point advantage with eight minutes on the clock.

The game was swinging from end to end at this stage as Ronan Laverty replied for All Saints but again the visitors responded through Molloy to keep them two ahead and Cuchullains always seemed able to respond every time their hosts threatened.

All Saints keeper, Emmet McAllister comes of his line to deny Ryan McFarline

Still the Quinn Park side were hanging in at this stage and a strong run from Ryan Stewart drew a free which Shea O’Brien converted and it was back to one again and everything still to play for but the home side were having to work a lot harder for their scores against a well organised Dunloy defence.

Callum Scullion sent over a great score from out on the left as Dunloy edged two in front again going into the final quarter and then Keelan Molloy stretched their lead to three for the first time from a close range free after another All Saints attack had been turned over.

A Molloy inspired Dunloy were starting to turn the screw as he added another from play to move his side four in front with nine minutes remaining and despite the best efforts of the home side to respond it just wasn’t happening as a number of promising build ups came to nothing.

Another misplaced pass out of defence was punished by ‘Coby’ Cunning as the visitors started to take control and the same player increased their advantage to six with three minutes remaining. Former All Saints player, Ryan McGarry concluded the scoring with a point in injury time to leave Dunloy convincing winners in the end and they will now go forward to meet St. Brigid’s in next week’s semi-final.

The winners were well served by Conor Kinsella, Cathair McGuigan and Anto McGrath, Callum Scullion, Ryan McGarry, Conal Cunning and Anthony Smith with Emmet McAllister, Padraig Magill, James McDonnell, Cormac Lemon and Ronnie Marshall best for the home side.

All Saints: Emmet McAllister, Cormac Magill, Padraig Magill, Eoin Walsh, Matty Downey, James McDonnell, Reece O’Mullan, Cormac Lemon, Shea O’Brien, Conor Stewart, Conor Doherty, Brendan McDonnell, Ronan Laverty, Ronnie Marshall, Kieran O’Boyle. Subs: Conall O’Neill, Kevin Brady

Dunloy: Francis Cochrane, Patrick Kinsella, Conor Kinsella, Aaron Crawford, Christopher McMahon, Cathair McGuigan, Anton McGrath, Callum Scullion, Ryan McGarry, Ryan McFarline, Conal Cunning, Keelan Molloy, Anthony Smith, Fergal Dillon, Eoghan McGrath. Subs: Oisin McErlaine for Patrick Kinsella

Referee: Jarlath O’Donnell (Glenravel)