GYMCO JFC Group 2
Naomh Comhghall 3-19 Eire Og 1-03
The feeling going into last night’s GYMCO JFC game at Dunsilly was that a win for Naomh Comhghall would almost certainly give them a place in the JFC quarter-finals but O’Donnell’s amazing result in defeating Ardoyne means that the Antrim men are not quite there yet.
Naomh Comhghall went into last night’s game knowing that nothing less than a win would suffice if they were to maintain their qualification hopes and the team produced the performance and the result that they required with a comprehensive victory over visitors Eire Og.
The home side raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 score after ten minutes courtesy of scores from Miles Devine and Tom Patchett. The visitors replied with a great goal from their corner forward after a great mark taken by their number 11 who traded passes on the way up the field and finished to the top corner of the net.
This score sprung Naomh Comhghall to life and Dylan Murdock fired to the net as the home side went on to dominate the opening half to leave the score at half time 2-7 to 1-2 in favour of Naomh Comhghall.
The second half saw the Antrim town side continue to press forward at will to run out convincing winners and but for some great saves from the Eire Og goalkeeper and staunch defending by the full back line it could have been a lot worse for the visitors.
Naomh Comhghall: Ben Johnstone, John Brady, Stephen Webb, Kian Walker, Dylan Murdock, Ryan McAuley, Paddy Cooke, Arron Megraw, Caolan McKeown, Joseph Webb, Ruairi Griffen, Paddy O’Connor, Tom Patchett, Miles Devine, Peter McAuley, Subs: 16 Colm Logue 17 Callum McCabe 18 Michael McCabe 19 Eoin Lynott 20 Shaun McLarnon 21Danaan OHara 22Niall Taggart
Scorers: Miles Devine 1-5 Tom Patchett 1-2 Dylan Murdock 1-4 Paddy O’Connor 0-3 Kain Walker 0-2 Joe Webb 0-1 Peter McAuley 0-1 Paddy Cooke 0-1
A week ago Ardoyne looked odds on favourites, not just to win the group but to win the championship and they might well do that yet. The Kickham’s have a massive score difference advantage over both Naomh Comghgall and O’Donnell’s but have played all four of their games and sit top of the table on six points with both Naomh Comghall and the McRory Park side on 4 points from three starts.
O’Donnell’s are away to Eire Og in their final game while Naom Comhghall visit Mitchells where they are certain to improve their score difference. It’s my understanding that when two or more sides finish with the same points then head to head results decide who goes through but Ardoyne have defeated Naomh Comhghall but lost to O’Donnell’s while Naomh Comhghall have defeated O’Donnell’s but lost to Ardoyne. In that scenario I believe score difference will come into play so both sides will be looking for a big win on the final day while listening anxiously for their rivals result.
