Reserve Football Shield semi-final
All Saints 0-5 Tir na nOg 2-11
Shane Donnelly rolled back the years with a virtuoso performance to lead Tir na nOg to a comprehensive victory over All Saints at Quinn Park tonight in the Reserve Football Shield semi-final. The waistline might be a little bigger and the pace a yard slower but there’s no substitute for sheer class and Donnelly had it in abundance.
The visitors got off to an excellent start and a slick move opened up the All Saints defence and Charlie Elliott was on hand to palm the ball to an empty net. Shane Donnelly followed with a point and a struggling All Saints had to wait to just before the first water break before Aidan Scullion opened their account.
The visitors were displaying a greater hunger and winning most of the dirty ball while the Ballymena side were much too slow and deliberate in their build up play with the visitors turning over possession time and again.
Shane Donnelly was causing problems on the edge of the square and the excellent number 14 got in for his side’s second goal in the 20th minute as the home defence was opened up once more. Eamon Og McAllister followed with a good point before Oisin Connolly replied for the home side with 8 minutes remaining to the break.
Oliver McAtamney gets his shot away
The visitors continued to dominate around mid-field and were affording their opponents little time or space as Shane Donnelly added another point before Aidan Scullion replied with the final score of the half for All Saints to leave his side trailing 2-5 to 0-3 at the short whistle.
The home side needed a good start to the second half if they were to get back into contention and Aidan Scullion looked set to raise the first score of the second half as he raced clear but his shot screwed wide of an upright.
Eamon Og McAllister showed how it should be done with a great point in the 4th minute with All Saints brightest forward, Aidan Scullion replying from a free in the 6th minute. Scullion’s score failed to raise a response from his colleagues however as the visitors continued to dictate matters all over the field.
Centre-half Niall Cassidy moved forward from defence to split the posts and then Shane Donnelly found himself in the clear following a sublime pass from Eamon Og McAllister but shot over as All Saints keeper, Steven McAvoy advanced of his line.
Eamon Og McAllister screws over a Tir na nOg point
The visitors were now emptying their bench and Pearse Sheerin staked a place for a starting spot in the final with two fine points with Luke O’Rawe getting a consolation score for the Quinn Park side and the final score of the game fittingly going to man of the match, Shane Donnelly who converted a late free to see his side finish convincing winners.
A strong performance from the Whitehill side that will give them confidence going into the final where they are likely to face a sterner test from a Dunloy side who looked equally convincing in their win over Glenavy in the other semi-final.
Shane Donnelly was their outstanding performer but Gerard Martin, Niall Cassidy, Ciaran McKeown, Eamon Og McAllister and Pearse Sheerin were others who impressed in a good all round team performance
Oisin Connolly, All Saints takes on Ciaran Byrne, Tir na nOg
All Saints: Steven McAvoy, Vincent Esler, Ronan Ward, Phelim Killough, Eoin Walsh, Joe Rocks, Patrick Ferris, Luke O’Rawe, Cormac Lemon, Aidan Scullion, Conall Killough, Niall Walsh, Oisin Connolly, Diarmuid McNally, Sean McCambridge. Subs: Joe Rafferty, Dara Mussen, Peter McCann, Kevin Brady, Emmet McAllister, Michael Sloan.
All Saints scorers: Aidan Scullion 0-3, Oisin Connolly 0-1, Luke O’Rawe 0-1
Tir na nOg: Sean Paul McAtamney, Ciaran Byrne, Barry Magee, Brandon McLarnon, Gerard Martin, Niall Cassidy, Oliver McAtamney, Simon Carey, Ciaran McKeown, Declan Mallon, Aodhan Toland, Eamon Og McAllister, Charlie Elliott, Shane Donnelly, Daniel Hastings. Subs: Daniel Martin, Pearse Sheerin, Kevin Kerr, Michael Dempsey
Tir na nOg scorers: Shane Donnelly 1-4, Charlie Elliott 1-0, Michael Toland 0-2, Eamon Og M<cAllister 0-2, Pearse Sheerin 0-2, Niall Cassidy 0-1
Charlie Elliott palms home Tir na nOgs opening goal as Stephen McAvoy attempts to get back
Shane Donnelly gets in for the visitors second goal
