Homefit Antrim Football League Division 2
Sarsfields 0-7 Davitts 0-12
Paul McIntyre reports from The Bear Pit
Six points from Stephen Tully helped Davitts to a deserving five-point win over Sarsfields on Wednesday evening. It’s a win that moved the Falls Road outfit up to mid-table while at the same time, keeping the Paddies firmly rotted to the bottom of division 2.
Both sides are going through a somewhat period of transition, and the unavailability of a number of players due to injury aw both sides line out missing a number of regulars.
The game itself hung in the balance until the closing minutes. While holding a slender two point lead. the Davitts were able to find holes in a tiring home defence and kick the last three points of the game.
While there was never too much between them on the scoreboard, Davitts enjoyed the majority of possession but were too often turned over in attack, while Gary Lennon and Tomas Skillen carried the scoring threat for Sarsfields.
At the first half waterbreak Davitts lead by one, 0-3 to 0-2, with Marcus Toner’s score in the 10th minute the pick of the bunch after collecting a breaking ball at midfield before setting off on a run towards goal.
Tully kicked his first for Davitts on 23 minutes for a two point lead but points from Skillen and Lennon ensured that the sides went in level at the break at 0-5 apiece.
Tully and Lennon exchanged scores at the start of the second half before the visitors missed two glorious goal chances.
Firstly, Toner manged to fist the ball onto the bar from a few yards out, before Niall McParland dragged his shot wide of Michael Brady’s righthand post after terrific work from Michael Connelly.
Davitts eventually managed to turn the superiority into scores and three expertly struck frees from Tully opened up a three point lead with just five minutes to go. The last one in particular, a sweetly struck deadball from near 50 metres, the most eye catching.
Davitts found another gear in the closing stages and points from Anthony Rowntree and Conor John Scullion wrapped up the victory before Tony McGrattan crashed a shot off the Sarsfields goal frame.
Teams & Scorers:
Sarsfields: Michael Brady, Philip McPeake, Marty McPolin, Michael Johnston, Riain McShane, Liam Mitchell, Eamon Quinn, Cormac Murray, Ryan Carson, Darragh Gorman, Garry Lennon (0-3f), Connor Laverty, Tomas Skillen (0-2), Joe McNally, Kevin Floyd (0-2 1f).
Subs: Niall McAlea for D. Gorman (HT), Paul Gorman for K. Flyod (47), Kieran Carson for E. Quinn (54).
Davitts: Aaron Slane, James Lindsay, Anthony Rowntree (0-1), Christopher Gallagher, Conor Toner, Daniel Wallace, Niall McParland, Paul McKinney, Caomhan Slane, Conor John Sullivan (0-3 2f), Stephen Tully (0-6 4f), Gerard Slane (0-1), Marcus Toner (0-1), Michael Connelly, Tony McGrattan.
Subs: Nathan McGinn for C. Gallagher (44)
Referee: Mr Ray Matthews (Rossa)
