U17 Football League Division 1
All Saints 2-4 St. Enda’s 3-8
When TP McGurk struck a second goal for All Saints, nine minutes into this U17 football league game against St. Enda’s at Quinn Park today, the Ballymena side looked to be on their way to victory but they simply flattered to deceive.
They seemed to take their eye off the ball at this stage and the visitors, inspired by the excellent Sean Murray at mid-field slowly grasped control before going on to dominate the contest in the second half.
McGurk’s goal came after an excellent individual effort from his All Saints colleague, Paul O’Boyle and put his side four in front but St. Enda’s recovered from that shaky start with points from Ryan Kelly and Sean Murray and when Murray fired to the net in the 19th minute it was all square.
Kelly pointed his side ahead for the first time with Darrach Bradley briefly restoring parity with a point at the other end but it was the visitors who finished on top with points from Malachi McKibbon, Conor Bradley and Sean Murray to lead 1-7 to 2-2 at the break, the All Saints final point coming from Paul O’Boyle.
After the break it was the visitors who continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges with the All Saints short passing game breaking down time and again and their cause certainly wasn’t helped when they conceded two penalties which Aidan Kelly expertly tucked away.
Ryan Thom, who with Archie McGreevey, Aodhan McGarry and Dara Killough were best in an overworked All Saints defence, got forward for a good point for the Ballymena side with their only other score of the half coming from Oisin O’Mullan but they were unable to penetrate a solid St. Enda’s defence.
Sean Murray led the way for the visitors, ably assisted by Aidan Kelly at mid-field with Eoghan O’Hare, Malachi McKibbon and Ryan Kelly others to catch the eye in a solid team performance.
Aidan Kelly (9) turns away after scoring one of two penalties in his side’s win over All Saints today