OB Construction IFC – Group 1
Davitt’s 1-9 Ardoyne 0-11
Davitt’s withstood a late rally by visitors Ardoyne to take both points in Sunday’s IFC second round game at Davitt Park to get their campaign back on track, after last week’s defeats in the opening round.
In a highly exciting game the teams were level at six points apiece at half time, but it was a goal by corner forward Daniel Wallace just before the second water break that swung the game in the home team’s favour. Two points after the restart stretched the Davitt’s lead to four but they were holding on for grim death at the end as Ardoyne clawed their way back and there was great relief among the Davitt’s followers to hear the final whistle.
Despite a wealth of possession in the early stages Davitt’s could not find the target and it was the visitors who struck first when Conor McMullan pointed a free. Ciaran Gallagher replied for Davitt’s a minute later to level up the scores but Ardoyne full forward Aidan McNeill (who was to finish top scorer on five points) put his team back in front, only for Conor Sullivan to level matters at 0-2 apiece at the first water break.
Three on the trot for Davitt’s, two from frees by goalkeeper Aaron Slane and one from play by Michael Connolly saw the Beechmount boys go three ahead on 21 minutes, but Ardoyne came back with three of their own, two more from Aidan McNeill and one from Conor McMullan to level matters nearing half time. Conor Toner edged Davitt’s back ahead in first half injury time, but the accurate Aidan McNeill had Ardoyne back on terms at 0-6 apiece by the time referee Patrick Tumelty blew the half time whistle.
McNeill put Ardoyne ahead for the first time early in the second half with a well taken point from play but Anthony Rowntree tied things up once again with a point at the other end. A point from Declan McCormick on 40 minutes restored the Ardoyne lead, but it was to be the last time they got their noses in front.
On 44 minutes a long ball by Gerard Slane dropped in around the Ardoyne ‘square’ and corner forward Daniel Wallace made a great catch before turning his man and racing through to plant the ball in the net. To make matters worse for Ardoyne they messed up the short kick out and Slane got in for a point and soon afterwards and the gap was out to four when Slane slotted over again from a free.
With just five minutes of normal time left to play Davitt’s appeared to be safe, but Ardoyne found another gear and another pointed free by Aidan McNeill got them up and running again. Two minutes later substitute Keven McLaughlin knocked one over from play and when substitute Joseph Gibson hit a real beauty there was just one between the sides.
During the five minutes injury time there were chances for the visitors and one stand out chance in the final seconds when McNeill rattled the ball off the outside of the post when a point looked certain. It was nerve wracking stuff for the Davitt’s side, but to their credit they held on for the win and now go into next Friday’s game with All Saints with renewed hope.
