Northern Switchgear SFC
Naomh Eanna 5-13 St. James’ Aldergrove 1-12
Naomh Eanna put themselves in a strong position for a place in the play-offs with a resounding victory over St. James’ Aldergrove at Hightown last night. When the sides met in Crumlin in a rescheduled fixture, a week earlier only a goal separated the sides with Aldergrove pushing the visitors all the way and perhaps unfortunate not to get anything out of the fixture but Naomh Eanna were determined not to slip up this time with a place in the quarter-finals within touching distance.
They had most of the damage done after a strong first half performance that saw them 2-7 to 0-5 ahead at the break and went on to add three more second half goal to put the game out of reach of an Aldergrove side who never gave up the fight.
Odhran Eastwood led the Naomh Eanna charge last night and proved a real handful over the hour and finished the game as top scorers with an impressive 3-5 and on the night was virtually unmarkable.
He had strong allies in Fionn Nagle who contributed 1-2, Michael Morgan 1-1, Ruairi Scott who hit 0-3, Peter Healey 0-1 and the ever green Gerard Crossey 0-1 in what was a very impressive team performance.
St. James Aldergrove gave it everything on the night and with 10 U20’s in their side they look to be heading in the right direction despite a couple of heavy championship defeats. The return of long term in jury victim, Seamus McGarry has been a real plus and while still rebuilding his fitness he managed 1-3 on the night and it’s good to see him back in action.
McGarry’s goal came midway through the second half and came too late to influence the result but the visitors should be commended for the way they kept going to the final whistle.
This win leaves Naomh Eanna top of Group 3, level on points with Lamh Dhearg with both sides on 6 points from 4 starts following Lamh Dhearg’s excellent win in Aghagallon last night but nothing is yet decided.
St. Enda’s face difficult away trips to Lamh Dhearg and Aghagallon in their final two fixtures and their game in Aghagallon could be crucial if Aghagallon beat St. James in Crumlin in their next game and Lamh Dhearg reverse their defeat to Naomh Eanna in Hannastown next day out.
St. Enda’s scorers: Odhran Eastwood 3-5, Fionn Nagle 1-2, Michael Morgan 1-1, Ruairi Scott 0-3, Gerard Crossey 0-1, Peter Healey 0-1.
St. James’ Aldergrove: Shane O’Neill, Eoin Gough, Corey Fogarty, Tomas O’Callaghan, Christopher Browning, Andrew Flood, Chris McVeigh, Ryan Owens, Danny Bell, Declan Gough, Seamus McGarry, Conor Browning, Glen Dunham, Ronan Hanna, Conleith O’Toole. 16 Oisin McGarry, 17 Odhran Creaney, 18 David Aiken, 19 Sean Fay, 20 Emmet Magee, 21 Michael McCarthy, 22 Ryan McCarthy, 23 Logan Fleming, 24 Ferdia Carson.
Scorers
S McGarry – 1-3
R Hanna – 0-2
D Gough – 0-2
C O’Toole – 0-1
C Browning – 0-1
C Browning – 0-1
R Owens – 0-1
R McCarthy – 0-1