Reserve Football Shield Final
St.James’ Aldergrove 2.11 v 1.10 St.Joseph’s Glenavy
St. James’ Aldergrove staged a strong second half comeback to defeat parish rivals, St. Joseph’s Glenavy in the Reserve Football Shield final at Dunsilly today. The Chapel Hill side looked to be in a strong position when they led 1-6 to 0-5 at half time but two second half goals swung it in the way of the Crumlin side.
St. Joseph’s controlled the early exchanges and indeed only for some poor decision making in front of goal they could have been well in front in the early stages. Fergus Cunning got them going when he opened the scoring with a Glenavy point from a free and Michael Kane added another from an acute angle to put his side two in front.
Stephen Eastwood, playing at full forward, was giving the Aldergrove defence plenty to think about and was rewarded for his hard work with an excellent point to leave three in it and Aldergrove hadn’t threatened up to this point.
Declan Gough split the posts to get his side up and running but the hard-working Fergus Cunningham wormed his way through the opposition defence for a well-taken goal and the momentum was very much with the team in black and orange at this stage
This score seemed to waken St. James’ from their early slumber and it was the Crumlin men who responded with three unanswered points. Centre-forward Conor Morris got them going with a well worked point and Danny Bell found his range with an excellent long range effort before Sean Fay worked his way through to make it three on the trot.
The Chapel Hill side were then dealt a blow when Fergus Cunning had to go off with an injured shoulder with Niall McCann replacing him and Pearse O’Neill stopped the rot with a good point for the Chapel Hill side
Conor Morris and Michael Fox exchanged points just after the water break as play swung from end to end as Conor Browning replaced the injured Michael Smart in the Aldergrove side.
Glenavy keeper Gareth Collins got his name on the score sheet with a pointed 45 which brought cheers of appreciation from the Glenavy support and Michael Kane raced back to make a timely interception as Aldergrove threatened to leave the half time score Glenavy 1.06 Aldergrove 0.05
Whatever the St James’ management said to their players during the interval certainly worked as they raced into into the lead with five unanswered points on the restart. Sean Fay started the fight back with an excellent point and Declan Gough added another from an acute angle. Ryan McCarthy followed with another as Glenavy struggled to repel the early onslaught and Michael Smart scored a fgine point as he took a pass and split the posts.
Declan Gough followed with a good score as a shell shocked Glenavy rang the changes with Matthew Hamill and Alex Gallagher replacing Fra McMullan and Fergus Cunningham.
Niall McCann pulled one back for the Orangemen but they were dealt a severe blow when Aldergrove broke through for a goal to put them three ahead. Once again Conor Browning showed his class when he stole forward for the umpire to raise the white flag before Niall McCann replied for St. Joseph’s from a pointed free.
The momentum was now very much with the Crumlin side however and they responded in devastating fashion and a well worked move from deep in their own half opened up the Glenavy defence and Aaron O’Connor made no mistake as he planted the ball in the corner of the net.
To their credit Glenavy battled to the end and David Nelson was rewarded for his hard running with a point as Paddy Fox replaced his brother Michael and Fergal Green entered the fray for Stephen Eastwood.
Green had the last say with a point for the Chapel Hill side but it was very much a consolation score at this stage and it is St. James’ Aldergrove who are this year’s deserving Football Shield winners.
Both sides deserve great credit for a thoroughly entertaining game of football that kept the good crowd on their toes throughout the hour. St.Joseph’s players and management wish their fullback Timmy Honeyford good luck as he heads for Loughborough University to continue his education.
St.James’ Oisin McGarry; Logan Fleming; Michael McCarthy; David Aiken; Christopher Browning; Odhran Creamey; Declan Gough; Danny Bell; Oisin Graham; Conieth O’Tool; Conor Morris; Michael Smart; Glenn Durham; Ryan McCarthy; Seany Fay. Replacements: Conor Totten; Joe Donnelly; Fearghal Hanna; Paul Cushley; Conor Finnegan; Tomas O’Callaghan; Aaron O’Connor; Eoin Gough; Conor Browning.
St. Joseph’s: Gareth Collins; Conor Mulholland; Timmy Honeyford; Oliver Brankin; Chris Grant; Fra McMullan; Michael Fox; Francis Corr; Michael Kane; Pearse O’Neill; Sean McGirr; Darragh Docherty; Fergus Cunningham; Stephen Eastwood; David Nelson. Replacements: BenMcCambridge; Matthew Hamill; Paddy Fox; Chris Smylie; Luke Deveraux; Declan Doone; Alex Gallagher; Niall McCann; Anthony Gallagher
Referee: Paul Burns (St. Comhghall’s)
