ACFL Division 2
All Saints 0-12 St. James 3-6
St. James Aldergrove made a great start to the season when they scored 6-8 against Ardoyne in Crumlin and that rich vein of form continued when they visited Slemish Park today and came away with a three point win over All Saints.
They didn’t get it all their own way against an All Saints side who dominated the opening exchanges and moved into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead after 27 minutes and were playing some great expansive football with goal keeper Connor Brennan joining his attack on a number of occasions and scoring a point.
The turning point came with a minute remaining to the break when a misplaced pass across their own goal and a slip by Sean McVeigh gifted Ronan Hanna a goal and the visitors took a slender one point lead into the half time break.
The early exchanges were nip and tuck as James McDonnell pointed All Saints ahead from a 3d minute free and James Trowlen replying for Aldergrove from a free in the 9th minute. All Saints looked to be in for the game’s opening goal but the woodwork came to St. James’ rescue twice in as many minutes before Benny McDonnell settled for a point to restore his side’s lead.
Trowlen squared the contest for the second time from another free in the 12th minute before Seamus McGarry saw his attempted point come back off an upright and then All Saints hit the front for the third time when their keeper, Connor Brennan fired over after being involved in an intricate build up.
Conor Morris for the visitors and Oisin Connolly for All Saints exchanged further points before a fisted point from Cal O’Brien move ‘Baker’ Bradley’s men two in front with seven minutes remaining to the break.
There was little between the sides at this stage but a youthful All Saints were looking comfortable as Gerard Mallon and Rory McVeigh exchanged further minors but Hanna’s goal in the 29th minute changed all that.
All Saints had one last chance to restore their lead as they opened up the visitors but Brendan McDonnell’s first time ground strike was superbly saved by Sean O’Neill in the Aldergrove goal and the visitors took a slender one point lead into the second half.
The new half was only minutes old when Ronan Hanna got through for the visitors second goal with the home defence nowhere to be seen but a couple of points in quick reply from Brendan McDonnell and Oisin Crilly brought All Saints right back into contention.
Fergal Burke’s side were starting to get on top however as Conor Browning and Seamus McGarry responded with points and when substitute Ryan McCarthy rose to fist a Ronan Hanna free to the All Saints net in the 18th minute they looked in complete control.
The Ballymena men tried to respond but Sean O’Neill in the Aldergrove goals denied Brendan McDonnell for the second time in the contest as the home side tried to respond. All Saints did enjoy a period of pressure and James McDonnell fired over three frees in but the goal they need never looked like materialising as the visitors defence stood strong.
St. James now move onto 4 points at the top of the table with Moneyglass and after a difficult 2021 they looked like a side on a mission and could be challenging for promotion come the end of the season.
All Saints: Connor Brennan, Matthew Downey, Sean McVeigh, James McDonnell, Connell Lemon, Rhys O’Mullan, Sean O’Callaghan, Emmet Killough, Shea O’Brien, Joe Rafferty, Eoin Campbell, Oisin Connolly, Cal O’Brien, Benny McDonnell, Rory McVeigh. Subs: Ronan Ward for Eoin Campbell, Ciaran McLarnon for Reece O’Mullan
Aldergrove: 1 Sean O’Neill, 2 David Aiken, 3 Christopher Browning, 4 Chris McVeigh, 5 Gerald Mallon, 6 Andy Mallon, 7 Declan Gough, 8 Conor Browning, 9 Emmett Irvine, 10 Seamus Trowlen, 11 Seamus McGarry, 12 Conor Morris, 13 Ronan Hanna, 14 Stephen McCullagh, 15 Oisin Graham. Subs: Eoin Gough for James Trowlen, Ryan McCarthy for Stephen McCullough, Seanie Flynn for S McGarry, Corey Fogarty for Conor Morris, Logan Fleming for Declan Gough.
Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghall)
