Antrim Football League Div. 2
St.Joseph’s Glenavy 0-15 St.James’ Aldergrove 0-12
Glenavy welcomed local rivals Aldergrove (who were unbeaten) to Chapel Hill on a cold dry evening but it was the home side who collected the points and the bragging rights. The game was played in a very sporting manner with referee Danny O’Neill kept close control but allowed the players to play the game.
The visitors started the game in whirlwind fashion with three unanswered points from Connor Browning, Fergal Hanna and Ronan Hanna. The home side’s midfielders Ciaran Loney and Ruairi Forester were beginning to get to grips with the game however and their ever alert centre forward Malachy Doherty stopped the rot with an excellent point.
St. James responded immediately from the kick out and Ryan Owens gained possession and quickly passed to the inrushing Ronan Hanna to extend the lead to three again.
The game was being played at a fast pace with both teams guilty of some poor decision making and passes going astray. David Nelson was giving his maker a tough time by his constant movement and he was rewarded when he got on the end of a long delivery and split the uprights for a point.
With the game flowing from end to end Connor Morris extended the visitors lead with a well worked point but once again the home side moved the ball up the field to the alert David Nelson who added a point to his score.
Back came St.James’ but Declan Gough was denied by an excellent save by Gareth Collins when a goal looked eminent but Ronan Hanna gathered the rebound and fired over.
Both teams battled for supremacy in a game that took their supporters minds of the cold as evening drew in. Fergal Henry, who was closely marked by Chris McVeigh broke away to score a beauty for the Chapel Hill side from an acute angle.
Henry’s point closed the gap to two but Seamus Trowlen got in on the scoring act with a well worked point to move the visitors three ahead once more as play swung from end to end.
As the pace and intensity of the game increased Ciaran Loney took possession from the kick out and went on a solo runs to again close the gap as the white flag was raised.
Glenavy were beginning to enjoy a bit of success and Fontaine O’Boyle showed all his class when he broke forward to score a beauty to leave the minimum between the sides.
Back came the Crumlin side however and Fergal Hanna quickly replied with a point but Glenavy were coming more and more into it and Fergal Henry showed all his class when he pointed a long range free.
The final score of the half fell to St. James’ as defender Gerard Mallon got forward to bring the scoring to a close with a long range point to leave the halftime score 0.09 to 0.07 in favour of Aldergrove.
It was St. Joseph’s who opened the second half on the offensive and from the throw in the ball was worked into the danger area with David Nelson taking possession and once again closed the gap to one.
Fergal Henry added a pointed free to bring the side’s level but the visitors replied and looked to be in for a goal but Gareth Collins was on hand to clear the danger but the ball broke to Seamus Trowlen who split the posts.
Aldergrove were dealt a blow when the lost the hard working Chris McVeigh with an elbow injury but Aldergrove seemed to up their game at this stage and added two more points through Seamus Trowlen and Ronan Hanna to put their side three up with twelve minutes remaining.
To their credit the home side came back into the game with two excellent points as Malachy Doherty fired over and Fergal Henry pointed a free to bring his side level and at this stage it still looked anyone’s game.
The momentum was now very much with the Chapel Hill side however and Fergus Cunningham, who had been introduced a few minutes earlier scored a beauty from out on the wing to restore their lead
St. Joseph’s finished strongly and Malachy Docherty and Fergal Henry added points in the closing stages to leave them winners by three points.
This was an excellent game of football with Aldergrove dictating the early exchanges but St. Joseph’s kept battling away and in the end were worthy winners.
St.Joseph’s G. Collins D. Doherty; L. Henry; O. McStravick; P. Fox; P. Gallagher; M. Fox; R. Forrester; C. Loney; M. Hamill; M. Docherty; R. Phillips; F. Henry; D. Nelson; Fintaoin O’Boyle
Res Used Oisin Hamill; Niall McCann; F. Cunningham.
St.James’ S. O’Neill; C. McVeigh; C. Browning; D. Aiken; G. Mallon; A. Flood; C. Browning; O. Graham; R, Owen; D. Gough; F. Hanna; C. Morris; R. Hanna; S. McCullough, S. Trowlen
Referee: Danny O’Neill (Gort na Mona