ACFL Division 2
Dunloy 3-18 St. Teresa’s 2-1
Another sparking performance from team captain, Declan Smith powered Cuchullain’s Dunloy to an easy victory over a depleted St. Teresa’s in Dunloy today. The visitors had simply no answer to a fast, mobile Cuchullain’s attack led by the lively Smith who would finish the game with 2-10 to his credit and was simply unmarkable.
The Dunloy number 11 got the ball rolling with the opening five points of the game by the 12th minute as the visitor’s defence chased shadows and their cause wasn’t helped when they lost Niall McCann to injury after 14 minutes.
Chrissie McMahon and Shane Dooey added to the Dunloy total before the excellent Smith made it 0-8 to 0-0 with 18 minutes gone. The visitors were doing all in their power to get going with Philly Maguire driving them on from mid-field but a John Mallon free tailed wide in the wind and another dropped into Conor McGilligan’s hands as they attempted to open their account.
Caolan Gillan, Declan Smith and Barry McCloskey added points at the other end to move the home side 0-10 ahead but they had to be thankful to keeper Conor McGilligan who dived to push away a John Erskine shot at goal after the big full-forward was put through by Maguire.
Caolan Gillan and Shane Dooey added the final two points of the half for the home side to leave them 0-12 to 0-0 ahead and even at this stage it looked like a damage limitation job for a St. Teresa’s side who were battling hard but with little success against a sharp and pacey Dunloy team who were scoring for fun.
The visitors were probably hoping that Declan Smith would take his foot off the gas in the second period but it was wishful thinking as the superb centre-half-forward picked up where he had left off, as he hit 1-2 in the opening five minutes to move his side out of sight.
Caolan Gillan added a point before Conor McGilligan brought off another good save to deny Eoghan O’Neill as St. Teresa’s fought hard to open their account. They continued to press however and in a good spell things finally went their way when Philip Maguire was brought down and referee Mark O’Neill pointed to the penalty spot.
Up stepped John Mallon to finally find a way past McGilligan as he fired to the net but it brought an immediate reply from the Cuchullain’s with Oisin McErlaine and Declan Smith adding points before substitute Anthony Doran got through for their second goal.
St. Teresa’s, to their credit never gave up and gained some reward when John Erskine hammered home their second goal from close range and Anthony Varndell added a point to bring their total to 2-1 but the final score of the game fell to that man Smith who lobbed keeper Sean Maguire for his second and his side’s third goal with time almost up.
Dunloy: 1 Conor McGilligan, 2 Anton McGrath, 3 Adrian Scullion, 4 Cathair McCloskey, 5 Oran Quinn, 6 Conor Kinsella, 7 James Scally, 8 Padraig McGilligan, 9 Eoin Gillan, 10 Karl Fitzpatrick, 11 Declan Smith, 12 Chrissie McMahon, 13 Barry McCloskey, 14 Caolan Gillan, 15 Shane Dooey. Subs: Tom McFerran, Oisin McErlaine, Ryan McFarlane, Eoin McFerran, Anthony Doran
St. Teresa’s: 1 Sean Maguire, 2 Ryan Mallon, 3 Joseph Rainey, 4 James Maggorian, 5 Conor O’Rawe, 6 Colm McGoldrick, 7 Eoghan O’Neill, 8 Phillip Maguire, 9 Luke Cassin, 10 John Mallon, 11 Niall McCann, 12 Paul McGoldrick, 13 Odhran O’Neill, 14 John Erskine, 15 Michael Roache, 22 Anthony Varndell, 20 Jarlath Patterson
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
