Homefit ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 2-04-1-06 St Johns
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Lámh Dhearg left it late to seal their first league win of the season after a 2-04-1-06 win over St Johns at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening.
Both sides were going into the game on contrasting form, the hosts looking for their first victory after back-to-back draws and a defeat to Creggan on Sunday afternoon. While St Johns were hoping to build on successive victories over Cargin and St Galls after a reversal on the opening day.
St Johns played with a huge breeze advantage in the opening half and opened the evenings scoring through a Conal McGlade free.
The Lámhs set out to retain possession in the opening half and had some long spells of play without creating anything serious of note.
It forced St Johns to play on the break and the Whiterock side extended their lead approaching the midway point in the half.
Ciaran Garland steered an effort between the posts before Conal McGlade shot over from an acute angle a few minutes later.
They were unable to add to their advantage for the remainder of the half and at the break the visitors were 0-03 to the good.
Lámh Dhearg came out with a different approach upon the restart, but their shooting let them down in the opening ten minutes of the half.
It took 41 minutes for their first score to arrive-however it was one that levelled proceedings after Daire Larkin palmed a pass down a pass and a goal chance opened up, with Ross Murray stabbing an untidy finish past Eoghan-Rua Lambert and into the Johnnies net to make it 1-00-0-03.
The hosts hit the front for the time first time through a converted Paddy Cunningham free and then added a second courtesy of a side-footed effort from Paddy Mervyn.
Parity was restored a few minutes later though when Ryan McNulty converted a free and then landed a superb point to make it 1-02-0-05 and leave the game poised with ten minutes remaining.
The Hannahstown side got their noses back in front through an impressive, angled shot from Cormac Hannan and went two ahead through a Cunningham free, but missed the chance to put St Johns to the sword when substitute Terry McCrudden snatched at a goal chance.
Conal McGlade halved the deficit with his second converted free of the evening and approaching injury time the single point separated the sides – with a dramatic climax in store.
St Johns chased down the equalising score and were awarded a free a few yards out from the side-line close to the 21-yard line. The shot wasn’t on, so the Corrigan men went short and dropped the ball into a crowded area.
Pandemonium ensued as the ball bobbled around close the goal and Lámh Dhearg desperately tried to hold out- but Simon McDonagh bundled the ball past Mark McIlvenny and the large contingent in the area to surely snatch all the points for St Johns and give them a 1-06-1-04 lead at the death.
It was the second midweek in succession that Lámh Dhearg had conceded late-on, but referee Darren McKeown allowed them one last advance before drawing things to a conclusion and as the ball was slung into a dangerous position, he spotted a shove off the ball and signalled for penalty to the Lámhs.
Paddy Cunningham seized responsibility for the kick but was forced to wait as referee McKeown dealt with an off the ball coming together.
Once order was restored Cunningham faced Lambert in the St Johns goal and despite guessing correctly, the St Johns keeper was unable to deny the Lámh Dhearg veteran- who tucked his low shot firmly in the bottom corner with the final act of the game to ensure his side a 2-04-1-06 win and their first victory of the league campaign.
Lámh Dhearg: M McIlvenny, F Mervyn, M McGarry, R Murray (1-00), D Smith, P Mervyn (0-01), A McAufield, D Lynch, C Hannan (0-01), C Maxwell, B Rice, R Diamond, P Cunningham (1-02f), D Larkin, N McGarry. Subs: E Campbell for D Lynch (HT), T McCrudden for N McGarry (44), M Hynds for D Smith (44), P Larkin for A McAufield (51).
St Johns: ER Lambert, C McEvoy, J Bohill, C Garland (0-01), O Donnelly, P Nugent, J Garland, S McDonagh (1-00), R McNulty (0-03, 0-01f), A McGowan, D Bellew, C McGlade (0-02f), C Quinn, C Hand, R Hannigan. Subs: CJ McKenna for D Bellew (14), L McCurdy for R McNulty (34), R McNulty for L McCurdy (40), C Adams for C Hand (52).
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)
