ACFL Division 1
St. Enda’s 1.8 (11) Tír na nÓg 1.9 (12)
On a night not conducive to good football it was hardly surprising that four of the six division one fixtures ended with only a point separating the protagonists but the performance of last year’s division 2 champions, Tir na nOg is the one that must have caught the eye of most GAA followers in the county.
They travelled to Glengormley to face a St. Enda’s team who have been going well in the league and who defeated county champions Creggan at the same venue a few weeks ago, and would have started Wednesday night’s game as firm favourites.
Tír na nÓg were warmly welcomed by the St. Enda’s clubmen stewarding the pitch. Both teams were fortunate that the severe weather held off until late in the game and despite slippery underfoot conditions these sides served up a very competitive game of football over 60+ minutes.
St. Enda’s with their experience in Division 1 were favourites and after 5 minutes had opened a 3 point advantage, they extended this to 4 after 17 minutes but the Whitehill men edged it back to 2 before the short whistle.
The home side started the second half in similar fashion with Christian Healy seamlessly gliding through the Tír na nÓg defence, until Oliver McAtamney found the net for the visitors, 43 minutes into the game to give the away team the lead for the first time.
Ciaran O’Neill and Aaron McNeilly tagged on two further hard fought scores and the defence did well to contain St. Enda’s threat in the closing stages. Having secured their second win of the season the new comers to division 1 face St. Galls at home on Sunday while St. Enda’s travel to Portglenone.
Best on the night for St. Enda’s was talisman Christian Healy while Sean Duffin and Ciaran O’Neill shone for the battling blues.
Tír na nÓg: 1. SP McAtamney 2. E. Higgins 3. B. McLarnon 4. P. Cullen 5. C. O’Neill 6. C. Duffin 7. O. McAtamney 8. J. Higgins 9. R. O’Neill 10. C. Logan 11. S. Duffin 12. D. Fegan 13. C. Dobbin 14. A. McNeilly 15. D. Martin
Subs used: R. O’Neill for C. Logan, R. Crilly for P. Cullen K. Sheerin for J. Higgins
Scorers: C. Dobbin (0.1), S. Duffin (0.2), A. McNeilly (0.3-2 frees), D. Fegan (0.2), O. McAtamney (1.0), C. O’Neill (0.1)
Referee: Danny O’Neill (Gort na Mona)