Late Kerr point secures famous victory for Tir na nOg

ACFL Division 2

Tir na nOg 2-08 St Gall’s 1-10

A Kevin Kerr point late in the game secured a third win of the season for last year’s division 2 champions, Tir na nOg and a first ever victory over visitors St. Gall’s at Whitehill today. The sides were tied at six points each at half time and looked to be heading for a draw when substitute Kerr kept his cool to fire over the winner, much to the delight of the home support.

The home side staged a spirited finish after falling three points in arrears of the Milltown men in the last quarter after the excellent Niall Burns had added a couple of points to follow a 34^th minute major.

Nothing had separated the sides at the end of the opening period with Sean Paul McAtamney pulling off a couple of excellent saves to deny the visitors but the Whitehill men came from behind in the latter stages to level the issue at 0-06 apiece with late points from Darragh Feagan and Aaron Mc Neilly.

Mickey Pollock, who was lively for St. Gall’s looks up as Peter Cullen moves in to challenge

St Gall’s started the better in the second half but Niall Burn’s early goal found reply in kind when Ciaran O’ Neill fired to the net at the other end before the Milltown men took charge and were three points to the good as the clock counted down and it looked like the points were on their way back to Belfast

In the event the home side were not to lose focus and a couple of subtle changes in the latter minutes worked the oracle as hard working defender Caomhinn Duffin grabbed a point before supplying a cross field delivery for Darragh Feagan to finish to the net.

St. Gall’s replied with a 57^th minute point from central defender Sean McCaffrey to bring parity and a draw looked likely.

In the event replacement Kevin Kerr came up the right hand side to fire over the winner and secure the Randalstown sides third brace of points and make a mark in history for the Whitehill Blues.

Tir na nOg: S P Mc Atamney, Ethan Higgins, Peter Cullen, Ryan Crilly, Ciaran O’ Neill, Caomhinn Duffin (0-01), Oran Mc Atamney, Joshua Higgins, Ryan O’ Neill (0-01), Ciaran Logan (1-00), Sean Duffin, Darragh Feagan (1-02), Ciaran Dobbin, Aaron Mc Neilly (0-01), Daniel Martin

Subs:

Ronan O’ Neill for C Dobbin

Kevin Sheerin for R O’ Neill

Connor Hastings for C Logan

K Kerr (0-01) for Ryan O’ Neill

Barry Magee for P Cullen

St Gall’s: Niall Mc Curdy, Jack Hopkins, Connor Murray, Eoghan Mc Cabe, Caolan Chada, Sean Mc Caffrey (0-01), Cormac Bradley, Ruairi Wilson, Thomas Bunting, Marcus Donnelly, Niall Burns (1-04), Dualtach Wilson (0-02), Niall Fallon (0-01), Michael Pollock (0-02), Conaill Mc Girr

Referee: Eamon Mc Auley (Erin’s Own)