ACFL Division 2
Moneyglass 4-10 Dunloy 2-13
St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass strengthened their bid for promotion when they took on and defeated Cuchullain’s Dunloy at Marian Hill on Sunday. The home side looked well on their way to another victory when they hit four first half goals to lead 4-5 to 1-8 at half time.
The visitors pushed hard in the second half and indeed outscored the home side but St. Ergnat’s did enough to keep their noses in front to extend their 100% record to six games while nearest rivals Davitt’s dropped a point to Rasharkin in Belfast on the same day.
It was visitors Dunloy who made the early running as they raced into a five point lead by the 8th minute through Shane Dooey, Conor Kinsella, Dooey again, Peter McQuillan and Karl Fitzpatrick as the home side struggled to come to terms with a sharp Dunloy attack.
A Conlaidh McCann goal in the 11th minute and a second from Colm Duffin with 14 minutes gone settled the home side however with Seanchann Duffin adding a point before Karl Fitzpatrick steadied Dunloy with a couple of well struck frees.
The Cuchullain’s looked to have taken control again when Barry McCloskey fired to the net for his side’s opening goal in the 22nd minute but once again the league leaders were able to respond and Seanchann Duffin and Dermot McErlain replied with goals as gaps began to appear in the Dunloy defence.
The visitors replied with a point from Ryan McFarlane but Moneyglass had the bit firmly between their teeth at this stage of the game and finished the half with a flurry as Peter McCormick, Seanchann Duffin, Jack McCoy and Dermot McErlain ‘45’ added unanswered points to leave them 4-5 to 1-8 ahead at the change of ends.
The visitors started the second half as they had started the first, firmly on the front foot and Karl Fitzpatrick point a 4th minute free and Chrissie McMahon added another from play before Colm Duffin replied with a point for St. Ergnat’s with ten minutes of the new half gone.
It was the visitors who were enjoying the better of the exchanges at this stage of proceedings as Fitzpatrick converted another free and Shane Dooey gave them a massive boost when he got through for their second goal in the 46th minute to cut the deficit to a single point.
Caolan Gillan added another to leave it all square with 11 minutes remaining and St. Ergnat’s looked in trouble but they rallied with Dermot McErlain pointing his second ‘45’ of the game to steady the ship and Colm Duffin pointed a free and added another from play to give them a bit of breathing space.
Tempers were beginning to get frayed as referee Karol Doherty was forced to issue a number of cards with Caolan Gillan for Dunloy and Jimmy McMeel for Moneyglass exchanging late points to leave the home side victors by three points and still on course for a promotion place.
Referee: Karol Doherty (Rasharkin)
