Homefit Antrim Football League Division Two

Sarsfield’s 0-8 St Paul’s 0-12

St Paul’s made the short journey down to the Bear Pit on Sunday and came back up with both points as they beat neighbours Sarsfields by 0-12 to 0-8 in Division 2 of the Homefit Football League.

Despite being short the services of Liam McKenna the visitors had the edge with Stephen O’Brien filling in for McKenna perfectly, scoring 0-6, three of them from frees, and three from play.

Things are not going well for the Paddies at the minute. They were ready to welcome Kevo McKernan back to the fold on Sunday after his work in England had ruled him out of recent games, but when your luck is out, it is really out, and Kevo pulled up with an injury during the warm up.

Despite this setback, one of many in recent weeks, the Paddies started brightly and playing into the pavilion end they fired over early points through Thomas Skillen and Brian Healy.

However St Paul’s began to find a bit of rhythm in their play and they were soon back on terms as Colm McLarnon and Conor Hughes popped over points. Two quick points from Stephen O’Brien put the visitors ahead and they opened up a four point gap as Mark Munce and O’Brien tacked on two more. Sarsfields kept battling and came close to getting a goal at the other end when Sam Walsh fired just wide, but Daniel Smyth picked off a good point soon afterwards to leave them trailing by 0-4 to 0-7 by the time Darren McKeown blew the half time whistle.

Sarsfields pulled a point back early in the second half when Brian Healy sent one over but St Paul’s still held the upper hand and the excellent O’Brien and midfielder Colm McLarnon pulled them clear of the danger. Healy got another point from a free for the home side to keep them in touch, but they struggled to find the target and St Paul’s took advantage to finish on a high with excellent scores from Munce and O’Brien, which sealed the points with four to spare.

SARSFIELD’S: M Brady; K Carson, M Johnston, N McDonald; P McPeake, N McAlea, E Mervyn; C Murray (0-1), J McNally; C Glenholmes, S Walsh, T Skillen (0-3, 2 frees); S Hughes, G Lennon, B Healy (0-3, 1 free).

Subs: D Smyth (0-1) for G Lennon (9), D Gorman for S Hughes (38), P Murray for N McAlea (38), E Quinn for S Walsh (45).

ST PAUL’S: J McAufield; C Magee, A Kavanagh, M Duffy; D Burns, C O’Hanlon, D Magee; C McLarnon (0-2), J Farrell; P O’Hanlon, C Hughes (0-1), M Munce (0-2); C Duffy (0-1), S O’Brien (0-6, 3 frees), R Hamill.

Subs: A Traynor for R Hamill (HT), A Finnegan for C Duffy (42)

REFEREE: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)