ACHL Division 4

All Saints 0-19 Latharna Og 2-7

All Saints, Ballymena got their division 4 league campaign of to a great start when they defeated Cushendall on Wednesday night before making it two from two with a good win over Latharna Og at Quinn Park this morning.

Ciaran Neeson was the star man against the Ruairi’s , scoring 2-10 on the night and he followed it up with another masterful exhibition of point taking today against the men from Larne who didn’t help their own cause when they had Kellan McAuley Red carded in the opening minute for a rash challenge on the All Saints number 10.

Anthony O’Neill had to drop back from full-forward to defence to plug the gap left by McAuley as Neeson split the up rights twice in the opening five minutes.

To their credit Latharna Og settled and Michael Lismore pointed before Ryan O’Donnell levelled the contest from a long distance free and O’Donnell briefly edged the visitors ahead when he converted a 50 meter free in the 10^th minute but Neeson replied from another free to tie the contest again.

The challenges were going in hard and fast but the home side were beginning to create space and Damian Gillan and Ciaran Neeson from a free and then from play moved the home side two in front before Philip Craig in the Larne nets brought off a good save to deny Cormac Magill.

All Saints went on to lead 0-8 to 0-5 at the break with Gillan and Neeson the marksmen for the Ballymena side and Ryan O’Donnell keeping the score board ticking for the men from Brustin Braes.

It didn’t get any better for the visitors on the restart as Ciaran Neeson had a tantalising deliver flicked over by Gary Miskella and he then sent a ‘65’ between the sticks to move the home side 0-10 to 0-5 ahead with only three minutes of the new half gone.

Luke O’Rawe sent a massive effort over the black spot and a couple more from the excellent Neeson saw All Saints move eight clear at the end of the third quarter and their opponent looked in danger of being overrun but the visitors dug deep.

Michael Lismore drilled a 30 meter free through a crowded goalmouth to the Ballymena net in the 19^th minute and substitute Barry Petticrew might have had another but his close range effort came back of an upright.

All Saints replied with a good point from Damian Gillan but the visitors responded again and a dropping shot from Jack McAllister end in the back of Ciaran Cassley’s net and suddenly a come-back looked on the cards.

It was as close as Latharna Og got however with the home side reasserting their superiority with Damian Gillan, Eoin O’Neill and Cormac Magill all on target and the visitors only response coming from a late Jack McAllister point.

All Saints: Ciaran Cassley, Dwayne McKee, Colum Neeson, Kevin Brady, Daniel Gray, Luke O’Rawe, Vincent Esler, Cormac Lemon, Damian Gillan, Ciaran Neeson, Cormac Magill, Eoin Magee, Conrad Duffin, Gary Miskella, Jack Magill.

Sub: Darra Hasson

Latharna Og:1 Philip Craig, 2 Darren Martin, 3 Kellan McAuley, 4 Caolan Shields, 5 Mark Petticrew, 6 Cathal McKillop, 7 Ciaran Martin, 8 Ryan O’Donnell, 9 Phil McKendry, 10 Conor Matthews, 11 Ronan McKillop, 12 Michael Lismore, 13 Jack McAllister, 14 Anthony O’Neill, 15 Matthew Killough.

Subs: 21 Barry Petticrew, 18 Anthony McNeill, 23 Gary Bergin, 17 Lee Magill

Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)