ACFL Dvision 1
St Mary’s Ahoghill 1-12 St Gall’s 1-15
A late goal by corner forward Niall Fallon proved the difference as St Gall’s gained victory and a precious couple of points in a keenly fought contest in their visit to Ahoghill on Wednesday evening.
Never more than a couple of points had separated the sides throughout but with the long blast only a few minutes away the corner forward retained his composure to complete a well organised counter attack to fire the ball to the back of the net and seal the deal.
With both sides much too close to the bottom of the table for their own peace of mind on four points apiece, a close encounter was anticipated and in fact delivered as St Mary’s Ahoghill played hosts to St Gall’s on Wednesday evening.
The visitors were quickest away and back to back points from their best on view and chief organiser, Mickey Pollock and Niall Burns had them a couple of points clear by the 3rd minute.
The home side had proved sluggish in the early stages but soon regained composure and only a smart save by net minder Louis Mc Cormick denied Eoin Neeson access over his line in the 5th minute.
Danny O’ Neill who was on the cusp of an excellent shift for the home side had put the wing man into the scoring zone only to be denied by the keeper.
The Cloney men were on the board a minute later when Ronan Graham drilled through a crowded goal mouth to the back of the net and they were to pull a couple of points clear a few minutes after when Conor Crossey followed with a point.
The opening quarter continued in end to end activity and with Niall Fallon and Paddy Dougan swapping points and when Niall Burns found the target from a long range effort only the minimum separated them with Ahoghill at 1-02 to 0-04.
Such end to end stuff and score at one end provoked similar reply at the other but as time marched on the visitors were to dominate central proceedings and more often than not laying claim to the broken ball.
Points from Michael Pollock and Dualtach Johnston sandwiched a similar effort from PJ O’ Connell at the other end but despite difficulty in finding the target with the dynamic Danny O’ Neill often spearheading the offensive the Clooney men retained advantage and the lead at the end of the opening period 1-07 to 0-09 ahead.
St Gall’s suitably refreshed from the interval break started the second half on the positive and an early point from the ever accurate Niall Burns ensured equality on the board.
Colla Mc Donnell’s 33rd minute reply in kind ensured the home side had regained advantage but such was only to last for a couple of minutes as a point from second period replacement Niall O’ Neill, ensured they were back abreast by the 37th minute.
The Milltown men were gaining impetus in the central zone and laying claim to the broken ball but a brace of fine scores by James O’ Connell secured the lead for the Clooney men 1-11 to 0-13 as the end drew ever closer.
The home side looked set for a win but in a game in which twists and turns proved a theme back came the Milltown men with the evergreen Mickey Pollock pulling the strings and a fine point secured from a 50 metre free ensured parity in the 57th minute before Niall Burns followed suit to ensure the lead.
The home side tried to make recovery but when the Gall’s full back Conall Murray rose highest to collect a lofted delivery his clearance found Eoghan Mc Cabe who placed Niall Fallon and he finished to the back of the net and that was to be that.
The home side had the last say when James O’ Connell despatched a long range free between the posts and although they tried to rally time proved against them and the points which may well prove a valuable acquisition as St Gall’s breastiedthe line at 1-15 to 1-12.
St Gall’s
Louis Edwards, Cormac Flannery, Conaill Murray, Cormac Bradley, Caolan Chada, Marcus Donnelly, Conaill Mc Girr, Ryan Irvine, Eoghan Mc Cabe (0-02), Ruairi Wilson, Niall Burns (0-06), Dualtach Johnston (0-01), Callum Walsh, Michael Pollock (0-04), Niall Fallon (1-01)
Subs
Niall O’ Neill (0-01) for M Donnelly
Fergus Donnelly for C Walsh
Ahoghill
Noel Crossey, Patrick Dougan (0-01), James ‘ Bobby’ Magee, Bernard Graham, Tom Mc Glone (0—01), Eamon Brady, Eoin Graham, Neil ‘Boris’ O’ Connell, James O’ Connell (0-04), Eoin Neeson, Danny O’ Neill, Ronan Graham (1-01), Colla Mc Donnell (0-01), PJ O’ Connell (0-03), Conor Crossey (0-01)
Subs
Donal Graham for E Graham
Referee S Laverty (St Ergnat’s)
