ACFL Division 2
St. James 1-7 Moneyglass 2-10
A superb goal from Sean Kelly after 20 minutes of the first half and another from Dermot McErlain seven minutes from time propelled league leaders Moneyglass to a good victory over St. James Aldergrove in a bad tempered affair in Crumlin last night.
Kelly’s goal was worth the admission money on its own. He broke up an Aldergrove attack deep in his own territory and instigated a counter attack where he combined with several players before taking a final pass from Dermot McErlain to fire to the Aldergrove net.
Conal Prenter got the visitors off the mark with a point in the third minute and the same player took his tally to three by the 17th minute as Moneyglass dominated the opening quarter where the home side could not get a sight of the target.
Patrick McCormick added another in the 20th minute to move St. Ergnat’s 0-4 to 0-0 ahead and Kelly’s goal put the visitors in total control
It finally brought a response from the Crumlin men and Gerald Mallon opened their account with a point in the 22nd minute with Ronan Hanna and Ferghal Hanna following with two more in quick succession before the first half scoring dried up.
Still with only four in it at the break St. James’ would have been expected to find a response in the second half but it was the visitors who took control again at the start of the third quarter. Peter McCormick, Colm Duffin, Seanchann Duffin and Conal Prenter fired over unanswered points by the 36th minute to move St. Ergnat’s eight ahead and even at this early juncture it looked a long way back for a disappointing Aldergrove side.
James Trowlen finally got them on their way again with their first score in 18 minutes when he split the posts from a free but once again Moneyglass were able to respond as the impressive Prenter brought his personal tally to five with points in the 37th and 43d minute.
The home side, who have been going well this year quite simply could not get it together as move after move broke down but Trowlen added another free with 12 minutes remaining to bring their total to five.
A goal great from Ronan Hanna following a turnover in mid-field in the 50th minute briefly threatened an Aldergrove comeback but when Dermot McErlain fired home St. Ergnat’s second goal, three minutes later it was well and truly over.
Ronan Hanna added a couple of late Aldergrove’s points and Colm Duffin replied with one for St. Ergnat’s to leave them winners by six points and maintain their unbeaten league record to leave them in pole position at the top of the table.
