OB Construction IFC Group 2
All Saints 0-10 St. Joseph’s Glenavy 0-11
St. Joseph’s Glenavy got their OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship of to a battling start when they edged out All Saints, Ballymena in a dour struggle at Slemish Park on Saturday evening. The visitors always edged the exchanges and led 0-8 to 0-5 at half time with their ability to win ‘dirty ball’ and their greater accuracy in front of the posts giving them the edge over the hour.
The Chapel Hill side got off to the better start as Fergal Henry put them two ahead after 4 minutes from a couple of converted frees. Shea O’Brien from a free and a superb Paddy McAleer point from play saw the sides draw level by the 9th minute and when O’Brien from another free and Emmet Killough from play put the home side two clear after 13 minutes they looked to be taking control.
Malachi Doherty from a well struck long range free and Fergal Greene from another free had the sides level again before the excellent Paddy Gallagher struck a fine point from play to restore the visitors lead by the 18th minute.
All Saints fought to get back into the game but kicked three wides in quick succession with Glenavy responding with points from Fergal Henry and Malachi Doherty to move three clear with four minutes remaining to the break.
And three points separated the sides at the halfway stage with Conor Stewart on target for Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley’s side and Charles Gallagher replying with the last point of the second half to leave it 0-8 to 0-5 as referee, Danny O’Neill sounded his half time whistle.
All Saints were first off the mark at the start of the second half as Ciaran Campbell fired over but a Fergal Henry reply for the visitors kept the gap at two as the home side introduced Brendan McDonnell for Campbell with only 7 minutes of the new half gone.
McDonnell threatened to turn the game on its head as he converted three close range frees to square the contest by the 10th minute but the Slemish Park side were never able to get their noses in front thanks to some poor shooting and dogged defending on the part of the visitors.
Paddy Gallagher, who was outstanding for Glenavy throughout, edged his side one ahead again after 13 minutes as Michael McCourt replaced Michael Cunningham in the Glenavy side and a Fergal Greene pointed free saw the visitors move two clear after 18 minutes.
The home side rang the changes themselves with Sean McVeigh and Michael McCarry entering the fray in an attempt to add some momentum but despite enjoying plenty of possession they were never able to get the scores to turn matters around.
Indeed the scoring dried up at this stage with a Sean O’Brien pointed free in the 24th minute closing the gap to one once more but it was to prove the game’s final score with both sides wasting opportunities down the home straight as Glenavy held on for a deserved win.
This win puts St. Joseph’s in pole position for a quarter-final spot with both sides having to play St. Comhghall’s Antrim in a group that contains only three teams. The Chapel Hill men have home advantage for that game against the Antrim town men while All Saints have to travel to Antrim for their final group game.
All Saints: Conor Brennan, Matty Downey, James McDonnell, James Gillan, Connell Lemon Paddy McAleer, Cormac Lemon, Emmet Killough, Ciaran McGarry, Conor Stewart, Kavan Keenan, Shaun O’Callaghan, Ciaran Campbell, Owen Campbell, Shea O’Brien. Subs: Brendan McDonnell for Ciaran Campbell, Sean McVeigh for Emmet Killough, Michael McCarry for Owen Campbell.
Glenavy: Gareth Collins, Stephen Doone, Liam Henry, Timmy Honeyford, Darragh Doherty, Paddy Gallagher, Malachi Doherty, Michael Johnston, Fiontan O’Boyle, Pearse O’Neill, Ciaran Loney, Fergal Greene, Fergus Cunningham, Fergal Henry, Charles Gallagher. Subs: Michael McCourt for Fergus Cunningham, Anthony Gallagher for Fergal Greene
Referee: Danny O’Neill (Gort na Mona)
