Photographs: Bert Trowlen
OB Construction IFC Group 4
St. James Aldergrove 1-17 St. Teresa’s 1-10
When Sean Maguire fired home a St. Teresa’s goal in the 13th minute of the second half to reduce the deficit to a point it looked like we were in for a barn storming finish in Crumlin last night. The home side, St. James’ Aldergrove were able to respond however with a goal of their own from Seamus McGarry and they pushed on to win by seven points.
It was St. James who got off to a great start and they kicked the opening five points of the game by the 11th minute through Conor Morris (mark), Declan Gough, Ronan Hanna and two from Seamus McGarry and appeared to be coasting.
You never get anything easy against St. Teresa’s however and John Mallon replied from a couple of pointed frees to serve notice that the Glen Road side were not there just to make up the numbers.
McGarry with his third point of the game and Philip Maguire for the visitors exchanged points to keep the gap at three as things began to liven up before Fearghal Hanna edged the home side four in front with a point in the 17th minute.
Free taker, John Mallon keep St. Teresa’s in touch and Mark Small followed with another from play in the 21st minute to leave just the minimum between the sides as things began to liven up with referee, Eamon McAuley issuing a number of yellow cards at this stage of the game.
It was the Crumlin side who found another gear in the run up to half time with Anthony Kidney striking a long range free between the uprights and Conor Morris and Kidney again on target with impressive scores to move the hosts 0-10 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.
St. James increased that lead to seven, three minutes into the second half through Conor Morris and Ronan Hanna but St. Teresa’s replied through Anton Taylor and a John Mallon free to keep the gap at five with only seven minutes of the new half gone.
It was nip and tuck at this stage as Fearghal Hanna with an excellent long range point for Aldergrove and John Mallon for the visitors exchanged further points but a Sean Maguire goal for St. Teresa’s in the 13th minute following a build-up involving several players, brought the visitors right into contention.
Suddenly the momentum had switched to the Glen Road side but St. James regrouped and conjured a goal of their own, five minutes later with county panellist Seamus McGarry applying the finish to again put a bit of daylight between the sides.
Eoghan Hamill replied with a point to cut the gap to three after 20 minutes but it was the home side who found another gear as Anthony Kidney from another excellent long range free, Gerard Mallon and Ronan Hanna put a bit of distance between the sides.
There would be no way back for St. Teresa’s this time though they never gave up but a consolation score from Anton Taylor was all they could muster as St. James ran out seven point winners to go top of Group 4 but they don’t play again until the 27th of August when they travel to St. Paul’s.
The Shaw’s Road side make the short journey to the Glen Road on Saturday 13th August to open their account in a group containing only three sides and St. Teresa’s will need something from that one if they are to maintain any hopes of qualifying for a quarter final place.
Aldergrove: 1 Shane O’Neill, 2 Eoin Gough, 3 Christopher McVeigh, 4 Christopher Browning, 5 Gerard Mallon, 6 Brian McQuillan, 7 Fearghal Hanna, 8 Ryan Owens, 9 Conor Browning, 10 Seamus McGarry, 11 Ronan Hanna, 12 Declan Gough, 13 Conor Morris, 14 Anthony Kidney, 15 Oisin Graham, 16 Oisin McGarry, 17 Andrew Flood, 18 David Aiken
St. Teresa’s: 1 Odhran O’Neill, 2 Aidan Dougan, 3 Anthony Vandell, 4 Anton Taylor, 5 Colm McGoldrick, 6 Conor O’Rawe, 7 Darren McCann, 8 Eoghan Hamill, 11 Joe Rainey, 13 John Mallon, 14 Liam Gault, 16 Mark Small, 17 Paul McGoldrick, 18 Philip Maguire, 22 Sean Maguire
Referee: Eamon McAuley (Cargin)
