OB Construction IFC Group 2
St.Joseph’s 4.14 v 1.11 St.Comgall’s
St. Joseph’s Glenavy secured their place in the quarter-final of the OB Construction Intermediate Football Championship following this fairly comfortable victory over Naomh Comhghall Antrim at Chapel Hill on Saturday.
This game was played on a hard pitch on a blistering hot day. With a small crowd present the fare on offer didn’t get them too excited. The home side deserved their victory because of their ability to finish when the opportunity arose.
St. Joseph’s were first off the mark with two well taken points from corner forward Charles Gallagher and his brother Patrick got on the score sheet when he split the posts after carrying the ball from the halfway line to put his side three up.
Naomh Comhghall settled and came back strongly with points from We then had a turn around when the visitors landed three unanswered points from Dylan Murdock, Kian Walker and Miles Devine to draw level and it looked like we had a game on our hand.
Glenavy replied immediately and Fergal Green got on the score sheet with a well taken point but with one of the best moves of the game Naomh Comhghall came storming back and Miles Devine gave the home keeper no chance as the ball nestled in the net.
To their credit the orange-men found a response when the ball reached Oisin Hamill who fired to the net at the other end and Malachi Doherty pointed a forty-five to put two between the sides.
Antrim showed they were up for the fight and the impressive Miles Devine fired over a forty-five to leave the minimum between the sides. Unfortunately, this was as good as it got for the Antrim Town side as St. Joseph’s began to get on top.
Fergal Henry, who had an excellent game for the Chapel Hill side swung matters firmly in favour of his team when he added a point and followed with a goal with Devine replying with the last point of the half to leave the halftime score 2.06 v 1.05 in Glenavy’s favour.
The home side increased their lead from the second half throw in as Patrick Gallagher broke through for a point. Antrim’s James McCabe reminded their hosts they hadn’t gone away when he soloed through for an excellent point but the momentum was now very much with the home side.
Ciaran Loney added a point from an acute angle and Fergal Henry added another from play and followed with another from a converted free. Glenavy were now controlling matters and Ciaran Loney added to his points total when extended his sides lead to 2.11 to 1.07
Darragh Doherty, who had just joined the fray raised another white flag before that man Devined pulled a point back for the division 3 side.
The home side were now pressing forward at every opportunity and they were awarded a penalty which was despatched to the visitors net by a very confident Malachi Doherty.
From the kick out the home side gained possession and the ball was quickly returned to the danger area and in the ensuing scramble the visitors conceded another penalty with Malachi Doherty showing how a penalty should be taken to leave the score 4.12 to 1.08.
Once again Fergal Henry was on target as he added another point and Malachi Doherty added another as the Chapel Hill side pressed home their advantage.
The final score of the game fell to Naomh Comhghall’s Niall Ward with a point from play but it was merely consolation at this stage and St. Joseph’s can now start preparing for a quarter-final place while Naomh Comhghall could join them if they win the final game of the Group against All Saints at Dunsilly on Friday 27th August in what is a must win game for both sides
St.Joseph’s : Lorcan Murphy;Stephen Doone; Liam Henry; Timmy Honeyford; Darragh Doherty; Patrick Gallagher; Malachi Doherty; Michael Johnston (Chris Grant); Fintaoin O’Boyle; Oisin Hamill (David Nelson); Ciaran Loney; Fergal Green; (Mathew Lawlor) Michael McCourt (Darragh Armstrong); Fergal Henry; Charles Gallagher (Anthony Gallagher).
Subs panel: Darragh Armstrong; David Nelson; Ben Cambridge; Anthony Gallagher; Niall McLaughlin; Michael Fox; Mathew Lawlor; Chris Grant; Eoin Henry; Luke Deveraux
Naomh Comhghall: 1 Ruairi Griffin, 2 Michael McCabe, 3Ryan McAuley, 4 Eoghan Lynett, 5 Dylan Murdock, 6 Aidan McKeown, 8 James McCabe, 9 Peter McAuley, 10 Aaron Mujrray, 11 Paddy O’Connor, 12 Rory Mclarnon, 13 Miles Devine, 14 Liam McKiernan, 15 Niall Ward, 18 Kian Walker, 19 Colm Logue, 20 Colm Griffin, 21 John Brady
Referee Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)
