ACFL Division 2

Sunday 5th March 2023

St Patrick’s Lisburn 1-08 v Gort na Móna 2-10

Kirkwoods Park was in pristine condition for the opening league game between hosts St Patrick’s and visitors Gort na Móna.

Gort na Móna took an early lead with three unanswered points from Patrick McCaffrey, Pádraig McHugh and Thomas McCaffrey. When St Pats got their first score it was quickly followed by Pádraig McHugh’s second point of the day and Darren Boyd also put the ball over the bar shortly afterwards.

A goal by Manus McMullan after 18 minutes meant that the visitors from west Belfast led 1-5 to 0-2. Pádraig McHugh then scored his third point of the day and Desy McClean also put one over the bar after 29 minutes to leave the score 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.

The Gorts came charging out at the start of the second half. Tarlach Enright struck the crossbar from the throw-in, but the ball was kept in play by Eamonn Scannell and slotted over the bar by Patrick McCaffrey for his second point of the day.

Pádraig McHugh then turned over the St Pats kick-out and put the ball in the back of the net, giving him a personal tally of 1-3 for the day and giving the Gorts a comfortable lead.

The Lisburn men set about fighting back but they couldn’t close the gap, and late points from Darren Boyd and Desy McClean ensured that the visitors went back up the road with two points from the game and a winning start to the 2023 season.

Referee: Eamon Hamill