Report and pics by Brian McKee
Antrim Football League – Division 2
St Paul’s 1-11 Ardoyne 3-08
A sun drenched Shaws Road was the setting for this uncompromising battle between visitors Ardoyne and hosts St Paul’s on Wednesday evening. The gathered crowd were entertained to a thrilling game that saw both teams exchange periods of domination before the men from the North finished the stronger to take a much needed two points back to Ardoyne.
Ardoyne were first out of the blocks with a pointed free from Cormac Mullan. The flag had barely been returned to its place by the post when Caoimhin Duffy replied with a goal for St Paul’s. A point for Ardoyne from Aidan McNeill for Ardoyne only served to mark the beginning of a period of dominance from the Shaws Road men who put over 5 points without reply.
A great save from McAufield in the St Pauls nets was sent over the bar by Aidan McNeill to spark a fightback from Ardoyne. A further point followed quickly by a goal from the in form McNeill marked Ardoyne’s first goal of this season’s campaign. With only a point between the two sides, a great ball by Cormac Mullan into the edge of the St Pauls square was sent fiercely into the net by Kevin Lynch.
With Joe McNeill controlling the midfield for Ardoyne at this stage, a further point by Cormac Mullan stretched the lead for Ardoyne to 3 points. Lynch added a further goal and point, and St Pauls were rocked by the Ardoyne men scoring a total of 2-04 in just 3 minutes of play.
Ardoyne were slow to start in second half and St Pauls sent out a clear message that they were still in this game. Cormac Mullan and Miceál Duffy exchanged points before Conor McLaughlin escaped from tight marking to slot over a further 2 points to leave the Ardoyne men ahead by 1-06 – 2-08.
St Pauls looked the more determined of the two teams at this stage of the game. They gradually pulled back the lead with a point from Niall Ward, followed by 3 points in succession from Liam McLarnon, a constant threat in the St Pauls attack.
The game was in the melting pot with only 3 minutes remaining. Ardoyne had seen their lead reduced to 2 points and it looked like St Pauls were about to pull off a great comeback. However, McLaughlin’s 45 for Ardoyne landed at the edge of the square for Lynch to score his second goal to re-establish Ardoyne’s dominance on the scoreboard and seal the win.
Final score: St Pauls 1-11 Ardoyne 3-08
St Pauls: Jack McAufield, Aidan Kavanagh, Micéal Duffy(0-01), Pearse Magee, Jonathan Rodgers, Seán Mac Corriadh, Niall Ward(0-02), Ruairi Hamill, Niall McStravick, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Caoimhin Duffy(1-02) , Bairre Burns, Damien Magee, James Farrell. Aidan Finnegan, Michael Gallagher, Gary McGroarty, Conor Hughes, Declan Quinn, Lorcan Murphy, Rossa Morgan, Liam McLarnon(0-6), Lorcan Phillips
Ardoyne: Ciaran McNeill, Eoghan Corrigan, Dan Moore, Aidan McNeill(1-3), Declan McCormick, Kealan McCallan, Gary McKernan, Joe McNeill. Oisin McVicker, Kevin Lynch(2-1), Conor McLaughlin(0-2), Cormac Mullan(0-2), Alan Davidson, Pearse Marley, Sean Joe Rooney, Odhran McKee, Conor Carter, Padraig Montgomery, Fiontan Marley, Michael McGreevy, Odhran Mullan, Conor McDowell, Cormac Barnes, Conor Magee, Cormac Curran
Referee: Fionntan McCotter
