O’Neills ACFL Division 1 

Lámh Dhearg 0-07-1-09 St Galls 

Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown 

Tiarnan Keenan’s early second half goal and an exhibition of kicking from Niall Burns saw St Galls leave Hannahstown with a 1-09-0-07 win over Lámh Dhearg on Wednesday evening. 

Conditions were extremely difficult for both sides throughout with the rain threatening the game pre-match and prompting a switch of pitches in Hannahstown. 

Scores were at the premium in the opening period with just five points inside the opening thirty minutes. 

Despite playing against the strong breeze, it was Lámh Dhearg who edged ahead with a point from debutant Evan Stanley and Paddy Cunningham doubled the red hands advantage- expertly bending a trademark free between the posts. 

Niall Burns reduced the deficit for the visitors towards the midway point in the half and St Galls then missed a gilt-edged goal chance to hit the front with ten minutes to the break. 

Niall O’Neill hoisted a pinpoint pass into Conn Doherty who was inside the small square and Doherty was unable to generate power in his turn and shot which was smuggled off the line by Terry McCrudden. 

The Milltown side would lead at the interval as Niall Burns converted back-to-back frees before the half was out, the second of which was from the tightest of angles to send his side 0-03-0-02 up at the interval. 

St Galls made a lighting quick start to the second half, dispossessing Lámh Dhearg after a poor breakdown, they countered quickly the ball was played into Conn Doherty in the corner- he picked out Niall O’Neill to pop the ball across the box where Tiernan Keenan fisted off the bar and then into the net with his second effort to move his side 1-03-0-02 ahead. 

Paddy Cunningham replied with a free at the other end, though Niall Burns opened his second half account with two conversions from the placed ball; in-between a tremendous Ryan Murray point to maintain the four-point gap.

Further placed balls were traded between the sides respective talisman before Burns kicked his second from play with a sensational effort against the breeze. 

Successive Cunningham free’s reduced the deficit to a goal with less than ten minutes to play (1-07-0-07). 

Despite Lámh Dhearg trying to surge forward for a goal, in truth they failed to test the St Galls defensive structure and instead the Milltown outfit saw the game out with ease. 

Niall Burns kicked his sixth free of the evening and then hit his third from play shortly afterwards to ensure that his side left Hannashtown with the win. 

Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, D Smyth, M McGarry, B Rice, D Martin, T McCrudden, M Jordan, M McElgunn, D Lynch, N McGarry, P Cunningham (0-05f), E Stanley (0-01), K Fay-Kelly, E McKeown, R Murray (0-01). Subs:M Hynes for N McGarry (40), P Mervyn for M McElgunn (40), A Murray for E Stanley (50), A Byrne for K Fay-Kelly (59). 

St Galls: N McCurdy, C Flannery, T Keenan (1-00), E McCurdy, G MacAdhaimh, T Bunting, J Hopkins, M McCrossan, R Irvine, R Wilson, N Burns (0-09, 0-06f), C McGirr, C Walsh, N O’Neill, C Doherty. Subs: E McCabe for R Irvine (34), N Fallon for C Doherty (43), C Murray for G MacAdhaimh (59). 

Referee: Sean Laverty (St Ergnat’s)