ACHL Division 3
All Saints 0-11 Armoy 1-12
Armoy maintained their place near the top of the division 3 table but they were forced to battle all the way by All Saints, Ballymena at Slemish Park today. Newly promoted All Saints were well in the game throughout and trailed by the minimum with 10 minutes remaining when disaster struck.
Colum Neeson and Eoin Kinney contested a dropping ball into the Ballymena danger area and it broke favourably to the Armoy number 17, Kinney who was first in a race to the ball with All Saints keeper, Ciaran Cassley and his first time kicked shot just crept over the goal line.
It was All Saints who were first off the mark when Cormac Magill pointed them ahead in the 4th minute but points from Eamonn McCaughan and two from Trevor Linton had the Glen Rovers two in front after 9 minutes play as both sides struggled to come to terms with the soft ground conditions.
Damian Gillan cut the arrears to the minimum from a free in the 11th minute with Trevor Linton replying from a free at the other end but a sublime sideline cut from Luke O’Rawe, which sailed directly between the uprights kept Chris Dornan’s side in touch.
The Ballymena side were giving as good as they got and Eoin McGuigan had his goal attempt smartly saved by Conor Devlin in the Armoy goals and Gary Miskella’s follow up was blocked for a ‘65’ which Damian Gillan converted to leave it 0-4 to 0-4 with 23 minutes gone.
Trevor Linton and Thomas Burns responded with points at the other end but another pointed free from Damian Gillan and one from the battling Cormac Magill tied matters once more before Ciaran McKenna edged Armoy one ahead with the final point of the half.
Sharp shooter, Gillan brought his side level again on the restart from a 40 meter free before Emmet O’Hara restored the visitors lead from a fine long range effort and another from Trevor Linton had his side two in front at the end of a low scoring third quarter.
The home side relied through a well worked Liam Cassley point and another from the impressive Gillan had it all square by the 16th minute and at this stage a major upset looked possible but another point from that man Linton and Eoin Kinney’s kicked goal turned it decisively in favour of the men from the Armoy Glen.
The home side pushed hard during the closing stages and were awarded a close range free with Damian Gillan’s effort on goal dealt with and cleared to safety by a well marshalled visitors defence.
This win leaves Glen Rovers in second place with six points from three starts, two behind Cuchullainn Hurling club, Armagh who have played a game more with St. Brigid’s Cloughmills and Con Magee’s, Glenravel both up there in the promotion race.
All Saints have only one win to date in their first season in division 3 but they have been competitive in all their games to date and performed well today but need to get some points on board soon if they are to maintain their division 3 status.
All Saints: 1 Ciaran Cassley, 2 Dwayne McKee, 3 Colm Neeson, Kevin Brady, 5 Archie McGreevey, 6 Luke O’Rawe, 7 Daniel Gray, 8 Padraig Magill, 9 James O’Boyle, 10 Cormac Magill, 11 Damian Gillan, 12 Liam Cassley, 13 Eoin McGuigan, 14 Gary Miskella, 15 Joseph O’Rawe, Subs: 20 Conor O’Rawe, 19 Vincent Esler, 16 cormac Lemon, 21 Sean O’Rawe, 22 Diarmuid Casey, 23 Donnagh McMahon, 24 Anthony Maguigan.
Armoy: 1 Conor Devlin, 2 Calum Coyles, 3 Shane Devlin, 4 Arthur Devlin, 5 Tarlach McBride, 6 Emmet O’Hara, 7 Liam Dillon, 8 Joseph McFetridge, 9 Ciaran McCormick-McKenna, 10 Conor Christie, 11 Thomas Burns, 12 PJ McBride, 13 Trevor Linton, 14 Eamonn McCaughan, 15 Connor Waterson. Subs: 17 Eoin Kinney, 19 Ciaran Coyles, 20 Daniel Connolly, 18 Cormac Doherty, 21 John O’Kane
Referee: Ray Matthews
