ACFL Division 1
St Mary’s Ahoghill 3-08 St Enda’s 1-06
A hat-trck from ace marksman James O’ Connell, the first in the 9th minute initiated by a smart Danny O’ Neill initiative, and the second emanating from a Martin Graham fetch was to sow the seeds for an Ahoghill victory over St Enda’s in the Clooney sunshine on Sunday past.
The third arrived around the three quarter mark to seal the deal just a few minutes after the visitors had found the net at the other end through Mickey Morgan, and put to bed any notion of a St. Enda’s comeback.
Chris Mc Glone’s charges have enjoyed a good run this term and with a dozen points secured thus far are close to a place in the top six instead of their usual fight to stave off relegation.
With the breeze at their backs in the opening period the Ahoghill men were soon to make a mark as Glengormley based St Enda’s visited on Sunday as James O’ Connell split the posts a couple of minutes into proceedings.
The Hightown men were without their county players but spurned an early opportunity to employ the scoreboard attendant as the stiff breeze intervened to push the ‘45’ wide of the target.
The home side had better luck at the other end a couple of minutes later as James O’ Connell firmly punished an indiscretion on mid-fielder Paddy Graham when he despatched the 40 metre free kick between the posts.
The Clooney lads were dominating in the early minutes and Gerard Graham came forward from corner back to grab a superb point before Danny O’ Neill flick found Graham and he placed James O’ Connell to finish to the net for the game’s opening goal.
The Clooney men increased their advantage with another James O’ Connell point in the 14th minute before the visitors opened their account through a Mickey Morgan point.
The resultant kick out was intercepted by Gerard Graham and he sent a quick delivery into the ever alert James O’ Connell and the corner man made no mistake with his second goal of the game.
O’Connell’s goal moved St. Mary’s 2-04 to 0-01 ahead before centre back Eamon Brady nipped forward to add another white and as the game entered the last ten minutes the Clooney side were in control.
St Enda’s mid fielder Sean Murray defied the breeze to add a second point to his side’s total in the 28th minute but in the event the last score of the half fell to the home side’s corner back, Gerard Graham who came forward to split the posts again in the 30th minute.
Ahoghill faced the brisk breeze in the second half but Gerard Graham made his way forward again in the 33rd minute to add another stylish point to his personal haul.
The visitors were badly in need of scores and a well organised approach saw mid fielder Sean Murray launch the leather towards the posts for corner man Mickey Morgan to punch to the back of the net.
This score lifted St. Enda’s with substitutes Conor Walsh and Fionn Nagle adding impetus and for a time they took the game to their opponents who were forced onto the back foot for a time.
Ahoghill responded to Morgan’s goal and James O’ Connell intercepted a planned St Enda’s excursion forward and with net minder Mick O’ Boyle out of position he returned the ball to the now unmanned net to move his side 3-08 to 1-02 ahead.
The Hightown side kept going to the end with substitute, Fionn Nagle firing over three points and Colin Mc Grath adding another but in the event these scores came too late to affect the result and at the long blast St. Mary’s had claimed the points which may well ensure them a place in the top six.
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, Seamus Mc Keever, James Magee, Gerard
Graham (0-03), Fionnbar O’ Neill, Eamon Brady (0-01), Diarmuid Graham, Tom Mc Glone, Padraig Graham, Danny O’ Neill, Donal Graham, Bernard Graham, James O’ Connell (3-04), Shea Madden, Martin Graham
Subs
PJ O’ Connell
Ryan Martin
Conor Mc Garry
St Enda’s: Mick ‘ Boyle, Conor Maxwell, Diarmuid Mc Nulty, Owen Kennedy, Eogan O’ hir, Conan Lyttle, Ronan O’ Neill, Sean Murray Fiontan O’ Connor, Colm Mc Grath (0-01), Colm Mc Cabe, Ronan Kalla, Mickey Morgan (1-01), Ronan Mc Bride (0-01), Sean McBride, Aaron Robinson.
Subs
Fionn Nagle (0-03)
Conan Myer
Referee: D Mc Keown (St Galls)