Davitt’s secure top half finish with victory over Glenavy

O’Neill’s Sportswear ACFL Division Two

Davitt’s 3-11-1-08 Glenavy

Kevin Herron reports from Davitt Park

Davitt’s joined Glenavy in the top half of the Division 2 table with a 3-11-1-08 win over the Chapel Hill side at Davitt Park on Sunday afternoon.

CJ Sullivan scrambled in a goal for the hosts in first half injury-time- moments after Finn Shannon had reduced the deficit to a single point and further second half goals from Anthony Rowntree and Sullivan saw the hosts run out winners.

Glenavy were first off the mark through a point from Finn Shannon after the youngster collected a short free, escaped attention and guided his shot over the bar.

CJ Sullivan swivelled and popped over the equaliser and the sides traded further scores through converted frees from Gerard Slane and Fergal Henry.

Davitt’s would hit four unanswered points to power ahead in proceedings. The first three were fisted efforts, two either side of a water=break from Padraig McParland and another from Jack Scally after the ball was switched from one side of the field to the other.

Gerard Slane doubled his account for the half, dropping a free between the posts and at the other end Fergal Henry doubled his tally from the same scenario after Patrick Gallagher was felled.

The hosts restored their four-point lead through a fine McParland point and that was the margin that would separate the sides at the interval despite a frenzied finish to the half.

Glenavy thought they had did enough to bring things down to a one-point game after Ruairi Forsester burst forward and slipped the ball off to Thomas Gallagher and he in turn found Finn Shannon to float a fantastic shot that dipped over the stretch of Liam McGivern and into the Davitt’s net.

**Finn Shannon’s shot floats over Davitt’s keeper Liam McGivern**

A minute into injury time at the end of the half Davitt’s responded with a goal of their own. Padraig McParland found Niall McParland on the loop and his attempted shot was scrambled in at the back post by CJ Sullivan to ensure his side were 1-07-1-03 ahead at the midway point.

**CJ Sullivan scrambles in an immediate goal at the other end before the break**

Davitt’s made a fantastic start to the second period and extended their lead within 60-seconds of the restart.

Jack Scally dropped the ball underneath the crossbar and Anthony Rowntree did just enough to flick the ball away from Glenavy goalkeeper Stephen Daly and a covering defender on the line to give his side a 2-07-1-03 lead.

For the third time in proceedings, free-takers Slane and Henry traded scores with each-other.

Midway through the second half the points were surely safe for the hosts when a third goal arrived.

Michael Connolly played a terrific pass into CJ Sullivan- who claimed a mark and then made his way towards goals.

Despite being fouled and shooting from a difficult angle, Sullivan’s thunderous drive went in off the underside of the bar and gave his side a 3-08-1-04 advantage.

**Sullivan thunders in his second of the afternoon**

Substitute Jay Maguire floated a shot over the bar to extend the lead further, but Fergal Henry was afforded an advantage and dropped over his first point from play, that was followed by a converted free off the ground by substitute Feargal Green.

Glenavy would see out the remaining minutes a man light after referee Paul Burns showed a second yellow-card to Oisin Hamill.

The final four scores were evenly shared between the sides. Padraig McParland converted a free and Jay Maguire saw his goal-bound shot turned over the bar instead of under.

On both occasions the 14-men hit back, Fergal Henry with his second point from play of the half and Darragh Doherty then dropped a free over the bar with the final kick of proceedings as Davitt’s ran out 3-11-1-08 winners at the conclusion.

Davitt’s: L McGivern, C Rainey, J Park, C Toner, J Scally (0-01), A Hargan, D Mooney, M Connolly, N McParland, CJ Sullivan (2-01), G Slane (0-03f), D Wallace, N Maginn, P McParland (0-04, 0-01f), A Rowntree (1-00). Subs: C Browne for C Rainey (36), M Toner for G Slane (40), J Maguire (0-02) for D Wallace (40), A Slane for L McGivern (49).

Glenavy: S Daly, D McAlister, O Hamill, S O’Neill, D Doherty (0-01f), L Henry, R Forester, M Johnston, P Gallagher, E Philips, T Gallagher, D Armstrong, F Henry (0-05, 0-03f), D Gallagher, F Shannon (1-01). Subs: F Green (0-01f) for D Gallagher (43), N McCann for D Armstrong (43), C Grant for E Philips (50).

Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgalls)