ACFL Division 1B
Moneyglass 1-14 St. Gall’s 1-17
The swings and roundabouts that have been the format for division 1B continued at Marian Hill as St. Gall’s moved away from the bottom of the table with a good win over Moneyglass while dropping St. Ergnat’s into the bottom two.
The home side have been decimated by injuries lately and they picked up a couple more last night but they seemed to be heading for a much needed win when a Sean Kelly point in the 51st minute moved them three ahead.
That would be their final score however with St. Gall’s producing a strong finish to hit six unanswered points to win by three and move themselves into second place on score difference.
Aidan McErlain and Conaill Prenter got St. Ergnat’s off to a great start with points apiece by the second minute but the home side were rocked back on their heels when Niall Falloon got in for a visitors goal following a turn over with three minutes gone.
Seanachan Duffin responded with two points for the Moneyglass side to edge them ahead once more with only 8 minutes on the clock but points from Dubhaltach MacLiam and Niall Falloon saw the Miltown side edge their noses in front once more at the end of the opening quarter.
It was end to end football at this stage with both defences containing their opposite attacks as the scores dried up for a time before Niall Burns broke the deadlock to edge the visitors two in front by the 21st minute.
St. Ergnat’s were giving as good as they got however and points from Conor Boyd and Seanachan Duffin had them back on level terms with four minutes remaining to the break.
The final score of the half would fall to Dubhaltach MacLiam to leave St. Gall’s one in front as Brendan Toland sounded his half time whistle with all still to play for in the second half.
MacLiam and Conaill Murray moved the visitors three ahead with early second half points but Moneyglass replied from a Conor Boyd free in the 4th minute before MacLiam edged his side three in front once more as the dangerous wing half forward continued to cause problems for the home defence.
Play continued to swing from end to end as Seanachan Duffin and Colm Duffin for St. Ergnat’s and Conn Doherty and Thomas Bunting for the visitors exchanged further points before Moneyglass hit a purple patch and threatened to take control.
Tiernan McCormick led the revival with points in the 40th and 42 minute and Seanachan Duffin made it three on the bounce to leave it all square at the end of the third quarter as the home support roared their approval.
Dubhaltach MacLiam edged the Milltown Row side one ahead when he fired over his fifth point of the evening from a converted free and another from Brendan Bradley put two between the sides and the momentum had swung again in favour of the visitors.
It was still anybody’s game however and Moneyglass replied with a free from Conor Boyd and things were about to get better for the home side following a good move as Conaill Prenter finished to the St. Gall’s net.
The home side were starting to play with confidence and they intercepted the next kick with the returning Sean Kelly kicking a fine point to leave 3 in it with nine minutes remaining.
That would be St. Ergnat’s final score however as St. Gall’s refused to panic and used all their experience with MacLiam, Bradley and Sean Burns drawing them level with three minutes remaining.
The visitors continued to press and kicked the last three points of the game through Niall O’Neill, Niall Burns and the superb Dubhaltach MacLiam to win by three.
The final result was tough on a St. Ergnat’s side who played some excellent football and looked to be heading for victory with nine minutes remaining but St. Gall’s just refused to give up and were rewarded in the end for their persistence.
As I said at the start, swings and roundabouts and it is likely to continue that way until the last day of the season.
St. Gall’s have strengthened their hand with this win and with home games to come against St. John’s, St. Brigid’s and St. Enda’s and a game in hand over Moneyglass, they should be safe.
St. Ergnat’s travel to Rossa on Sunday and finish their campaign with a home game against bottom side, St. Enda’s and their division 1 fate is still very much in their own hands with nothing decided yet.
