IFC Group 1
Glenravel 2-14 Davitts 1-04
Glenravel dominated this game from start to finish and whilst being wasteful in the opening half they never looked to be in any real trouble. Ahead by six points at the break the Con Magees lads were a lot more clinical in the second half and went on to win by a comfortable margin which would have been even better if Michael Connelly’s long range effort hadn’t found the roof of the Glenravel net in injury time at the end of the game for Davitts’ only goal.
Aiden O’Donnell opened for the home side after good work by Declan Traynor set him up and that was followed by three superb scores from play, two from the trusty left boot of Eoin Hynds and a fine score from Eamon Fyfe who found space on the twenty metre line and wasn’t going to miss from there. It took Davitts ten minutes to get on the scoresheet but it was worth waiting for as Anthony Hargan collected the ball around midfield, soloed forward and slotted over from distance with the outside of his right boot. Glenravel would continue to dominate possession but some wasted opportunities kept their opponents in the game. Eoin Hynds did manage a couple of points and Daniel McQuillan got on the scoresheet but Davitts couldn’t capitalise and would retire to the changing rooms at half time with Hargan’s point their only score of the first half. In that period Glenravel had slotted over seven points.
Playing with a fairly strong wind, the Belfast men would have wanted a positive start to the second half but the local lads had put over two points in the opening two minutes from Eamon Fyfe and Daniel McQuillan and the skies grew darker (literally) for Davitts. However with four minutes gone Davitts’ keeper was called into free taking duty and he slotted over from about fifty metres out aka Seanie O’Shea, and that was followed quickly after by a Padraig McParland point giving the visitors a glimmer of hope.
But one minute later Eamon Fyfe was upended in the square and Davitts’ heads dropped as referee Ray Matthew’s outstretched arms indicated a penalty which Fyfe cooly dispatched to the net to leave Glenravel ahead by 1-09 to 0-03 and surely home and hosed at that point. Fyfe would score two more points before keeper Hargan was once again called forward for free taking and slotted over a forty five but it was too little too late. Three minutes later, Glenravel went route one with a kick out that David Higgins collected in the middle of the field and dispatched a long range effort to Eamon Fyfe who rounded his marker before off loading to Declan Traynor who’s pile drive left Hargan no chance in the Davitts’ net. Game, set and match Glenravel! In the closing minutes Eamon Fyfe, Conleth O’Loan and Callum Higgins stretched the home side even further ahead. Davitts did eventually find the net at the end of the first of two minutes added time; a superb effort by midfielder Michael Connelly from twenty metres found the roof of the Glenravel net to add some gloss to the scoreline for the visitors. Ray Matthews called time and the grey overhead skies opened as both teams sought the shelter of the changing rooms to avoid the torrential rain. Game finished Glenravel 2-14 Davitts 1-04.
