Reserve Football Shield
All Saints 1-9 St. Paul’s 0-11
A goal from corner-forward, Charlie Metrustry in the opening minute proved to be the defining score at the end when All Saints held off the late challenge of a battling St. Paul’s to advance to the next round of the Reserve Football Shield at Slemish Park on Wednesday night.
Metrustry was in the right place at the right time to side foot home from close range when the ball broke favourably as the home side went on the attack from the throw in.
Matthew Downey added a point in the 7th minute but the visitors came close to a goal themselves when Niall Martin challenged Conor Brennan for a dropping ball with Brennan getting back to clear of his goal line.
The visitors settled however and the excellent Caoimhin Duffin opened their account in the 8th minute before Niall Martin added another to close the gap to two.
Roving All Saints keeper, Conor Brennan got forward for a great point with Niall Martin replying from a Mark before Darach Bradley edged the home side three in front again with a point in the 16th minute.
Both sides were playing a possession game and another from Bradley moved All Saint four in front but Martin responded from another Mark and Matthew Downey for the Slemish Park side and Miceal Duffy for the visitors exchange further points.
A late Patrick Ferris point moved the home side four in front and proved the final score of the first half and at this stage All Saints looked to have matters in control though both side were guilty of some bad misses during the opening 30 minutes.
Peter McNicholl and Niall Walsh replaced the influential Patrick Ferris and Joe Rafferty at the start of the second half and it seemed to disrupt the home side’s rhythm.
It was visitors St. Paul’s who took control during the opening minutes of the new half with Callum Murray, Caoimhin Duffy from a converted Mark and the same player from a free closing the gap to the minimum by the 5th minute.
The home side were badly in need of a score but kicked a number of bad wides before Joshua Blair finally settled them with a point in the 15th minute.
The impressive Duffy responded at the other end to leave the minimum between the sides once more and it was clear this one was going to go right down to the wire.
A superb interception by keeper, Conor Brennan and an astute pass set up Niall Walsh for his first of the evening and a fine individual point from youngster Darach Walsh appeared to have settled matters but St. Paul’s would not go away.
The Shaw’s Road side kicked the final two points of the game with Finn Ireland’s score coming too late to affect the result and All Saints relieved to hear Ray Matthew’s full-time whistle.
All Saints: 1 Conor Brennan, 2 Archie McGreevey 3 Ryan Thom, 4 Oliver O’Rawe, 5 Conall Killoughy, 6 Rhys O’Mullan, 7 Michael Read, 8 Joe Rocks, 9 Joe Rafferty, 10 Matthew Downey, 11 Patrick Ferris, 12 Joshua Blair, 13 Darach Bradley, 14 Eoin Campbell, 15 Charlie Mewtrustry. Subs: Peter McNicholl, Niall Walsh, Ronan Killough.
St. Paul’s: 1. Jonathan Rodger’s 2. Thomas Duffy 3. Kevin Gal 4. Gary McGroarty 5. Pearse Magee 6. Don Burns 7. Miceal Duffy 8. Liam Carland 9. Fionn Ireland 10. Alan Hyndman 11. Caolan Crossan 12. Eugene Reid 13. Caoimhain Duffy 14. Niall martin 15. Ryan McCoy Subs Declan Chapman Caolan Rea Declan Quinn
