Glenravel 0-18 St Pauls 0-11
Con Magees Glenravel upset the form book with a good victory over St Pauls, Belfast who have plied their trade a division above the Glensmen this year. Ahead by six points at half time and going on to win by seven, Glenravel were not at all flattered by the scoreline. The home side signalled their intentions early recording seven unanswered points in a ten minute spell in the opening quarter which gave them a seven point lead – a lead they would go on to win the match by. The visitors were not helped by some wayward shooting across the hour but at no time did they look likely to mount a real threat, even when they went in search of majors in the closing minutes. Sterling defensive work by Glenravel’s full back line and keeper thwarted several scoring attempts from the men in red and white.
Conleth O’Loan pointed from a free in the opening minute and Declan Traynor doubled that lead two minutes later. Daire Stevenson drew one back for St Pauls from a free. Stevenson proved to be St Pauls main threat over the hour finishing with seven points all from placed balls. Midfielder Aaron Carey levelled the game but from the fifth to the fifteenth minute Glenravel went into overdrive with that seven point mauling. Conleth O’Loan and Cormac McKeown providing two each and with Conor Deery, Declan Traynor, and Ciaran Laverty getting in the act as well Glenravel exited the first quarter with a seven point lead 0-09 to 0-02. Daire Stevenson put over a sixty five for St Pauls but back came the home side with points from Declan Traynor and James Duffin. In the closing minutes of the first half St Pauls took control off the game but wayward shooting impacted their ability to capitalise on that possession and they had to make do with a brace of points from the reliable Daire Stevenson. Referee Brendan Toland brought the first half to conclusion with Glenravel ahead 0-11 to 0-05.
St Pauls would now have the benefit of a reasonable wind and needed a strong start to the second half. Stevenson reduced the gap to five points after two minutes but that was quickly cancelled out by a Cormac McKeown point. Full forward Caolán Ó Duibhfinn restored the five point gap but then a brace of points from Cormac McKeown and Conleth O’Loan put Glenravel firmly in the driving seat leading 0-14 to 0-07 and ten minutes played in the second half. Ó Duibhfinn got his second and St Pauls eighth point to leave it a six point game again. In the closing quarter Declan Traynor was finding some space and would go on to score three fine scores from play. Conleth O’Loan added another during which time Stevenson and Aaron Carey had pulled a couple back for the Belfast men but it wasn’t going to be enough as Glenravel now enjoyed an eight point lead. At this stage St Pauls needed goals but they found Glenravel’s defence water tight and in no mood to concede. On a couple of occasions when they did carve open that defence goalkeeper Ronan Donnelly was in defiant mood and brought off great saves from point blank range. The games final score came from the cultured hurl of Daire Stevenson who pointed from a sideline cut – a moment of individual brilliance ending a game the Belfast men will want to forget.
