Northern Switchgear SFC Group 3
Naomh Eanna 3-14 Ahoghill 0-11
Naomh Eanna produced a sparkling performance to keep their Senior Football Championship qualification alive with a comprehensive win over St. Mary’s Ahoghill at Whitehill on Sunday.
A goal from the impressive Donal Walsh in the 13th minute proved the turning point after the Clooney side had started well and led by 0-3 to 0-1 after 11 minutes despite playing up the hill and into the breeze.
Walsh’s goal changed all that and the Hightown side never looked back and added further second half goals through Tomas Gilmour and Michael Morgan to run out convincing winners.
The early exchanges in this must win encounter in Randalstown belonged to St. Mary’s Ahoghill and Fionnbar O’Neill rose to fist over a long delivery from Gerard Graham to point them ahead after two minutes.
James O’Connell added a second before the Glengormley side threatened for the first time and James Magee had to be alert to block a shot from roving centre-half, James McAuley.
A fine long range point from Cormac Morgan got Naomh Eanna off the mark after 8 minute but Ahoghill responded and James O’Connell moved St. Mary’s two in front once more following a foul on Conor Crossey.
The Ahoghill men were moving the ball around with confidence and building slowly but all that changed when St. Enda’s struck from a turnover and Donal Walsh got on the end of a defence splitting counter-attack to finish to the net.
Walsh followed with two quick-fire points and Odhran Eastwood hit another and suddenly it was St. Enda’s who were calling the shots as their opponents struggled to regain the initiative.
Fionn Nagle extended their lead to move them five in front by the 19th minute before Gerard Graham replied with Ahoghill’s first point for 13 minutes to close the gap to four with 22 minutes gone.
James McAuley and Sean Murray for St. Enda’s and Ronan Graham and James O’Connell for Ahoghill exchanged points in the minutes leading up to half time to leave it 1-7 to 0-6 for the Hightown side as Karol Doherty sounded his half time whistle.
Walsh had been at the forefront of everything good that St. Enda’s produced in the opening half and he extended their lead with a point on the restart before James O’Connell replied with a great point at the other end to keep the gap at four.
St. Enda’s continued to edge the exchanges however as Cormac Morgan fisted over and Walsh added another to take his tally for the evening to 1-5 by the 6th minute and move his side six in front.
The Ahoghill management introduced Colla McDonnell for PJ O’Connell in an attempt to turn things around and James O’Connell pointed another free but again St. Enda’s responded and Bobby Magee made a fine block to deny Ronan Kalla at the expense of a ‘45’.
Tomas Gilmour replaced Kalla in the St. Enda’s side as O’Connell from another converted free and James McAuley with a great point from play for St. Enda’s exchanged points and then Colla McDonnell had a shot on goal charged down.
It was goals that the Clooney men needed but they could find no way through a resolute St. Enda’s defence and it was the Glengormley men who would strike for a goal at the other end.
A promising attack resulted in a penalty following a foot block with James Magee receiving a Black card for his troubles and Tomas Gilmour stepped up to convert despite a valiant effort from Noel Crossey in the Ahoghill’s goal.
It was as good as over at this stage with Sean Murray adding his second point for the Hightown side and Dan O’Neill hitting St. Mary’s final point with seven minutes remaining.
The final score of the game would fall to an excellent St. Enda’s as another well worked build up resulted in Michael Morgan finishing to the net from close range.
St. Enda’s now travel to Lamh Dhearg on Saturday 25th August for their final Group game with qualification still very much in their own hands while Ahoghill travel to Portglenone for their final game on the same day.
St. Enda’s: Michael O’Boyle, Conor Maxwell, Diarmuid McNulty, Killian Jennings, Conan Lyttle, James McAuley, Ronan O’Neill, Phgillip Curran, Sean Murray, Ronan Kalla, Donal Walsh, Cormac Morgan, Michael Morgan, Fionn Nagle, Odhran Eastwood.
Subs: Tomas Gilmour for Kalla, Fionntan O’Connor.
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, Bernard Graham, James Magee, Gerard Graham, Fionnbar O’Connell, Eamonn Brady, Donal Graham, Patrick Graham, Thomas McGlone, Dan O’Neill, James O’Connell, Diarmaid Graham, Conor Paul Crossey, Ronan Graham, PJ O’Connell.
Subs; Colla McDonnell, Patrick Dougan, Harry O’Donnell
Referee: Karol Doherty (Rasharkin)
