OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship Group 2
Ardoyne 0-13-0-07 St Pats Lisburn
Kevin Herron reports from Fennell Park
Ardoyne hit six unanswered points in the second period and that was the springboard to victory over St Pats as the North Belfast outfit bounced back from defeat to St Teresa’s with a 0-13-0-07 win at Fennell Park on Saturday evening.
The hosts had to battle back and restored parity on three occasions in the opening half and were reduced to 14-men for a ten-minute period, though Marty Kane’s charges dominated after the break and restricted Lisburn to two late points- that were very much consolation in the pattern of the game.
Ardoyne went into the game knowing that defeat would bring their season to a close on home turf after a 2-09-2-05 defeat to St Teresa’s in their group opener a fortnight previous.
St Pat’s were first off the mark in Fennell Park with Francis McMeel swinging over a 2nd minute free and they doubled their lead through Che Smyth’s fine hanging shot at the near post midway through the half.
Prior to doubling their lead, St Pat’s were afforded a numerical advantage for a 10-minute period after Conor McLaughlin of Ardoyne was black-carded for a high pull down.
The North Belfast side were without a score until the 18th minute when Kevin Lynch picked out the run of Aidan McNeill- who claimed the mark and then converted.
McNeill turned provider for his side’s leveller within 60-seconds, slipping a pass to Cormac Mullan who guided a tricky looking shot inside the posts.
McMeel temporarily restored his sides advantage from a free, but Mullan replied from the same scenario a few minutes before McLaughlin re-entered proceedings.
St Pat’s went two ahead for the second time in the half. Josh McMullan steered an angled effort between the posts and a minute later full-forward Mark Chernek got underneath a dropping ball close to the by-line and fisted over under pressure to move Lisburn 0-05-0-03 ahead.
Ardoyne fought back and levelled at the break however, Kevin Lynch had his run checked at the edge of the box and Cormac Mullan tapped the close-range free over.
Mullan would tie things up at the break with his third converted free of the half and at the break the sides went in the score 0-05 apiece.
A minute after the restart Ardoyne hit the front for the first time thanks to Aidan McNeill’s second point of the evening.
Cormac Mullan doubled his sides advantage with his second point from play and after Jack McMullan was penalised for touching the ball on the ground, Mullan was able to stretch the lead from the resulting free.
Mullan made it five from five on the midway point of the half and further points followed through Kevin Lynch and Aidan McNeill to give the hosts a 0-11-0-05 lead by the 53rd minute.
It took St Pat’s until five minutes from time to initiate a response in the form of a Che Smyth point.
Aidan McNeill kicked his second advanced mark of the evening, though Oisin Gorman replied after a quick attack and pop over the bar.
The visitors would end the game a man light after Mark Torbitt was black-carded for a deliberate drag-back a minute from time.
Ardoyne completed a routine half’s work in injury time when talisman Cormac Mullan steered over his sixth free of the contest to ensure his side ran out 0-13-0-07 winners at the conclusion to leap into second place behind St Teresa’s.
Although their place into the quarter-final isn’t confirmed yet with St Pat’s due to host St Teresa’s in the last group game in two weeks’ time.
Ardoyne: T Hughes, M McGreevy, D McCormick, C Curran, K McCallin, C McLaughlin, K McLaughlin, S Rooney, O McVicker, E Corrigan, A McNeill (0-04, 0-02m), G McFarland, C Keown, C Mullan (0-08, 0-06f), K Lynch (0-01). Subs: C Barnes for K McLaughlin (41), D Moore for C Keown (57).
St Pat’s Lisburn: R McKenna, J McMullan, T Burns, P Law, O Gorman (0-01), M Torbitt, B McMullan, C Burns, A Patterson, R Kennedy, J McMullan (0-01), C Smyth (0-02), T McMeel (0-02f), M Chernek (0-01), E Dixon. Subs: C Ewing for T McMeel (HT), D Taggart for R Kennedy (43), T McMeel for M Chernek (48), C Dixon for A Patterson (56).
Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)
