Andersonstown Antrim IHC, Group 2
Sarsfield’s 1-19 St Paul’s 3-14
A Stephen Rooney rocket in the dying second snatched victory for St. Paul’s over Sarsfields at the Bear Pit on Wednesday night and throws Group 2 of the Andersonstown IHC wide open.
Niall McKenna looked to have sealed it for Sarsfield’s when he fired to the visitors net with five minutes of normal time remaining to put seven between the sides but St. Pauls came back strongly to snatch it at the death and they now join Con Magee’s, Sarsfield’s and Creggan on 2 points but the Shaw’s Road side have played a game more and have an inferior score difference.
Niall McKenna had led the way for the ‘Paddies while Daniel McKernan was also prominent for a Sarsfield’s side who looked to be heading for a top spot in the group with Oisin Glenariffe before Rooney put a spanner in the works.
St Paul’s were first to score as Mark Munce split the posts just 35 seconds in, but two in reply from Oisin Coleman gave the hosts the lead for the first time.
Conall Finnegan came back for the visitors to tie the contest for the second time and then a good move involving Stephen Rooney and Thomas Duff placed Lorcan Phillips who drilled his shot low to the net from a difficult angle.
Sarsfields looked shocked but with Niall McKenna leading the way they came back strongly with four on the bounce to draw level but again St. Paul’s found a response.
Daire Stevenson split the posts and Caolan Crossan added two more, one from play, to move the Hoops 1-6 to 0-6 ahead after 18 minutes but the visitors would not score again until injury time in the first half.
It was Sarsfield’s who finished the half strongly with seven unanswered points with McKenna leading the way and Ryan O’Neill, Gary Lennon and Coleman all to the fore.
Points from Marcus Munce and Caolan Crossan in time added on kept St. Paul’s in touch at the short whistle where they trailed by two but were very much back in contention.
The home side looked once again to be asserting control of the contest when they hit the first four scores of the second half but St. Paul’s came back once more as Marcus Munce, Daire Stevenson and Caolan Crossan replied at the other end.
Sarsfields hadn’t raised a flag for 12 minutes but Donal McKernan got them going again with a point at the other end and when county man, Niall McKenna drilled the sliotar to the net to put his side seven ahead with five remaining it looked all over.
St. Paul’s had displayed a never say die attitude throughout the contest and they picked themselves off the floor once more and Daire Stevenson finished a dropping free from Caolan Crossan to the net.
St. Paul’s were now on top as Thomas Duff pointed and Caolan Crossan added two more to leave just one in it as the tension grew before McKenna replied from a free to put two between the sides.
A Niall McKenna free in reply seemed enough to see Sarsfield’s through but there was still time for that late drama as St Paul’s won a free some 20 meters from goal.
Up stepped Rooney to drill his shot through a crowded goalmouth to snatch it for the visitors and hand his side a championship lifeline with one game remaining.
In the other game in Group 2 played Glenariffe defeated |Glenravel 3-20 to 0-15 while in Group One, there was a 2-19 to 2-12 win for Cushendun over Tír na nÓg and Carey defeated Glenarm 3-25 to 4-11.
Sarsfield’s: G McKernan; B McGibbon, J Daniels, M McCavanagh; J Cunningham, C McKernan, E McCartan; K McKernan (0-1 free), Daniel McKernan; D Smyth, N McKenna (1-11, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), R O’Neill (0-1); Donal McKernan (0-1), G Lennon (0-2), O Coleman (0-3).
Subs: R McAreavey for R O’Neill (42), D Coleman for B McGibbon (47), A McGarrigle for O Coleman (56), R McKenna for J Cunningham (56)
St. Paul’s: C Murray; C Gallagher, F Sewell, T Auld; T Duff (0-1), S Rooney (1-0 free), L Walsh; M Munce (0-3), C Finnegan (0-2); D Stevenson (1-2), C Crossan (0-6, 4 frees), D Chapman; S Munce, L Phillips (1-0), B Burns.
Subs: C Duffy for C Gallagher (HT), A Carey for C Finnegan (42), D McGreevy for B Burns (59)
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)
