South West U23 Football League
All Saints 5-18 Moneyglass 1-4
All Saints followed up last week’s big win over Aghagallon with another resounding win over Moneyglass in their second game in the South West U23 Football League at Quinn Park on Wednesday night.
Sean O’Brien, who stepped down as senior manager at the end of the 2021 season has returned to take charge of the club’s U23 side and has coaxed a number of absentees back into the fold to put together a strong panel.
His son, Shea O’Brien who had a good hour at mid-field, got the ball rolling with two early points before Charlie McCloskey got in for a Moneyglass goal at the other end in the 8th minute to put the visitors ahead.
Ronan McKillop replied with two points for the home side to restore their lead and James McDonnell added another before Darragh Bradley saw his well struck effort come back of the crossbar.
McKillop added another point before Charlie McCloskey pointed at the other end with 19 minutes on the clock for St. Ergnat’s second point of the evening.
Ciaran Campbell follolwed with another All Saints point before Cormac Lemon’s delivery was fisted to the net by Shea O’Brien to conclude the first half scoring and leave the home side 1-7 to 1-1 ahead at the break with the wind at their backs for the second half.
Ronan McKillop kicked a couple of early frees to move his side eight ahead before Tyler Cassidy fired wide with the goal at his mercy at the other end and when Darragh Bradley 0-2 and Shea O’Brien responded with points at the other end it looked a long way back for the visitors.
St. Ergnat’s were handed a lifeline however when referee, Ryan O’Reilly pointed to the penalty spot but Tyler Cassidy’s firmly struck effort went over via the crossbar.
To make waters worse All Saints launched a lightning counter at the other end with Patrick Ferris crashing his shot to the net to put his side 11 in front and put All Saints in complete control.
Ronan McKillop got in for goal number three with 20 minutes gone and he, Shea O’Brien and Patrick Ferris 0-2 added points to bring the All Saints total to 4-16 with six minutes remaining.
Mid-fielder Shea O’Brien added two more as both sides emptied their benches and it was All Saints substitute, Luke Walsh who palmed home his side’s fifth goal in the 30th minute to conclude the scoring.
A good performance from the Ballymena side and they never really looked in trouble against a Moneyglass side who were missing a number of regulars but gave it everything over the hour.
The pleasing aspect for the home side has been the return of several players who have played little football over the past year and hopefully they can keep a number of them on board for next season.
All Saints: 1 Conor Brennan, 2 Rian Tom, 3 Michael Read, 4 Conall Killough, 5 Ronan Laverty, 6 Patrick Ferris, 7 Matthew Downey, 8 James McDonnell, 9 Shea O’Brien, 10 Cormac Lemon, 11 Ciaran Campbell, 12 Darragh Bradley, 13 Charlie Metrustry, 14 Joshua Blair, 15 Ronan McKillop. Subs Used: Luke Walsh, Kevin Brady, Fintan Brady, Aidan Scullion
Moneyglass: 1 Ross Donnelly, 2 Nate Dixon, 3 Diarmuid Scullion, 4 Matthew Mullen, 5 James McCormick, 6 Paul Duffin, 8 Peter McCormick, 9 Connlaodh McCann, 10 Connor O’Kane, 11 Ronan Campbell, 12 Ben Hamill, 13 Aidan McErlain, 14 Tyler Cassidy, 15 Charlie McCloskey, 18 Kevin McCann, 19 Rory Taggart, 21 Enda Duffin, 29 Ruairi Duffin.
Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Glenravel)
