O’Neills ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 1-09-1-09 Aldergrove
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Gerald Mallon struck three minutes into added time as Aldergrove came from behind to snatch a point in a 1-09 apiece draw with Lámh Dhearg at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts opted to play against the elements in the opening half but started brightly with Terry McCrudden popping over the opening score and then a goal arriving after four minutes.
Declan Smyth played a one-two with Donal Martin and slipped a pass inside that released Ryan Diamond, the wing-half forward drove towards goal and sent a low shot off the post and in to give his side the early initiative.
Aldergrove hit back after Mallon switched to Brian McQuillan, took the return, and hoisted a shot over.
They then had a goal chalked off after referee Mark O’Neill adjudged that Conleith O’Toole had fouled Gerard Smith underneath the high ball, as O’Toole had palmed to the net.
Three scores in the space of 60-seconds pulled Crumlin outfit level approaching the midway point in the half.
Fearghal Hanna leant back and shot high over, then Conleith O’Toole got his hands on the resulting kick-out, drove forward and pointed and Cormac McGarry dropped over the leveller.
The visitors saw a few opportunities to hit the front sail inches wide before Hanna steered an effort between the large posts to give his side a 0-05-1-01 lead.
A minute into injury-time Brian McQuillan was bundled over and James Trowlen converted the resulting free to make it 0-06-1-01 at the break.
Lámh Dhearg began the second period on the front foot and after Ross Murray was fouled, Mark Finnegan swung over the resulting placed ball.
Adam Murray then dropped over to level after the resulting kick-out was turned over and Jody Quinn had edged his side ahead by the 35th minute.
The hosts appeared to be building ahead of steam as Daniel Murray exchanged passes with Mark Finnegan- who guided a shot high between the posts and Finnegan would convert his second free of the half moments later.
Aldergrove hit briefly halted the momentum when Declan Gough got on the end of Ryan McCarthy’s kick-out and sped forward before dropping a shot over at the far post.
Adam Murray replied immediately after Fionn Mervyn charged out defence and picked out Shaun McManus, Murray made himself available and sent a fantastic effort over the sticks to make it 1-07-0-07 approaching the final quarter.
The visitors found themselves reduced to 14-men with Cormac McGarry black-carded for dissent, but despite their numerical advantage Gough angled a shot over the bar to reduce arrears.
By the 52nd minute Lámh Dhearg had reopened their three-point advantage through a point from goal scorer Diamond, though James Trowlen converted his second free of the afternoon and Aldergrove had returned to their full complement for the closing stages.
Substitute Mark Mulhern shot over on the turn and to ensure a goal separated the sides heading into injury time.
The Crumlin outfit probed for the equaliser and their persistence was rewarded in the third minute of stoppage time.
Chris McVeigh offloaded to Gerald Mallon, and he tried his luck with a bullet of a shot that rocketed into the top corner to make it 1-09 apiece.
Lámh Dhearg were unable to clinch the win deep into added time and both sides were forced to share the spoils in the end as they seek their first respective wins in the Division.
Lámh Dhearg: G Smith, R Murray, M McGarry, F Mervyn, D Murray, D Smyth, P Mervyn, S McManus, J Quinn (0-01), R Diamond (1-01), T McCrudden (0-01), D Martin, A Murray (0-02), N McGarry, M Finnegan (0-03, 0-02f). Subs: P Larkin for P Mervyn (12), C Fegan-Lapin for P Larkin (45), M Mulhern (0-01) for M Finnegan (51), E Stanley for M Mulhern (60).
Aldergrove: R McCarthy, S O’Connor, E Irvine, C O’Toole (0-01), G Mallon (1-01), C Browning, E Gough, B McQuillan, O Graham, D Gough (0-02), C McGarry (0-01), S McGarry, K Jones, F Hanna (0-02), A Flood. Subs: J Trowlen (0-02f) for K Jones (22), C McVeigh for A Flood (47), A Irvine for S O’Connor (50), C McSteen for F Hanna (53).
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
