ACFL Division 2
Davitt’s 2-8 Gort na Mona 1-6
Davitt’s overcame a lethargic start to outscore visitors Gort na Mona at a bright and sunny Davitt’s Park on Wednesday evening.
It was the men from the Mona Bye Pass who started the game on the front foot but once Davitt’s opened their account after 12 minutes the home side slowly took control
It was visitors Gort na Mona who made the better start at Davitt’s Park however with Padraig McHugh and Dessie McClean moving them 0-2 ahead with only three minutes on the clock.
The Mona Bye Pass side flattered to deceive however and wouldn’t raise a flag for another 27 minutes as Davitt’s slowly played their way into the game.
It was 12 minutes before the home side would draw blood as Marcas Toner pointed and six minutes later Conor Toner came forward from defence to draw the side’s level.
It was at this stage that Sullivan began to exert his influence on the game as he opened his personal account with a good point from out on the left and followed with a great long range effort.
Sullivan’s third of the evening moved his side four in front by the 24th minute before Darron Boyd replied with Gort na Mona’s third point of the half just on half time.
The visitors still looked in with a shout as they changed ends trailing by three but knew they would have to up the ante if they were to overturn the Davitt’s lead and when Darron ‘Diesel’ Boyd pointed a long range free in the 2nd minute there was only two between the sides.
Once again it was that man Sullivan who led the Davitt’s response as he fired home the game’s opening goal in the 5th minute.
Dessie McClean replied with a point for the ‘Gorts’ but Jay Maguire was on target for Davitt’s at the other end before John Sullivan placed Gerard Slane with a pin-point pass and the centre-half-forward finished in style.
Substitute Kristin Walsh added a good long range point before Michael Brady handed the visitors a lifeline as he fired home at the other end with ten minutes remaining.
Darron Boyd concluded the scoring with a Gort na Mona point but that was as close as the visitors would get as the Davitt’s defence closed shop in the concluding stages to run out victors by five points.
A good win for Davitt’s that moves them into fourth place with 5 points from 4 stats, just one behind St. Paul’s and Glenavy and 3 behind early season pace setters, St. Teresa’s who are unbeaten to date
Davitt’s: 1 Aaron Slane, 2 Conor Toner, 3 Paul McKinney, 4 Michael Og Rowntree, 5 Nathan Maginn, 6 Anthony Hargan, 7 Paul McLaughlin, 8 Michael Connolly, 9 Niall McParland, 10 John Sullivan, 11 Gerard Slane, 17 Marcas Toner, 13 Jay Maguire, 14 Stephen McGivern, 15 Daniel Wallace, 19 Jack Scally, 22 Caolan park, 24 Deevy Persson
Gort na Mona: 1 Matrthew Park, 2 Darren Cahill, 3 James Connolly, 4 Padraig Cournane, 5 Brendan Burns, 6 Michael Savage, 7 Ciaran Donnelly, 8 Gavin McKenna, 9 Sean Campbell, 10 Caoimhin Beck, 11 Dessie McClean, 12 Jack Ireland, 13 Darron Boyd, 14 Padraig McHugh, 15 Manus McMullan, 17 Kristin Walsh, 18 Tim Scannell, 19 Jude Reilly, 21 Michael Brady
Referee: Eamon Hamill