Antrim ACHL Division 1 League
Loughgiel v St. Enda’s May 12th 2024 at Fr Healy Park
Match report and photos by Michael Corcoran
St. Enda’s entered today’s game, one point ahead of Loughgiel in the ACHL league table, though the Shamrock’s have a match in hand against Ballygalget, that match having been postponed due to an unplayable venue in the Ards Peninsula. A win today for St. Enda’s would have secured their position in the table ahead of the Shamrock’s, even if Loughgiel had a win in Mitchell Park on Saturday 25th May. Arguably, St. Enda’s had more pressure to bear on them for a win tonight.
Colum Cunning from Dunloy got the match underway and St. Enda’s were in a hurry to rattle the scoreboard into action, as Cormac Jennings found a gap to handpass to Luke O’Connor, finishing with a fine high ball over the Loughgiel bar. With a reasonable breeze running from the Lough Road end to the clubhouse, Glengormley’s Joe Maskey was able to launch a long puck from deep in his own half that split the uprights before Loughgiel’s Declan McCloskey replied with an opening point from the first free of the match.
Only minutes had elapsed in the game before St. Enda’s Cian O’Connor received a diagonal ball into the right side of the pitch under the scoreboard. Losing his marker, O’Connor struck hard and lodged St. Enda’s first goal of the evening.
Loughgiel kept tracking St. Enda’s efforts over the bar and after fourteen minutes, scores stood at Loughgiel 0-04 St. Enda’s 1-05.
The point for point status was punctuated when Loughgiel’s Jack McCloskey announced his forward presence and although his own solo attempt would end in a missed 65 opportunity, on his second attempt he was found by Rian McMullan running in from the 20m line. McCloskey fired the ball low but caught the leg of full back Dara Maguire and this was eventually cleared away
Eighteen minutes into the game tempers were fraying and referee Cunning had to issue two yellow cards to restore order. On resumption of play, Rian McMullan picked up where he left off and displaying great skill, took a catch, turn and released for a tidy point and a fifth for the Shamrock’s. Tit for tat scoring would take us to the break with everything to play for in the second half, Loughgiel 0-08 St. Enda’s 1-08.
With the second half underway, the Shamrock’s would have to contend with no advantage from the elements, as the wind dropped to almost nothing. St. Enda’s Ciaran McAllister found himself in a battle for possession and after a testing spell of ground hurling, broke free and delivered over the bar for his own well-made point.
Rian McMullan pulled that back with a searing rocket over Glengormley’s bar before St. Enda’s John McGoldrick rushed into the Shamrock’s danger zone and kicked the sliotar into the net for St. Enda’s second goal, raising hopes along the line of supporters.
St Enda’s would go through a patch of over carrying the ball and Loughgiel made good use of that opportunity to point their way back up the board, Loughgiel 0-13 St. Enda’s 2-10.
Tiago McGarry made a run up the right-hand side of the field just under the ‘Fridge Raiders’ scoreboard but his attempt to point was brilliantly blocked but his tenacity benefited the midfielder and regaining possession, secured a pass to Eoin McGarry who sent the sliotar over the bar.
The Shamrock’s continued to work at closing the gap and after twenty-four minutes, Loughgiel were only one point behind the boys from An Baile Bocht, Glengormley when Loughgiel’s Christy McGarry punctured any hope for St. Enda’s with a sliotar that rippled the roof of the net with less than a minute left on the clock. Referee Cunning would eventually draw the match to a conclusion, Loughgiel 1-18 St. Enda’s 2-12.
The Shamrock’s will now leapfrog St. Enda’s in the league table after tonight’s encounter, though there is still much for both sides to play for at just over the halfway mark.
Scorers for Loughgiel
Declan McCloskey 0-02f, Rian McMullan 0-04, 0-06f, Conall McCloskey 0-01, Maol Connolly 0-01, 0-02f, Cahal Hargan 0-01, Eoin McGarry 0-01, Christy McGarry 1-00
Scorers for St. Enda’s
Luke O’Connor 0-01, Joe Maskey 0-01, 0-01f, Cian O’Connor 1-0, Eoin Conlon 0-01, John McGoldrick 1-0, 0-05f, Cormac Jennings 0-01, Ciaran McAllister 0-02
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