Antrim Football League – Division 3

Naomh Comhghall 2-11 Na Piarsaigh 2-10

By Faoiltiarna McAuley

St Comgall’s Senior men travelled to The Cricky on Wednesday evening to take on Na Piarsaigh in a top of the table clash in Divison 3

The Antrim men started the brighter of the two teams, putting pressure on their opponents early who appeared to adopt a defensive approach early on. Scores from Tom Patchett and Ryan Clarke gave St Comgall’s an early lead. 

With the wind blowing in their favour, the North Belfast men made sure to use it to their advantage, sending long ball after long ball into the Comgall’s back line, from which they scored 2 goals to peg the Antrim men back. Pearse’s continued to pile on the pressure and added to their tally with a few additional white flags, leaving 9 between the sides at the break. 

With the wind now blowing in their favour, the Comgall’s ensured to use it to their advantage. The introduction of Ruairi Griffen and Miles Devine gave a lease of life to the attacking threat. Two early scores from Devine from distance shifted momentum in the Comgall’s favour. 

The high press and aggressive fielding from midfielders Louis Higgins and Josh Henry, alongside the hard working Aaron McGaw, made it almost impossible for the North Belfast men to get out of their half. 

With Pearse’s frustration mounting, so too did the number of fouls – Ryan Clarke scoring a hat-trick of pressure frees. 

Louis Higgins pounced on a poor kick out from the Pearse’s netminder, composing himself before slipping in Patchett off the shoulder who made no mistake 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper. 

Another Tom Patchett free left 1 between the sides with the Pearse’s still in command. A breaking ball from a Pearse’s kick out saw the Comgall’s on the counter attack, again from the marauding Higgins who drove through the heart of defence before off-loading to Miles Devine on the corner of the square. Devine checked back inside of the defender before sending the size 5 into the bottom corner of the Pearse’s net…a significant moment in the gaem.

Pearse’s fought to the final whistle, pulling a score back, but the Comgall’s defence stood strong with some superb interventions from Cathal Donnelly and James McCabe to ensure the 2 league points made their way back up the M2.