Antrim Football League – Division 1

Glenravel 1-12  Ballymena 2-14

Two goals from veteran Sean McVeigh was essentially what separated these teams at the final whistle. McVeigh was berthed at the edge of the square and both goals were punched to the net from short distance at essential times during the second half. Level at half time the home side will have been disappointed to have given up a four point lead midway through the opening half but the final ten minutes of that half were dominated by the visitors recording five points whilst their opponents could only manage a solitary point. Saints would dominate the second half and those two goals early and late in the half sealed victory for them.

Michael McCarry opened the scoring with the first of his seven points tally. That was levelled by Aiden O’Donnell but McCarry was on hand to put Ballymena back in the lead. Sean McKay goaled for Glenravel after sterling work by Niall Hynds put him through and he cleverly rounded Ryan Stewart in nets and blasted home. McKay and David Higgins would stretch that lead to four points but McVeigh pointed from distance and then an Eamon Fyfe brace was interrupted by a Sean O’Callaghan point to leave the score 1-05 to 0-04 in favour of of Con Magees and ten minutes of the half remaining. Ballymena then went on a scoring spree recording five points in succession from McCarry, O’Callaghan, Matthew Downey and Ciaran Campbell with the home side’s only response a point from full back Conor Carey to leave honours even at half time 1-06 to 0-09.

McCarry put All Saints into the lead early in the second half and then Sean McVeigh got the first of his two goals with the half five minutes old. Rian Lennon responded but Ballymena came back with points from keeper Ryan Stewart and McCarry. Eamon Fyfe replied for Glenravel but Conal Lemon and McCarry stretched the All Saints lead to seven points 1-15 to 1-08. Glenravel started getting back into the game and had several chances but could only convert two of them through Eamon Fyfe and Conleth O’Loan. But their fightback was effectively ended when Sean McVeigh punched home his second goal with five minutes remaining. Eamon Fyfe and Sean McKay would reduce the gap to five but the game had petered out at this stage. 

The win keeps the Ballymena men of course for a top 4 play-off in Division 1. With just one game to play they host Aghagallon in their final game but they would need to win that game and have a couple other games to go their way. However regardless of what happens it has been a fantastic season for the Saints so far. Con Magees will now enter the relegations play-off at the other end of the table.

For more pics from this game just click the link below

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