O Neill’s ACFL Division One Relegation Play-off 13/07/2024
St Ergnats Moneyglass 3:10 St. Johns 5-12
They say goals wins games and there were certainly plenty on show at Glenavy in this one as St. Johns retained their place in the top flight for another year. What ended up a convincing victory on the day as the scoreline suggests wasn’t all plain sailing for the Johnnies and credit must go to the St. Ergnat’s side who have been plagued by injuries and absentees and at this stage it left Benny Marron with a skeleton panel to pick from.
St. Johns raced into a 3 point lead after 5 minutes with scores from Andrew McGowan, Conor McAvoy and county man Paddy Mc Bride. The Antrim star was always going to be a threat going forward for the Johnnies but he was well shackled by James McCormick in this encounter and that would be his only score of the game.
It took until the 9th minute for Moneyglass to register their first score when Tyler Cassidy found himself with a yard of space and calmly slotted over the bar to open their account. Cassidy would double his tally soon after to cut the lead in half.
A superb move from St. Johns from the kick out saw the ball reach Mc Bride on the half way line and at pace he went through the defence and was one on one with the Moneyglass keeper only to be denied by the quick reaction off the line by Jamie Mc Laughlin, it was a scramble on the 14 but somehow Conall Quinn managed to pull on the ground ball and into the net to increase their lead by 6.
St. Ergnats had their backs against the wall at this stage but it was helped slightly when a palmed effort by Connlaodh McCann to the St. Johns net assisted by Dermot McErlain might have been the lift they needed, although St. Johns had other ideas and replied at the other end straight away as Conal Bohill’s run was off loaded to Conchur Adams to strike to the net to increase the lead once again.
St. Johns were reduced to 14 just on the stroke of half-time when they lost the services of full forward Conor Hand on what the referee deemed a red card.
St. Johns started the brighter in the second half with Adams again registering scores from frees in the opening minutes to attempt to stretch the lead, they were intent on capitalising on that lead but it was reduced again by St. Ergnats through Aidan McErlain. McErlain found space out on the left and bullishly took on several of the St. Johns defence to fire to the net to try and ignite some momentum for his side.
With both teams displaying a desire to come out on the right side of this encounter it was end to end going down the stretch and goals from St. Johns’ Conall Bohill and Conchur Adams were the nails in the coffin that Moneyglass were trying to avoid.
Frustration was creeping in for the Moneygalss lads and they also found themselves reduced to 14 with only minutes remaining as Seanchan Duffin was sent to the line which would’ve been the last thing they would needed going into Saturdays decider.
Credit to both sides for an entertaining game, Moneyglass will have to dust themselves off and prepare for to face Glenravel.
St Ergnats: Jamie Mc Laughlin, Eamon Kelly, Fergal Duffin, Matthew Mullan, James McCormick, Sean Boyd (0-1), Paul Duffin, Kevin McCann (0-1), Dermot Mc Erlain (1-1), Connor O Kane, Connlaodh McCann (1-0), Conor Boyd (0-1), Seanchan Duffin, Aidan McErlain (1-2), Tyler Cassidy (0-4)
Subs: Ben Hamill for Eamon Kelly (24mins),
St. Johns: E. Lambert, D. King, J. Garland, C. McAvoy (0-2), R. Quinn, C. Bohill (1-0), L. Peden, A. Mc Gowan (0-1), P. McBride (0-1), S. Tierney (0-1), R. Mc Nulty, C. McGlade (1-1), C. Quinn (1-0), C. Hand, C. Adams (2-6, 4f)
Subs: A. Oliver for C. Bohill, L. Boyd for C McGlade
Referee: Kevin Parke
For more of Elaine Kelly’s pics from this game click on the link below