IFC Group 2
Davitt’s 2-5 Glenavy 0-12
St. Joseph’s Glenavy were forced to withstand a late rally from Michael Davitt’s to get their IFC Group 2 campaign up and running with a hard earned win at Davitt’s Park on Saturday evening.
The Chapel Hillside made a bright start in their opening game of the campaign as they raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 10th minute with Patrick Gallagher, Fergal Henry, James Gallagher and Liam Henry on target.
Anthony Rowntree finally got the home side off the mark with a point in the 14th minute but Fergal Henry replied immediately with a point at the other end to restore the visitors four point advantage.
The Gallagher brothers, Patrick and James were giving St. Joseph’s a strong platform at mid-field but Davitt’s were starting to get a foothold and Gerard Slane pointed a free before Nathan Maginn closed the gap to two with a point in the 23d minute.
Finn Shannon moved the Chapel Hill side three ahead with four minutes remaining to the break and they looked to be taking control again but right from the kick-out play was transferred to the other end and Gerard Slane finished to the Glenavy net to tie the contest.
The visitors would finish the half on the front foot however with Patrick Gallagher replying with a late point to leave it 0-7 to 1-3 at the break and all still to play for in the second half.
Glenavy introduced Ciaran Loney to the fray at the start of the second half and ace marksman Fergal Henry extended their lead to two with a point in the 7th minute before Davitt’s stand in keeper, Liam McGivern pulled off an excellent save as the visitors threatened to take control.
Henry again, substitute Dominic Gallagher and two more from the impressive Henry looked to have put the contest out of Davitt’s reach with 7 minutes of normal time remaining but there would be a few anxious moments to endure for the Glenavy faithful.
Despite losing a player to a Black card Davitt’s kept battling to the end with C J Sullivan replying immediately with a point and when Anthony Rowntree fired to the net, two minutes later the fat was back in the fire.
Gerard Slane pointed a 28th minute free to leave just one in it and the momentum was with the men from Davitt’s Park but that would be as close as they would get as Glenavy held on to get their first win in Group 2
Sarsfield’s lead the group with two wins from two starts and look the team to beat at this stage while Glenavy join All Saints on 2 points, both having played one game each.
All Saints travel to Sarsfields for their next game in two weeks-time while Glenavy look to have the easier finish to their campaign with both All Saints and Davitt’s travelling to Chapel Hill.
Davitt’s: 1 Liam McGivern, 2 Caoimhin Rainey, 3 Paul McKinney, 4 Conor Toner, 5 Jack Scally, 6 Anthony Hargan, 7 Odhran O’Kane, 8 Michael Connolly, 9 Niall McParland, 11 Gerard Slane, 13 Nathan Maginn, 14 Anthony Rowntree, 15 Jay Maguire, 17 Marcas Toner,
Subs: 19 Jason Parke, 10 CJ Sullivan
Glenavy: 1 Stephen Daly, 2 Liam Henry, 3 Timmy Honeyford, 4 Rian Phillips, 5 Patrick Fox, 6 Pearse O’Neill, 7 Matthew Lawlor, 8 James Gallagher, 9 Patrick Gallagher, 10 Se O’Neill, 11 Fergal Henry, 12 Malachy Doherty, 13 Finn Shannon, 14 Liam Henry,15 Conor Hamill,
Subs: Ciaran Loney, Dominic Gallagher.
Referee:
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