IFC Group 2
All Saints 8-11 Davitt’s 0-4
Baker Bradley and his backroom staff will not read too much into this facile victory with Davitt’s arriving at Quinn Park with only 15 men and quite a number of their regulars missing for various reasons.
Before the game kicked off qualification was going to be down to the final game of the series away to Glenavy in two weeks-time and before throw in word filtered through that St. Joseph’s had beaten Sarsfields, who had already qualified.
Bradley gave game time to a number of players who have not figured recently but it was his more established campaigners that would ensure a night devoid of anxiety for the Derry native.
The Ballymena side, with all their county men on board scored four goals in each half and played some good attacking football against a Davitt’s side who battled to the end but were out of their depth on this occasion.
Sean McVeigh fisted home the first with more than a hint of square ball about it and then the returning Ronan McKillop added a second to make it 2-4 to 0-0 with 17 minutes gone.
Paddy McAleer palmed home goal number three before the Davitt’s persistence paid off with a wonderful point from Deaglan Mooney in the 22nd minute.
McAleer powered home a rocket to make it four majors for the Ballymena side who went on to lead 4-6 to 0-2 at the short whistle.
Caomhan Slane opened the second half scoring with an excellent point for Davitt’s but with places very much up for grabs and the possibility that score difference might come into play the home side never eased up with McAleer making it a hat-trick with another fisted effort after 8 minutes.
At this stage the home side emptied their bench, a luxury unavailable to the depleted visitors and it was one of the replacements, Patrick Ferris who got through for a sixth goal as the West Belfast side started to tire.
Paddy McAleer brought his total to four with a simple tap in after the ball rebounded into his path off the woodwork and the big county man concluded the scoring with his side’s 8th of the evening with time almost up.
Three minutes earlier the impressive Paul McLaughlin had brought his side’s total for the evening to 0-4 with possibly the best point of the game and the West Belfast side will now prepare for their final game against Gort na Mona.
A win there would see them avoid a relegation playoff and they are likely to have a much stronger panel available for that one in two weeks-time.
All Saints now face the daunting task of an away visit to St. Joseph’s Glenavy, the Chapel Hill side will start that one as favourites following Sunday’s win over Group leaders, Sarsfield’s who have already inflicted defeat on the Ballymena side in the Group stages.
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