IFC Group 2
Glenavy 2-11 Sarsfields 1-11
Glenavy overcame the challenge of Group leaders, Patrick Sarsfield’s to keep their semi-final hopes alive in a sometimes bad tempered contest at Chapel Hill on Sunday afternoon.
The home side got off to a great start with a goal and a point from Fergal Henry inside the opening 3 minutes and were dominant during the opening 20 minutes of play.
Sarsfield’s came back with a pointed free from Brian Healy but St. Joseph’s continued to carry the play to their opponents with some excellent football as Fergal Henry 0-3 and two from Ciaran Loney moved them 7 ahead.
Sarsfield’s were struggling to get their game together but finally found a response as Gary Lennon and Thomas Skillen pointed at the other end but it was Glenavy who finished the half strongly as James Gallagher 0-2 and Fergal Henry 0-2 moved them into a 1-10 to 0-4 half time lead.
The Group 3 leaders, who had already qualified prior to Sunday’s encounter started the second half brightly with points from Gary Lennon and Brian Healy followed with another from a free.
They were rocked back on their heels however when Malachi Doherty replied with the Chapel Hill side’s second goal to move the home side 10 ahead and at this stage it looked a long way back for the Stewartstown Road men.
Henry added a pointed free to increase that lead to 11 before Sarsfield’s finally sprung to life as Ferris pointed and Healy followed with another before the excellent Gary Lennon brought the game to life with a well taken goal.
Lennon and Niall McAlea added points to close the gap to two as things got a bit heated before Pearse O’Neill eased the pressure with a good point for the home side.
Sarsfield’s threw everything at their opponents in the closing stages and Fionn Jemfrey fired over to close the gap to two once more but a late pointed free from Fergal Henry saw St. Joseph’s prevail with three to spare.
This win sees Glenavy in a strong position going into their final game against All Saints at Chapel Hill in two weeks-time and a win over the Ballymena side would see them top Group 2 and eliminate Baker Bradley’s side from the championship.
There was obviously no love lost between Sunday’s opponents as things threatened to boil over at the final whistle and these two might well meet again in the knockout stages if results go their respective ways.
Glenavy: 1 Stephen Daly, 2 Ryan Phillips, 3 Patrick Fox, 4 Timmy Honeyford, 5 Liam Henry, 6 Pearse O’Neill, 7 Matthew Lawlor, 8 James Gallagher, 9 Fiontan O’Boyle, 10 Patrick Gallagher, 11 Ciaran Loney, 13 Fergal Henry, 15 Conor Hamill, 17 Malachi Doherty, 23 Michael Johnston
Sarsfields: 1 Michael Brady, 2 Pearse Murray, 30 Conor Laverty, 4 Martin McPollin, 5 Ethan Mervyn, 6 Liam Mitchell, 7 Christopher Loughran, 8 Conor Moley, 9 Cormac Murray, 10 Phillip McPeake, 11 Niall McAlea, 12 Tomas Skillen, 14 Gary Lennon, 15 Brian Healey, 28 Joe McNally. 21 Miceal Ferris, 22 Fionn Jemfrey
Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghall)
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