SFC Group 1
St. James Aldergrove 4-15 St. Enda’s 3-7
St. James Aldergrove turned in a strong performance to overcome the challenge of St. Enda’s at Corrigan Park on Sunday and ensure they will be playing Senior Championship again next season.
The Glengormley side got off to the better start with a goal from Fionntan O’Connor in the first minute but that was as good as it would get for St. Enda’s as a Seamus McGarry inspired St. James took control.
McGarry opened his side’s account with a point and Cormac McGarry fired home in the third minute to give the Crumlin side a lead they would never again lose.
Seamus McGarry added a point and then Christopher McSteen weighed in with another following a mix-up in a nervous looking St. Enda’s defence.
The Hightown side came back strongly as Ronan Kalla struck a good long range point and James McAuley and Sean Murray with another from distance had the sides level at the end of the opening quarter and we looked to have a game on our hands.
At this point it began to go badly wrong for St. Enda’s as keeper Seanan Nagle got caught in possession as he pushed up-field and McGarry sent a lobbing shot to the empty net to restore the Crumlin’s side lead.
The superb McGarry added a point and as things went from bad to worse for the men in Amber, Gerard Mallon’s attempt at as point bounced over the St. Enda’s net minder and ended in the net in the 21st minute.
The Glengormley side were clearly rattled as St. James continued to turn the screw with the imperious McGarry tagging on two more points and Declan Gough added another before Stephen O’Connor replied with a late St. Enda’s point to leave his side trailing by 10 at the half way stage.
Seamus McGarry and Ronan Hanna added points on the restart to move Aldergrove 12 ahead with only four minutes of the new half gone before Sean Murray responded with a great goal to give his side just a glimmer of hope.
Murray’s major failed to have the desired affect however as McGarry and Hanna replied with another double and even at this early juncture it was obvious there was only going to be one winner, given the Aldergrove dominance all over the field.
Stephen O’Connor and Seamus McGarry exchanged further points and in between Conor Totten in the St. James goal pulled off an excellent save as St. Enda’s briefly threatened.
To their credit the Hightown side never gave up and O’Connor added another point before Sean Murray climbed to palm an inviting delivery to the net with 8 minutes remaining.
It proved too little-too late with Ronan Hanna from a free and Oisin Graham replying for St. James’ and O’Connor responding with Naomh Eanna’s final point with time almost up.
Totten again came to the Aldergrove rescue as St. Enda’s fought to the end before substitute Kian Jones rubbed salt in an already gaping St. Enda’s wound when he lobbed the keeper in injury time.
This win ensures St. James Division 1 and Senior Championship football next season while St. Enda’s now join Glenravel, Tir na nOg and St. Gall’s in the knock out relegation play-offs
St James Aldergrove: 1 Conor Totten, 2 Aiden Ervine, 3 David Aiken, 4 Eoin Gough, 5 Conor Browning, 6 Chris McVeigh, 7 Andrew Flood, 8 Oisin Graham, 9 Brian McQuillan, 10 Declan Gough, 11 Christopher McSteen, 12 Gerald Mallon, 13 Cormac McGarry, 14 Ronan Hanna, 15 Seamus McGarry
Subs: 20 Kian Jones
St. Enda’s: 1 Seanan Nagle, 2 Killian Jennings, 3 Diarmuid McNulty, 4 Niall Heatley, 5 Ronan O’Neill, 6 Conan Lyttle, 7 Ruairi Hamilton, 8 Niall McKeown, 9 Sean Murray, 10 Eoghan O’Hare, 11 Ronan Kalla, 12 Sean McBride, 13 James McAuley, 14 Fionntan O’Connor, 15 Stephen O’Connor
Referee: Cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)
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