Andersonstown SC AntrimIHC, Group One
St Gall’s 2-15
Carey 2-20
Carey Faughs got themselves back to winning ways with a hard earned victory over a battling St. Gall’s for who qualification is now beyond reach following this defeat at Milltown on Friday night.
The home side looked to be heading for their first Group 1 win when they led the Ballyvoy side by 2-10 1-9, six minutes into the second half following a goal from the penalty spot from Ryan Ervine.
Ronan Crossen received his marching orders for his reaction to the foul that led to the penalty and when Patrick Friel followed him after being shown a second yellow the game began to turn in favour of the ‘Faughs’.
The hosts had been the better side in the opening half and were dictating matters until that double dismissal with the visitors taking full advantage of the extra men.
Immediately after Ervine’s success from the spot, Mark Napier had added a point to move St. Gall’s five ahead but Callum Cane’s second goal of the evening midway through the second period swung the momentum in favour of the Carey men.
Top-scorer Conal McGlynn hit the first two of his nine points for Carey with Conlith McKinley and Shea Hunter on target.
St Gall’s were their equal during this period with Patrick Friel, Cormac Sheehan and two from Marcus Donnelly – the second after a superb team move – ensuing the sides were level at 0-4 apiece after 14 minutes.
Then came the game’s opening goal as a ball inside broke to Callum Cane who found the St Gall’s net.
It brought an immediate reaction from the hosts and after Fergus Donnelly hit back with a point, St Gall’s struck with an excellent goal of their own as Ronan Crossen spun his marker and raced towards goal from the left and fired past Stephen McGinn to give his side the lead.
Points from Tomás O’Ciarán and Cormac Sheehan followed before McGlynn hit back with one for Carey and the Milltown side were starting to take control.
They hit a number of wides at this stage and Carey took advantage with Fiachra McVeigh and John McBride replying at the other end to leave just one in it at the break when St. Gall’s might have been further ahead.
Cormac Sheehan and Caolan McCaughan traded points within the opening five minutes of the restart before a huge moment that would see this game turn on its head.
Ronan Crossen received Red for his reaction to the penalty that Ervine fired past McGinn after consultation with his umpires, referee Barry Winters dismissed the St. Gall’s man but allowed the penalty to stand.
McGlynn and Mark Napier swapped points as Carey then began to chip at the lead with Cane and Patrick Butler on target.
A pointed free from O’Ciarán kept the gap at three with 43 gone, but after Friel picked up his first yellow for a foul which McGlynn punished, the North Antrim men struck with a second goal as a long ball broke to Cane who finished first-time for his second of the evening.
Friel was then issued a second yellow in the space of just two minutes for a late hit on James Black and now St Gall’s were one behind on the board and two short in personnel.
Carey took advantage to push the gap out to five with McGlynn (two), Hunter and Cane pointing, but to their credit, St Gall’s did not give up and they managed to get to within a goal with two to play.
McGlynn gave Carey a bit more breathing space from a free before St Gall’s sub Sean McAreavey tried his luck from a 20-metre free that flashed outside the post and a further McGlynn free sealed victory for a Carey side who are back in the qualification mix with St Gall’s now out of the race.
St Gall’s: K McGreevy; D Churchill, E Rush, G Mac Adhaimh; P Friel (0-1), T O’Ciarán (0-3, 2f), R Irvine (1-0 pen); J Hopkins, F Donnelly (0-2); N O’Neill, M Donnelly (0-4), R Crossen (1-0); C Sheehan (0-3, 2f), E Walsh, M Napier (0-2, 1f).
Subs: O McIlhatton for C Sheehan (46), S McAreavey for F Donnelly (54)
Carey Faughs: S McGinn; Z McCaughan, S McBride, P Gillan; J McCouaig, J McBride (0-1), S Hunter (0-2); E Hill, C McCaughan (0-2); C McGlynn (0-9, 8f), J Black, F McVeigh (0-2); C Cane (2-2), C McKinley (0-1), P Butler (0-1).
Sub: S Mathers for E Hill (58)
Referee: Barry Winters (Dungannon)
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