Reserve Football Shield final

Glenravel 0-13 Glenavy 1-05

Exactly one year ago to the day, Glenravel suffered a one point defeat in the Reserve Shield Final  in Portglenone when Dunloy returned victorious on a 2-14 to 2-13 scoreline. This year however the Con Magees’  men made amends when they defeated Glenavy in the same venue, in the same competition with five points to spare in the end. Ahead for most of the game, Glenravel could not quite put enough daylight between themselves and the opposition to feel comfortable despite long periods of dominance. Glenavy will no doubt look back with disappointment on some wayward shooting, particularly in the first half that would have had them well ahead at half time had they been a tad more accurate.

Glenravel opened with a point from Sean McKay before evergreen Aiden McCafferty doubled that lead in the seventh minute. Glenavy were creating chances but missing the target but with eleven minutes gone Michael McCourt cut through and unleashed a piledriver to the net to put the lough shore men ahead in what would prove to be the only time in the game. In fact Glenavy would retire to the changing rooms at half time with that being the only score to their credit in the opening thirty minutes along with almost double digit wides as they failed to hold their composure when the goalposts came into view. In the second quarter Glenravel started to gain some traction and but for some brilliant saves from Glenavy keeper Gareth Collins they would have been out of sight by half time. But Glenavy’s netminder stopped two certain goals to keep his team in the game. Glenravel decided the aerial route would yield a better return and four points from Sean McKay, Daragh Donaghy, Shea O’Broin and Aiden O’Donnell put Glenravel back in the driving seat with a three point lead 0-06 to 1-00 when referee Sean Elliott blew the sort whistle.

Glenavy would reduce that deficit to two points when their lively full forward Finn Shannon put over a free. Shannon was Glenavy’s most potent threat up front being very comfortable in possession and a real handful for the Glenravel defence who, it must be said, marshalled him well. Glenravel regained momentum with points from Sean McKay, Fergus Donaghy and a super score from Aiden O’Donnell stretched their lead to five on a 0-09 to 1-1 scoreline. With only two scores to show for forty minutes effort Glenavy management decided to shuffle the deck and introduce fresh legs. That rejuvenated them and three unanswered points from Finn Shannon, Fergus Cunningham and Michael McCourt brought us to a two point game as we entered the third quarter. All to play for. Aiden O’Donnell steadied the Glenravel ship with another great point and the recently introduced Conleth O’Loan added another before Sean McKay once again opened up a five point lead for the men in green and white with less than ten minutes remaining. At this stage Glenravel were dominating and once again Glenavy’s netminder Gareth Collins came to the rescue with another point blank save. If there had been a MOTM award I’m in no doubt Collins would have won it. Scant comfort though as the game fizzled out in the closing minutes with Finn Shannon and Eamon Carey exchanging points to leave Glenravel victorious at the end on a 0-13 to 1-05 scoreline.

Referee Elliott and his team did a sterling job throughout  and great credit is due to Portglenone for their organisation of the game and in particular to their ground staff who had Kelly Park in immaculate condition despite the torrential rain throughout the day.

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