IFC Group 2
Glenavy 0-11 All Saints 1-12
A fast start and a strong finish saw All Saints advance from this winner-takes-all encounter with St. Joseph’s Glenavy in the final Group 2 game of the Intermediate Football Championship.
Four points separated the sides at the final whistle but Glenavy will reflect on a period in the opening quarter when they shot seven wides with a strong breeze at their backs.
The Ballymena side sat deep and broke at pace to lead by five with only 8 minutes gone with their goal coming from a Sean McVeigh tap in from close range after Matty Downey’s original effort was well saved by Stephen Daly.
The Chapel Hill side began to find their range during the second quarter to out-score the visitors 0-5 to 0-1 and close the gap to the minimum at the halfway stage but with the breeze to face in the second half.
All Saints increased that gap to three early in the second half but the home side kept in touch throughout the second period thanks mainly to the accuracy of Fergal Henry.
They came close to getting back on terms after 18 minutes with Ryan Stewart pushing a Ciaran Loney goal bound attempt over for a point but that was as close as they got as Ronan McKillop 0-2 and substitute Michael McCarry added late scores to usher the visitors into the semi-final.
Sean McVeigh’s finish from close range after 2 minutes and points from Conor Stewart and Paddy McAleer moved All Saints five ahead by the 8th minute as their fast direct football opened up the home defence.
St. Joseph’s, with a strong breeze at their backs might well have been on terms but some wayward shooting saw them miss a handful of scoring chances that would eventually lead to their downfall.
James McDonnell moved the visitors six ahead after 18 minutes with a great point as he put the finishing touch to a move that began deep in his own half but after that the scores dried up as the Chapel Hill side began to find their range.
Paddy Gallager and Fergal Henry from a couple of converted frees closed the gap to a goal and a great point from James Gallagher from out on the right and another Henry conversion closed the gap to the minimum at the halfway stage.
Connell Lemon raced through to fist over on the restart and Kavan Keenan added a second to move the Slemish Park side three in front with only two minutes gone with Fergal Henry replying from another free.
Things were starting to move up a notch as Conor Stewart and Paddy McAleer moved All Saints four in front by the 10th minute but a Fergal Henry converted free and another excellent point from play from the same player left just two in it at the end of the third quarter.
Ronan McKillop replied with a good point to move the Ballymena side three ahead once more but Glenavy might well have been back on terms but Ciaran Loney’s well struck shot was pushed over at the expense of a point by Ryan Stewart.
McKillop for the visitors and Ryan Phillips exchanged further points and Michael McCarry for the visitors and Fintan O’Boyle for the home side did likewise and there was still only two in it with two minutes of normal time remaining.
It was the Ballymena side who would finish on the front foot however as the impressive Ronan McKillop added two late points to ensure that his side would go through to the semi-final where they will meet St. Paul’s in two weeks-time.
In the other semi-final Sarsfield’s will meet St. Teresa’s after the Glen Road men finished their Group 1 campaign with a win over Naomh Padraig in Lisburn to finish second to St. Paul’s in Group 1 on score difference.
St. Joseph’s: 1 Stephen Daly, 2 Ryan Phillips, 3 Patrick Fox, 4 Timmy Honeyford, 5 Liam Henry, 6 Pearse O’Neill, 7 Mathew Lawlor, 8 James Gallagher, 10 Patrick Gallagher, 11 Ciaran Loney, 13 Fergal Henry, 15 Conor Hamill, 17 Malachi Doherty, 20 Michael Fox, 23 Michael Johnston.
Subs: Fintan O’Boyle
All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Michael Read, 3 Cal O’Brien, 5 James McDonnell, 6 Sean O’Callaghan, 7 Patrick Ferris, 8 Sean McVeikgh, 9 Peter McNicholl, 10 Connell Lemon, 13 Emmet Killough, 14 Conor Stewart, 15 Paddy McAleer, 20 Kavan Keenan, 21 Ciaran Campbell, 24 Ronan McKillop
Subs: Joe Rafferty and Michael McCarry
Referee: Colin Thompson (St. John’s)
FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW