Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC, Relegation Play-off
St Galls 4-18-2-09 Naomh Eanna
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
ST GALLS ensured that they would continue to ply their trade in the Senior Football Championship in 2025 with a 4-18-2-09 win over Naomh Eanna in the relegation play-off semi-final at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.
It was St Galls who hit the front on a breezy afternoon on the hill with Brendan Bradley swinging over after several missed attempts early on.
The opening goal arrived after four minutes, James McAuley claimed an advanced mark and laid the ball off the shoulder to the advancing Eoghan O’Hare- who rifled past Chris Kerr in the St Galls goal.
Their opening point would arrive in the form of a Odhran McKenna effort that sailed over, but a foul on Niall O’Neill allowed Niall Burns to hit back.
Further points were traded with Ronan O’Neill producing an outstanding point from range, only for Burns to hit back from the placed ball.
Burns clipped over his first from play and he then assisted in his side restoring parity, sending a quick free into the path of Brendan Bradley to double his account for the half.
St Enda’s regained the lead with their second goal on the 19th minute thanks to a stunning finish from Stephen O’Connor.
It was a lead they would relinquish quickly however as St Galls hit back at the other end, Seanan Nagle kept out Niall O’Neill’s initial and Ruairi Wilson swooped from close range to make it 2-02-1-05.
A third Niall Burns free had St Galls back in the driving seat- though Stephen O’Connor pointed from a free in response.
The fourth goal of the game would arrive before the break and fell to St Galls after an intelligent flowing move that saw Conn Doherty palm home from close range and make it 2-06-2-03.
Points were traded between Brendan Bradley and Odhran McKenna in the aftermath of Doherty’s goal and it was St Galls who would extend their lead prior to the half time whistle with Daniel Quinn steering over to give his side a 2-08-2-04 advantage at halfway.
St Enda’s narrowed the deficit three minutes after the restart as Stephen O’Connor dropped a high shot over in the wind, but Niall O’Neill swung over at the other end after linking up with Marcus Donnelly.
A third goal almost arrived for St Galls, but Conn Doherty flashed a shot inches over the bar following a neat move involving veterans Aodhan Gallagher and Michael Pollock.
The Milltown outfit were moving through the gears as Niall Burns kicked his fourth free of the afternoon, Daniel Quinn produced a fine point and goal-scorer Conn Doherty dropped a shot inside the posts to open up an eight-point gap (2-13-2-05).
Sean McBride powered forward and produced a much-needed score to briefly halt St Galls momentum and the sides then traded points through Michael Pollock and Stephen O’Connor in the aftermath.
The game was moving further away from St Enda’s with Daniel Quinn increasing his personal account and substitute Bara McCaffrey getting on the act.
There was half chance of goal for the Hightown men, though Odhran McKenna had to make do with a point instead.
St Galls finished strongly as Michael Hopkins popped over and back-to-back goals arrived through Bara McCaffrey.
The substitute took a lay-off from John McCaffrey and finished to the net before adding a second moments later after a strong run from Aodhan Gallagher in the build-up.
McBride would land his sides final score of the afternoon and replied with the last kick to ensure that St Galls ran out 4-18-2-09 winners at the conclusion to ensure their senior status is intact for 2025, while St Enda’s still remain in danger of Championship relegation with a decider against Glenravel to come.
ST GALLS: C Kerr, M Donnelly, T Keenan, G Mac Adhaimh, J McCaffrey, C McGirr, R Wilson (1-0), C Ryan, A Gallagher, D Quinn (0-4), M Pollock (0-1), N Burns (0-5, 0-4f), C Doherty (1-2), N O’Neill (0-1), B Bradley (0-3). Subs: C McCabe for M Donnelly (38), C Burke for G Mac Adhaimh (38), B McCaffrey (2-1) for B Bradley (45), M Hopkins (0-1) for C Doherty (54), F Donnelly for R Wilson (55).
NAOMH EANNA: S Nagle, E O’Hare (1-0), D McNulty, K Jennings, R O’Neill (0-1), C Lyttle, R Hamilton, N McKeown, S Murray, R Kalla, C Morgan, S McBride (0-2), J McAuley, S O’Connor (1-2, 0-1f), O McKenna (0-4). Subs: C McKeown for K Jennings (11), J Lewis for R Hamilton (54), P Doran for R Kalla (57).
REFEREE: Brendan Toland (LAMH DHEARG)
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