Minor C Football Final
Glenavy 0-9 Aldergrove 0-7
Glenavy claimed the bragging rights and the Minor C Football title with victory over neighbours Aldergrove in Aghagallon on Sunday but they had to thank their keeper, Matthew Nelson who pulled off three superb second half saves to deny St. James’.
It was Darragh Brown who opened the scoring in Aghagallon with a point in the 4th minute and when Leon Laverty pointed a free into the breeze, St. Joseph’s were on their way.
Aldergrove took a time to settle but Luke Delaney opened their account from a free in the 9th minute and a fine long range effort from Lewis Smith and a pointed free from the same player had the Crumlin side ahead after 12 minutes.
It was end to end at this stage as Leon Laverty hit three on the bounce for the Chapel Hill side to move them two in front by the 21st minute but Aldergrove regrouped in the closing stages and Lewis Smith converted two long range frees off the ground to tie the contest at half time.
HT Glenavy 0-5 Aldergrove 0-5
With the elements now in their favour St. Joseph’s were expected to push on in the second half and James Monaghan restored their lead with a point in the 5th minute before Odhran McDonagh replaced Jim Highim in the Glenavy side.
In a low scoring second half Monaghan moved the Chapel Hill side two in front from a 12th minute free as the Glenavy defence denied their opponents scoring opportunities.
They had to be thankful to their keeper Matthew Nelson who pulled off a great save to deny St. James’ with 16 minutes gone and two minutes later he denied his neighbours with a fine fingertips stop.
Luke Delaney finally opened the Aldergrove second half account with a good point under pressure with ten minutes remaining and it still looked anybody’s game.
James Monaghan restored Glenavy’s two point advantage from a free in the 22nd minute as the game stepped up an notch but they lost Leon Laverty to a Black card and Odhran Maguire struck a fine long range effort for the Crumlin side to leave it in the balance as the clock ticked into time added on.
A James Monaghan point in the 33d minute looked to have secured victory for the Chapel Hill lads but Aldergrove created one last chance but were denied the goal they need by the excellent Nelson.
A great game of football with both sides enjoying periods of supremacy and little between them throughout.
Glenavy will be thankful to their net minder, Matthew Nelson however as he denied Aldergrove with three excellent saves over the hour and the Glevavy number 1 received the plaudits of his colleagues at the final whistle.
Glenavy: 1 Matthew Nelson, 2 Michael Campbell, 3 Joe Gilbride, 4 Liam Reynolds, 5 Dominic Doherty, 6 Padhraic McKevitt, 7 Nathan Morris, 8 Eugene Mulholland, 9 Oisin McArdle, 10 Jim Highim, 12 James Monaghan, 13 Coilin McKernan, 14 Darragh Brown, 15 Leon Laverty, 22 Darraghy Phillips, 24 Odhran McDonagh, 25 Ryan Phillips
Aldergrove: 1 Jamie Murray, 2 Sean O’Toole, 3 Ronan Ferguson, 4 Malachy Kennedy, 5 Lonan Magee, 6 Cayden Lagan, 7 Rory Finney, 8 Liam Og Cullen, 9 Luke Delaney, 10 Breagh Maguire, 11 Lewis Smith, 12 Fionntan Muldoon, 13 Chris Robb, 14 Rian Carl, 15 Cormac Morris, 22 Odhran Maguire
Referee: Colin Thompson (St. John’s)
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