ACFL Division 1
All Saints 4-13 St. John’s 0-14
All Saints got their division 1 campaign off to a winning start when they proved too good for St. John’s in an entertaining, high scoring thriller at Quinn Park on Wednesday night.
Both sides were missing key players for this, the opening game of the Antrim leagues with the Whiterock men the worst affected but perhaps All Saints involvement in the recent Ulster club league gave them the edge under the new rules which were being implemented for the first time in club football within the county.
The Ballymena side survived an early scare before taking the lead through the excellent Benny McDonnell with a goal in the third minute and Sean McVeigh followed with a point before Paddy McAleer followed with a second major with only seven minutes gone.
The home side were moving the ball at speed with Ciaran Campbell directing matters around mid-field and their strong running was causing major problems for the opposition who opened their account through the excellent Odhran Quinn with a point in the 9th minute.
Quinn’s point briefly interrupted the All Saints onslaught but they made an immediate response with Sean O’Callaghan finishing another defence splitting move to the net for goal number three.
The visitors looked in trouble but they slowly began to get their game together with Conal McGlade firing over a two pointer off the ground and Odhran Quinn adding a point from play before McGlade raised his second Orange flag of the evening.
The All Saints goals had dried up at this stage but they continued to rack up points with Sean O’Callaghan and Michael McCarry 0-3 (2 frees) bringing their total to 3-6 at the break and an improving St. John’s increasing their total to 0-7 with McGlade and Quinn leading the way.
McCarry increased the All Saints lead to 10 in the opening 8 minutes of the second half but St. John’s were beginning to enjoy a wee bit of success with Ronan Quinn and a couple from Odhran Quinn closing the gap to six by the 13th minute.
Quinn struck another excellent effort to leave just five between the sides and the Ballymena men looked in a bit of bother for the first time but they responded through Benny McDonnell and ‘Gooch’ McCarry before a long delivery from the lively McDonnell travelled all the way to the Johnnies net with 8 minutes remaining.
Those scores settled the issue with McCarry and Connell Lemon 0-2 concluding the All Saints scoring and the superb Quinn and Odhran McAuley replying with consolation scores for the visitors.
Early days but Baker Bradley and his management team should be well pleased with their side’s performance and those earlier Ulster league outings certainly seemed to have helped their preparations for the new rules.
For an under strength St. John’s it was a case of learning on the job and they certainly improved as the game progressed and they will be happy with the performances of a number of their youngsters with Odhran Quinn one to watch in the season ahead.
Finally a word on referee, Colm McDonnell who did an excellent job in implementing the new rules and the St. Gall’s official took time to explain decisions when questions were asked.
All Saints: Conor Brennan, Michael Read, Cal O’Brien, James Gillan, Charlie Metrustry, Sean McDermott, Rian Tom, Peter McReynolds, Peter McNicholl, Connell Lemon, Michael McCarry, Brendan McDonnell, Ciaran Campbell, Sean McVeigh, Paddy McAleer.
Subs: Sean McDermott for Sean O’Callaghan HT, Harry Connon for Brendan McDonnell
St. John’s: Rua Lambert, Michael Darragh, Ronan Quinn, Odhran McAuley, Ross Hannigan, Luke Peden, Daire King, Ronan Donnelly, Ryan McNulty, Conor McEvoy, Conal McGlade, Daragh McGuinness, Conall Quinn, Aaron Bradley, Odhran Quinn
Subs: Fintan McKinney, Fionn Thompson, Diarmuid Brecknell, Odhran Carleton.
Referee: Colm McDonnell (St. Gall’s)
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