ACHL Division 2
St Galls 2:18 Shane Ui Neills 0:13
Pete Hyndman reports from Milltown
On a clammy dampish afternoon both these teams sit mid table after playing 3 league games and a solitary win each.
The 2 clubs deserve some credit in providing the crowd with a solid hours good hurling!!
As the referee threw the ball in, both teams defences lines stood strong and cancelled each other out.
It wasn’t until the ninth minute when the hosts Jackson McGreevy slotted over a point, he followed up with his second effort a minute later.
Next up popped Glenarm’s Sean O Hare who pointed a free, shortly afterwards he levelled this tight tussle with a well struck 70 yard free.
Mc Greevy again drove over a point taking his tally to 3 score’s.
Shane Ui Neill’s player Dylan McLaughlin collected the sliotar down the wing and struck a majestic point from out near the side-line.
Dubhaltach Mac Liam pointed next for the hosts but Glenarm where starting to win a few balls and hit a purple patch to take the lead with Dylan McLaughlin hitting three great points in a row, plus Sean O Hare rifling over a fine score.
From a very acute angle Ronan Crossan pointed for the hosts before young Gerard Burns, who has started his first year as a senior player for Glenarm drove over two excellent points.
An injury just before half time to Glenarm’s Sean O Boyle meant an early bath for him, hobbling off with a bad ankle injury, replaced by Sandy Johnston.
A point late in first half injury time for the hosts concluded the first period.
St Galls 0:07 Glenarm 0:09
The second half started in rip roaring fashion for St Galls as they levelled this tense game with two quick scores for Dubhaltach Mac Liam and a Jackson Greevy free.
Fergus Donnelly was covering every blade of grass on the pitch and took a delightful point for over 50 yards before Darren Hamill replied for the visitors with a nice effort.
Mark Napier slotted over a fine solo point, before a dead ball effort from Glenarm’s free taker Sean O Hare levelled this game for the fourth time.
It was end to end at this stage but St. Galls Jackson Mc Greevy then pointed a brace of frees, taking the hosts two scores clear.
For the hosts, Fergus Donnelly who was finding a lot of loose balls, found a gap and charged forward and drove the ball beyond Michael Abram in Glenarm nets for the game’s opening goal.
There was a bit of respite for the visitors as O Hare pierced the afternoon sky with his 5th point but it was short lived as Gregory McGreevy struck another major for the hosts, and Mark Napier getting his second point.
Sean O Hare pointed another free for the North Antrim side but it was the clock was against the Feystown side.
A threat from the hosts led to a wonder save from Michael Abram parrying the ball wide for a “65” (the supporters and St Gall’s management team applauded Abrams efforts to keep Glenarm in this match.)
The resulting placed ball was put over the bar from Mark Napier, followed up by Jackson and Gregory Mc Greevy slotting over points. A final point from St. Galls late on finished the game as the referee called for the sliotar.
Although an 11 point win looks a one sided game, both teams played really well and it wasn’t until the final quarter that St. Galls upped the ante and hit two game changing goals.
The hosts had a few great ball winners and scorers with Fergus Donnelly, Jackson Mc Greevy, Mark Napier and Dubhaltach Mach Liam all putting in a great hours work.
For Glenarm the Hamill brothers, Ciaran Mc Loughlin, Conal Ward and young Gerard Burns all performed well. We wish John Scullion a speedy recovery from a chin injury.
Glenarm’s management will have a headache after today’s game, as they already have 6 senior players injured from the past two games and will be hoping that some of them will be available for the visit of St. Paul’s on the 26th April.
