ACFL Division 1
St. Paul’s 1-15 St. James 3-20
St. James Aldergrove kept in touch at the top of division 1 as they recorded their fourth win from five starts over St. Paul’s at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday evening.
A hat-trick from corner forward, Ryan McCarthy and an exhibition of long range points from Seamus McGarry proved the difference in the end against a St. Paul’s team who competed well throughout.
McCarthy got the ball rolling with a goal in the second minute and points from Conor Browning and Declan Gough had the visitor five ahead by the 6th minute.
The home side took a time to settle but began to get a foothold as Patrick Crawford opened their account with a 2 pointer and Caoimhin Duffy added a goal and further points from Crawford (1 2 pointer) had the home side ahead.
The game appeared to be swinging in favour of St. Paul’s, who were searching for their first win of the season but St. James replied through Chris McSteen before McCarthy fired home his second goal.
Brian mcQuillan and Seamus mcGarry added points with Patrick Crawford replying from a free to leave the visitors leading 2-6 to 1-7 at the end of a very competitive opening half.
HT 1-7 TO 2-6
Two points certainly didn’t look like an insurmountable lead and when Patrick Crawford kicked a 2 pointer for the ‘Hoops’ at the start of the second half to tie the contest it was all square.
It would be as close as St. Paul’s got however with McSteen and Seamus mcGarry edging the visitors two in front before Niall mcStravick split the posts to keep the hosts in touch.
Another 2 pointer from the imperious McGarry and when Ryan McCarthy’s completed his hat-trick it looked as good as over though St. Paul’s were still battling hard.
Patrick Crawford and Micael Duffy replied with points but McGarry kicked another magnificent 2 pointer in reply and added another from a free.
St. Paul’s continued to give it everything and Oisin McGarry pulled off two excellent frees to deny Shea Burns and then Pearse Magee at the expense of two points.
McGarry was on fire however and he would land two more long range missiles going down the home straight before Ronan Hanna escaped the attention of excellent teenage full-back, Ewan McGreevey to add another.
Another good win for St. James’ who showed a lot of character to recover from last week’s heavy defeat to Cargin and they now sit joint third with All Saints Ballymena who they welcome to Crumlin on the 7th May.
St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Aodhan Kavanagh, 3 Ewan McGreevey, 4 Ciaran McAlea, 5 Conall Duffy, 6 Diarmuid O’Sullivan, 7 Caoimhin Killyleah, 8 James Farrell, 9 Mark Munce, 10 Pearse Magee, 11 Miceal Duffy, 12 Niall McStravick, 13 Shea Burns, 14 Patrick Crawford, 15 Caoimhin Duffy.
Aldergrove: 1 Oisin McGarry, 2 Aiden Ervine, 3 Chris Browning, 4 Logan Fleming, 5 Declan Gough, 6 Chris McVeigh, 7 Eoin Gough, 8 Brian McQuillan, 9 Conor Browning, 10 Patrick Fay, 11 Oisin Graham, 12 Chris McSteen, 13 Ryan McCarthy, 14 Ronan Hanna, 15 Seamus McGarry
Subs: 18 for Chris Browning
Referee: Ray Matthews
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