ACFL Division 2
St Comgall’s Antrim 1-08 St Patrick’s Lisburn 1-09
A heavily bandaged Josh McMullan, injured in the opening quarter of this division 2 meeting of St Comgall’s and Naomh Padraig at Dunsilly on Wednesday night, returned to action for the second period to inspire his side to victory.
The home side dominated in the opening period with Lewis Higgins and Josh Henry in control in the central zone and Myles Devine and Tom Patchett causing problems to the visitor’s rear guard and they looked very much on the way to victory leading 1-07 to 0-02 at the end of the first period.
The visitors only managed one score in the opening half when Adam Patterson despatched a ‘two pointer’ and they trailed heavily at the break with Barry Burns men seemingly in complete charge.
Myles Devine opened the home side’s account with an early point with Tom Pachett making addition in kind shortly after.
The visitors opened their account in the 12th minute as mid fielder Lewis Higgins despatched a ‘two pointer but this score failed to inspire a call to action for the visitors.
Naomh Comhghall gained in stride following the visitors opening score with the front men Devine and Patchett causing problems and when the former found the back of the net after good work by Sean Og Gribbin and Tom Patchett they looked in charge.
The visitors, despite the efforts of Lewis Patterson and Ben McMullan were unable to respond as the home side continued to call the shots with Devine, Patchett, and the hard grafting Josh Henry leading the charge.
The second quarter progressed in similar fashion to the first and when Devine was sent away by a Sean Og Gribbin delivery to find the back of the net in the 20th minute Naomh Comhghall were in command.
They added further points from Gribbin and Ryan Clarke to ensure a 1-07 to 0-02 lead for the home side at the break.
Naomh Padraig, positively out gunned in the first period returned to action shortly with McMullan back in action and he would provide much needed inspiration to the Lisburn side.
The Lisburn side had been toothless in attack in the opening half but they were quickly into action as the second got under way as they added points through Oisin Gorman 0-3 and the back in action McMullan added another.
The visitors were on the march as their confidence grew as the previously dominant home side lost their way but their hopes were raised when the hard grafting Myles Devine grabbed back to back points.
The visitors were quick to return fire with a 52nd minute Oisin Gorman point and only a single score separated the sides at 1-08 to 0-08.
The Antrim town side had lost their way and were now making unforced errors and when a lofted delivery opened the way for Eoin Dixon to fist to the net the visitors were on terms 1-08 to 1-08.
The last minutes saw the home side strive to retain parity but the momentum was now very much with the visitors and mid-fielder Patterson pointed in added time to ensure an away victory.
St Comgall’s: Peter Mc Auley, Tiernan Floyd, Eoin Lynch, Sean Hinfey, Shane og Gribbin, Michael Mc Cabe, Ruairi Gribbin, Louis Higgins, Conor Mc Donnell, Aaron Mc Gaw, Joshua Henry, Ryan Clarke, Tom Patchett (0-04), Myles Devine (1-04),Kian Smith
St Patrick’s: Peadar O’ Neill, Jack Mc Mullan, Sean Burns, Jack Broderick, Josh Mc Mullan (0-01), Brian Mc Mullan (0-01, Con Rush, Che Smith, Adam Patterson (0-03), Rory Kennedy (0-01), Oisin Gorman (0-02), Colm Burns, James Morgan, Eoin Dixon (1-02), Ruairi Smith
Referee: Chris Brown (St Paul’s)