ACHL Division 2
Shane Uí Neílls 3-14
St. Pauls 2-13
A brace of goals from Sean O Boyle and one from Aidan Scullion helped Glenarm to a hard fought win against St. Pauls in the ACHL Division 2 at Feystown on Saturday.
It didn’t take long for the scoring to start, as both teams came out of the starting blocks like a scalded cat.
Glenarm’s Niall McGarel, back from County duty, was first to raise a white flag with a nicely weighted effort over the visitors bar.
Caolan Crossan hit back immediately with a goal, striking the sliotar beyond Michael Abram.
Daire Stevenson pointed for the visitors to extend their lead to 3 points and at this stage of the game the ‘Hoops’ were calling the shots.
Glenarm replied however with a similar score and Sean O Boyle working at wing forward won a loose ball and rifled it into the top corner to level this game.
The impressive Caolan Crossan added to his tally with two more points, one from play and a converted free.
O Boyle for the hosts sent another well drilled ball over the bar, before Niall McGarel collected the sliotar deep in defence and pointed a mighty effort from over 70 yards.
Sean Munce for the West Belfast club pointed next, before McGarel hit a speculative effort from distance over the bar.
Back came St. Paul’s and Caolan Crossan for the Shaw’s Rd club pointed another free before the excellent Niall McGarel replied with two at the other end, the latter effort from a “65”
St. Pauls were starting to enjoy a bit of success and took the lead when Sean Munce sent over and Crossan followed from a converted “65”
This game flowed from end to end as another brace from Niall McGarel and a great solo effort from Dylan McLaughlin gave the hosts a two point cushion.
The visitors finished the half on the front foot and Caolan Crossan pointed another free as the half time whistle sounded with the game very much in the balance.
H.T.Shane Uí Neills 1-09 St Pauls 1-08
Glenarm’s Dylan McLaughlin pointed early in the second half to extend the Feystown side’s lead to two but back came St Pauls to take the lead with the excellent Crossan leading by example and firing home another goal, and he followed immediately with a point.
Glenarm looked in a spot of trouble but from an awkward angle, on the 13 yard line and out near the sideline McGarel sent the ball with purpose right over the bar, much to the delight of the home support.
Crossan was proving a real handful for the home side and he again pointed for the red and white’s before Sean Og McLaren converted a free to keep this intriguing contest very much in the balance.
Back came the home side again and half time substitute, Ciaran Magill, evaded a couple of tackles and pointed but McLaren replied immediately with a point at the other end.
Things became a bit heated as the intensity of the game increased and on 51 minute’s a melee ensued at midfield, resulting in the referee brandishing two red cards, one for each team.
When things calmed down Glenarm were awarded a free and up stepped Aidan Scullion whose high dropping ball evaded the St Paul’s keeper and nestled nicely in the corner of the net, much to the delight of the home support.
Scullion’s fortuitous goal levelled the contest for the fourth time and set the scene for an exciting finish with the points still very much up for grabs.
St Pauls McLaren hit the next point to restore the visitors lead on 56 minutes and the points looked to be heading back to Shaw’s Road but this turned out to be their last score of the game.
Ciaran Magill brought it all square again with another fine point, before Sean O’Boyle burst forward and received the ball before raising his second green flag of the evening to give his side a three point lead with 2 minutes remaining.
The last score in this fiercely contested encounter fell to the impressive Niall McGarel who split the uprights from 40 yards with referee Terence Masterson called for the ball on the puck out.
For the visitors Caolan Crossan had a great game and registered 2-07 on the day, but will feel disappointed to end on the losing side, and leaving empty handed.
Glenarm Niall McGarel slotted over 9 points, (1 ‘65’, 1 free) and his return to action for the Feystown side has proved a major boost.
Mc Laughlin and Magill were others to impress in attack while the rear guard led by Barry Hamill, Joshua Quinn and young Ciaran McLoughlin battled hard and dominated their positions.
After this win, Shane Uí Neill have jumped 4 places in this tight League Table sharing 4 points each with five clubs all playing 4 games each.
