Antrim LGFA Division 1
Glenavy 2-12 Aldergrove 6-15
A fine display of finishing by St. James’ Nicole Jones led her side to a comprehensive victory over neighbours Glenavy in division 1 of the LGFA All County League at Chapel Hill on Monday night.
The Aldergrove mid-fielder would finish with 3-3 as their side proved too good for their neighbours and deadly rivals to claim the early season bragging rights.
The visitors opened at a fast pace and were 2-3 to 0-0 up after 7 minutes with their goals coming from Meabh Rooney and Nicole Jones and Rooney, Jones and Caitlin Taggart their point scorers.
Helen Morgan finally got the home side off the mark from a pointed free and Lydia Grant added another but it provided only temporary respite as Nicole Jones pointed at the other end before firing home her side’s third goal in the 12th minute.
Megan McGarry for Glenavy and Orla Rooney for the Crumlin side exchanged further points before St. Josephs sent over three on the bounce through Helen Morgan, Bronagh Forester and Keela McAlister as the home side came more into the game.
Aoife Taggart replied from distance with 20 minutes on the clock but Glenavy were starting to grow in confidence and Helen Morgan 0-2 and Megan Hanna fired over points that sandwiched a goal from Keela McAlister.
The final point of the half fell the way of Orla Rooney for St. James who led 3-7 to 1-9 at the break but at this stage it still looked anybody’s game.
HT 3-7 TO 1-9
Orla Mullin in the Glenavy goals pulled off a fine fingertip save to deny the visitors on the restart and when Helen Morgan pointed a free in the second minute, the Aldergrove lead had been reduced to three points.
It would be as close as the Chapel Hill girls got however as St. James came back with a vengeance with Caitlin Taggart 0-2 and Aoife Taggart pointing before Katie McArt got on the end of a well-constructed build up to fire home her side’s fourth goal.
That was in the 11th minute and a minute later Nicole Jones put the game well and truly out of reach with her third major of the evening.
Aoife Taggart would add a sixth goal for the visitors in injury time and in between the team in Red would add to their ever increasing points tally with Caitlin Taggart, Aoife Taggart, Nicole Jones and Orla Rooney all to the fore.
Keela Taggart replied with a point and Glenavy’s best player, Helen Morgan converted a late penalty award but by that time the points had been secured by a slick moving St. James.
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