ACFL Division 2
St. Ergnat’s 2-15 Naomh Padraig 2-14
Colm Duffin raised four orange flags as St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass were forced to dig deep to overcome the spirited challenge of Naomh Padraig Lisburn and maintain their place at the top of division 2.
The visitors made the early running and raced into an early lead with the elements in their favour with Eoin Dixon pointing in the second minute.
They received a setback when Tyler Cassidy got through for the game’s opening goal for the home side with only four minutes on the clock but came back through two scores from Dixon, the second a 2 pointer to go ahead.
Conor Boyd brought the sides level with a Moneyglass point in the 9th minute and added another in the12th to edge them back ahead but it would be their final score of the opening period as Naomh Padraig finished the half on top.
Brendan McGarr brought the Liburn side level again with a point in the 13th minute and two more from the impressive Dixon and one from Rory Kennedy had them three ahead with 24 minutes gone.
The home side just could not get their game going and they looked in a spot of bother when Jude Rafferty fired past Jamie McLaughlin for Naomh Padraig’s opening goal in the 27th minute to leave his side 1-8 to 1-2 ahead at the break.
Tyler Cassidy closed the gap to five with a point in the opening minute of the second half but Naomh Padraig responded through Eoin Dixon to extend their lead to six with only two minutes of the new half gone.
The home side were beginning to come into the game and Colm Duffin raised an orange flag with a fine long range effort before the visitors responded with 2 of their own, the second coming from the impressive Oisin Gorman.
Sean Boyd and Conor Boyd closed the gap to five at the end of the third quarter and then Conlaodh McCann put Moneyglass right back into contention when he finished to the net, a minute later.
The visitors were coming under increasing pressure for the first time in the game but replied through a Ruadhan McKenna pointed free, the visitors keeper sending a long range effort between the uprights for an excellent 2 pointer.
The tide was turning however and the momentum was very much with the home side as Paul Duffin and Colm Duffin with a couple more 2pointers reeled in the visitors lead with 9 minutes remaining.
It was Naomh Padraig who were now being forced back on the defensive but looked to have held on for a massive victory when Tyler Cassidy exchanged late points with Eoin Dixon but there would be one more decisive play to come.
Colm Duffin, as he has done so often over the years became the St. Ergnat’s hero when he sent over his fourth 2 pointer of the evening in injury time to see his side home by the minimum and maintain top spot in the division alongside Sarsfields.
A well contested game of football in which Naomh Padraig certainly played their part and they will be disappointed not to have taken something from it as they continue to show that they can match it with the best in the division on their day.