ACFL Division 1
St Gall’s 3-28 Aldergrove 2-12
St. Gall’s got back to winning ways following last week’s narrow defeat to Lamh Dhearg when they entertained St. James Aldergrove at Milltown on Wednesday night.
It took the home side a time to get going but when Daniel Quinn hit his side’s first goal, there was no looking back as the scores flowed.
Quinn finished the night with 2-6 and one of those points came from a free which was his side’s only score from a placed ball, while his colleague, Niall Burns finished with 1-9 on the evening and was hugely impressive for the team in blue.
Aldergrove fought hard throughout and never gave up the chase but in the end were a well beaten side and will want to put this one behind them as they prepare for the visit of Ahoghill on Saturday evening.
St Gall’s were first off the mark with Callum Walsh pointing within seconds and Marty Murray added another before Aldergrove got themselves on the score-sheet when Ronan Hanna’s rasping shot at goal was turned over by goalkeeper Kevin Niblock.
Both sides missed chances before Niall Burns began to stamp his mark on the game and the county player would hit three points on the bounce as the home side started to get on top.
Aldergrove continued to look a threat on the break however and Cormac McGarry converted a free before Niblock was again called into action to tip over from Ryan McCarthy.
The visitors continued to threaten the St. Gall’s goal and Eoghan McCurdy cleared off the line from Declan Gough, but St James’ finally found the net in the 18th minute as a long delivery to Ryan McCarthy saw him place Hanna to fire home.
This brought a strong response from the Milltown side as they hit 2-7 without reply in the space of 10 minutes, with Dubhaltach MacLiam sending Daniel Quinn through to confidently finish.
Niall Burns, Walsh and Quinn added points, including a two-pointer from Burns before he palmed home the second goal and although Hanna replied with a point, late points from Burns and Quinn had St Gall’s leading 2-14 to 1-4 at the break.
St. Gall’s continued to apply the pressure as the second half got underway as Walsh and Murray kicked early scores with Sean Fay replying at the other end, but the Milltown side were in full flight as they added the next six through Conor Stinton, Conn Doherty and Eoghan McCurdy and the gap was out to 20.
Aldergrove kept battling against the odds and Hanna palmed over when a goal looked certain and then Conor Browning’s shot sailed over with another goal opportunity a begging.
St Gall’s always had a response however with Quinn kicking their only free of the evening and Aodhán Gallagher also getting in on the act.
Substitutes Glenn Dunham and Ethan Walsh traded points before Aldergrove finally got the reward their efforts deserved when Hanna got a touch to Brian McQuillan’s delivery.
The hosts hit back with one of their own two minutes later as substitute Michael Hopkins sent Quinn clear and he finished confidently to the net.
Despite the result being beyond doubt Aldergrove finished strongly as they hit the last four points through Hanna (two frees), Declan Gough and Chris McSteen, but it only served to put a better look on the final score-line.
St. Gall’s: K Niblock; C Hale, C Burke, E McCurdy (0-1); R Wilson, D MacLiam, C McCabe; A Gallagher (0-1), C Stinton (0-2); M Murray (0-2), B Bradley, N Burns (1-9, 1xtp); C Walsh (0-4), C Doherty (0-2), D Quinn (2-6, 0-1f).
Subs: L Lynn for C McCabe (38), E Walsh (0-1) for R Wilson (38), A McDonagh for M Murray (45), M Pollock for B Badley (49), M Hopkins for C Walsh (49)
Aldergrove: O McGarry; Christopher Browning, E Irvine, M Burns; D Gough (0-1), C McVeigh, E Gough; Conor Browning (0-1), O Graham; SP Fay (0-1), C McGarry (0-1f), B McQuillan; R McCarthy (0-1), R Hanna 2-5, 0-2f), K Jones.
Subs: C McSteen (0-1) for C McGarry (24), C Fogarty for Christopher Browning (32), G Dunham (0-1) for R McCarthy (45), M Smart for SP Fay (48), C Totten for K Jones (50).
Referee: Patrick Tumelty