ACFL Division2
Moneyglass 1-14 Sarsfields 1-17
Photographs: Elaine Kelly
Sarsfields put themselves in pole position to claim the ACFL Division 2 title when they travelled to Moneyglass on Wednesday night and recorded a three point victory over their challengers for the title, St. Ergnat’s.
Both sides were locked on 21 points going into this ‘winner takes all’ contest, the sides having shared the points earlier in the season at the Bear Pit before the league split and both a long way clear of third place St. Teresa’s.
A superb exhibition of free taking from Brian Healy would prove the difference between the sides in the end, the Sarsfield’s sharp shooter accounting for 1-9 of his side’s total on the evening. 0-6 from frees and his goal coming from the penalty spot.
Healy’s goal came in the second minute and points from Conor Moley 2pt, and Healy 0-2 had the visitors 1-4 ahead by the 6th minute as they started at blistering pace.
Sean Boyd opened the St. Ergnat’s account with a point in the 8th minute in exchange to another Sarsfields point from Conor Glenholmes and two pointed frees from Tyler Cassidy and another from play by Conor Boyd had it back to 4 by the 22nd minute.
Philip McPeake and a converted Healy pointed free in exchange to points from Aidan McErlain and Colum Duffin left Sarsfield’s leading by five at the break.
Aidan McErlain got St. Ergnat’s off to a great start when he found the net, two minutes into the second half but Sarsfields replied with point from Garry Lennon and another Brian Healy free to move four ahead again by the 8th minute.
A great 2 pointer from Colum Duffin cut the deficit to two once more and it was down to one when Conor Boyd split the posts for his second of the evening.
Just when it looked like the tide was turning Healy struck another brace of 2 pointers of the ground with Duffin replying with a similar effort for the team in blue in the 48th minute but that would be as close as they would get.
Both sides added 0-3 in the run in with a Healy 2 pointer and Lennon on target for Sarsfields and Colum Duffin (2pts) and Kevin McCann replying for St. Ergnat’s.
St. Ergnat’s are at home to St. Joseph’s Glenavy in their final game while Sarsfield’s entertain, Naomh Padraig Lisburn and, barring slip-ups the Division 2 title looks on its way to the Stewartstown Road.
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