U18 Football League Division 2
All Saints 7-7 Naomh Comhghall 0-7
All Saints climbed to fourth place in division 2 of the U18 Football League division 2 with a convincing win over St. Comgall’s at Slemish Park on Sunday morning.
The Ballymena side ran out convincing winners against a youthful but talented St Comgall’s side.
The early exchanges were tight with missed opportunities on both sides. Conall Boyd got Saints off the mark but Comgall’s responded with a nicely taken equaliser, and followed with a 2nd to take the lead.
This seemed to prod the Saints’ boys into action with 2 well taken goals from the boot of Eddie Smith and a point from Sean O’Brien.
The Saints defence were standing firm marshalled by Watt, Connon, Henry and Anderson, restricting the Antrim town lads to shots from distance. Torin Hodkinson fired over a superb 2 pointer with the outside of the boot to reduce the gap.
A fine team move involving King, Patterson and Croskery sent Sean O’Brien through for a well taken goal and another point from Boyd stretched the lead further.
Antrim responded with a well taken point after a few near misses caused by some good defending by Devlin and Murphy.
When they finally got in for a goal chance Alex Crawford made a fine double save.
Bradley and Patterson were working hard around the middle of the park and they combined for Bradley to point the final score of the 1st half.
The 2nd half began with Comgall’s starting well and got an early point on the board. O’Brien got on the end of another swift move to fire over the crossbar. Aodhan McGarry then found himself free at the back post to round the keeper and fire to net. Comgalls responded with 2 well taken scores but were unable to breech the Saints defence for a goal. The young Antrim lads, a few of which had played Feile the day before, kept on battling with some great work form McAleer, Floyd and Hodkinson they were keeping the Saints defence honest.
As the teams entered the final 15 minutes the Saints boys introduced Crooks and Mulholland who worked hard to create chances. A point from King and McGarry pounced to get his 2nd goal after a fine save by the Antrim keeper. In the final few minutes Smyth broke through for his 3rd goal and Balmer also got in on the act with a well taken finish.
A convincing win for the Ballymena men, the final score perhaps flattered the home side a little but Comgall’s gave a good account of themselves.
The sides meet again in the Laverty shield in a few weeks.
Gort na Mona are in the driving seat at present with 12 points from 6 games while Sarsfields and Rossa have 12 from 8 games played with the Ballymena on 11from 8 played
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