OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship, Group 2
St Teresa’s 2-13-1-16 St Comgall’s
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc MhicDhomhnaill/ÚiDhoctairtigh
ST TERESA’S rallied in injury time to ensure they claimed a point in their 2-13-1-16 draw with St Comgall’s in the opening round of the OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship at Pairc MhicDhomhnaill/ÚiDhoctairtigh on Wednesday evening.
It was a clash that saw last season’s Intermediate runners-up host the winners of the Junior Championship with St Comgall’s hoping to make a mark on their return to the Intermediate scene.
St Teresa’s made a lightning start with Anton Taylor claiming a two-pointer within the opening 60-seconds, he popped over the second score of the game and Eoghan Hamill perfectly lined up a further point for the hosts.
Miles Devine got St Comgalls off the score with a point from a tight angle and that was the catalyst for their first purple patch that saw them claim a further five scores unanswered.
A converted free from Ryan Clarke followed and Ruairi Griffin then fisted over to reduce the deficit to the minimum.
The Antrim town outfit levelled when Tom Patchett swivelled and shot over and after St Teresa’s were caught with a two-man infringement, Patchett kicked the resulting free to edge his side ahead.
Devine doubled his tally in the aftermath to double Comgall’s advantage (0-6-0-04), however quickfire points from Niall McCann and Ryan Mallon drew the hosts level.
St Comgalls regained the lead when Ruairi Griffin doubled his tally for the half and they would push the lead to three by the 20th minute following a sensational Michael McCabe attempt that curled over at the near post and a converted Ryan Clarke free.
A much needed two-pointer from Sean Maguire narrowed the deficit and after Paul Johnston was felled John Mallon restored parity again.
Both sides traded further points before the break with McCabe conjuring another angled point and Anton Taylor replying with the last kick of the half to ensure the sides were tied at 0-10 apiece.
Like the opening half, St Teresa’s made a fast start and lead for the second time through a Pierce O’Rawe score from inside the arc, things got better when Sean Maguire played the ball to Taylor and he slipped a pass into the path of Eoghan Hamill to steer home the opening goal of the evening and make it 1-11-0-10.
There was a sense of deja vu when St Comgalls capitalised on a malfunction from Mark Smalls 36th minute kick-out and Tom Patchett went for placement after being slipped through- finding the bottom corner.
A two-pointed James McCabe free put his side back in the driving seat and McCabe then landed a 45’ after Small did well to divert Ryan Clarke’s low shot around the post.
Midway through the half a fisted Griffin point stretched the lead and a second 45’ of the half from James McCabe had St Comgall’s well placed for victory by the 52nd minute.
The hosts were in a spot of bother and without a score since Hamill’s early second half goal, but the ever reliable Anton Taylor ended a 20-minute scoreless period with his fourth score of the night.
St Comgall’s re-established their four-point lead when McCabe fed Tom Patchett and he sold two dummies before popping the ball over to give his side a 1-16-1-12 lead with minutes remaining.
It was an advantage they would hold until two minutes into added time when St Teresa’s set-up a grandstand finish.
They won a free within distance of the posts and after St Comgall’s concentration lapsed, Niall McCann rocketed his first time free to the net to make it 1-16-2-12.
St Teresa’s immediately sought a leveller at the very least and when Ryan Mallon picked out substitute Paul McGoldrick in space, McGoldrick opted for a fisted point to square the game up.
Neither side were able to claim a winning score in the dying embers as they settled for a point apiece at the conclusion.
ST TERESA’S: M Small, P Glennon, P Johnston, A Dugan, C O’Rawe, E Connolly, R Mallon (0-1), C McGoldrick, P O’Rawe (0-1), J Mallon (0-1f), S Maguire (1×0-2pt), D McCann, E Hamill (1-1), N McCann (1-1), A Taylor (0-5, 1×0-2pt). Subs: P McGoldrick (0-1) for P Glennon (24), P Maguire for E Hamill (57).
ST COMGALL’S: M Emery, S Og Gribbon, E Lynott, S HInfey, D Murdock, J McCabe (0-4, 1×0-2ptf, 0-2 45’), M McCabe (0-2), L Higgins, J Henry, R Griffin (0-3), M Devine (0-2), A McGaw, T Patchett (1-03, 0-1f), L Phinn, R Clarke (0-2, 0-1f). Subs: L McAleer for D Murdock (51), A McHugh for A McGaw (57).
REFEREE: Kevin Parke (Naomh Eanna)
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW