IFC Group 2
Gort na Mona 1-15 Glenavy 2-20
Goals from James Gallagher after 7 minutes and another from Fiontan O’Boyle, following a defensive mistake in the 23d minute saw Glenavy lead their hosts, Gort na Mona by 7 at half time in this IFC Group 2 opener at Enright Park on Wednesday night.
Gort na Mona had played second fiddle for the greater part of the opening half but were still in contention thanks to the long distance kicking of Shane Scullion and Tarlach Enright who both raised the orange flag.
Enright accounted for 7 of his sides total in the opening half with visitors Glenavy always in control and James Gallagher added 0-3 to his opening goal with their other goal scorer, Fiontan O’Boyle 0-2, Fergal Henry 0-3, Michael Johnston, Paddy Gallagher and Conor Hamill all raising white.
Gort na Mona needed a good start to the second half but instead it was the Chapel Hill side who exerted their authority again on the restart with James Gallagher 0-2, Fergal Henry 0-2 and Owen Gallagher adding 5 unanswered points by the 9th minute.
Jack Thompson raised Gort na Mona’s first flag of the second half with 11 minutes gone but this was quickly negated by a Fergal Henry fisted point at the other end.
Manus McMullan hit a second point for the men from the Mona Bye-Pass but again St. Joseph’s responded through a Fiontan O’Boyle point and a Fergal Henry free and it looked all over with 9 minutes of normal time remaining.
A fisted goal by the towering Christopher Carson after 23 minutes gave the home crowd something to cheer about and when Tarlach Enright pointed from distance to raise another orange they had closed the gap to eight with five minutes remaining.
It would be as close as they got however with Glenavy replying through a Fergal Henry free and a point from Owen Gallagher with Enright putting the gloss on a fine individual display with his third 2 pointer of the evening.
A great start for Glenavy who move top of Group 2 as St. Teresa’s and Naomh Comhghall played out a draw in their opening game on the Glen Road. Glenavy now meet St. Teresa’s at Chapel Hill on Saturday and a win there would put them in a strong position for qualification.
In the other game in the group, Naomh Comhghall entertain Davitt’s at Dunsilly and will feel they need a win after throwing away a four point lead with only minutes remaining against St. Teresa’s.
Gort na Mona: 1 Jack Ireland, 2 Darren Cahill, 3 Michael Savage, 4 Sean Campbell, 5 Tiarnan Morton, 6 Ciaran Donnelly, 7 Padraig Mulvenna, 8 Caoimhin Magee, 9 Dessie McClean, 20 Jack Thompson, 11 Christopher Carson, 12 Brendan Burns, 13 Shane Scullion, 14 Matthew McConnell, 15 Tarlach Enright
St. Joseph’s: 1 Matthew Lawlor, 2 Timmy Honeyford, 3 Ryan Malley, 4 Johnny Phillips, 5 Pearse O’Neill, 6 Conor Hamill, 20 Ruairi Forester, 8 Ciaran Loney, 9 Michael Johnston, 10 Owen Gallagher, 11 Fiontan O’Boyle, 12 Patrick Gallagher, 13 Finn Shannon, 14 James Gallagher, 15 Fergal Henry
Referee: Richard Leahy
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