IFC Group 2
Naomh Comhghall 1-13 St. Joseph’s 3-18
A Ciaran Loney led St. Joseph’s Glenavy put an end to Naomh Comhghall’s chances of gate crashing the semi-finals of the IFC when they travelled to Antrim and defeated the home side.
Barry Burns’ side were impressive during the opening period and thanks to a Ryan Clare goal and a couple of 2 pointers from Eoin Lynott and Aaron McHugh were well in contention at the interval when they trailed by the minimum.
The game swung decisively in the way of the Chapel Hill side as St. Joseph’s hit 1-2 within 3 minutes to move six ahead and create a gap that Naomh Comhghall never looked like bridging.
It was Naomh Comhghall who got off to the better start at Dunsilly with Miles Devine and James McCabe giving them an early lead before James Gallagher replied with two points for the visitors to tie the contest with 5 minutes on the clock.
Eoin Lynott for the Antrim town men and Eoin Gallagher exchanged further points and Aaron McHugh edged the home side ahead for the third time before the hard working Ciaran Loney pointed to level matters again with 10 minutes gone.
Things were livening up and Matthew Emery in the Antrim goals brought off a good save to deny James Gallagher and Ryan Clarke split the posts at the other end to edge his side ahead once more.
It was end to end stuff as two well matched sides went at it toe to toe as Fergal Henry 0-2 and James Gallagher edged the Chapel Hill side ahead and Miles Devine (f) and Henry with a similar effort exchanged further points.
A well worked goal from Ryan Clarke appear to have handed the initiative back to the home side but instead it was the group leaders who finished the half with a flurry to lead at the break.
James Gallagher, Fergal Henry, Ciaran Loney and Paddy Gallagher struck four unanswered points to leave St. Joseph’s ahead by the minimum as the half time whistle sounded.
HT Naomh Comhghall 1-8 Glenavy 0-12
Naomh Comhghall needed a quick response if they were to get their challenge up and running again as the second half action got underway but instead it was the Chapel Hill side who would increase their lead.
Ciaran Loney pointed after 15 seconds and James Gallagher added another before a good move saw James Gallagher finish to the net with only 3 minutes of the new half gone.
Suddenly it was the strong running of the group winners that was causing serious problems for the home side who replied with an Aaron McHugh point which brought another response from the men in orange.
James Gallagher pointed and Fergal Henry punished a defensive error with Glenavy’s second goal at the end of the third quarter and it was as good as over.
James McCabe did reply from a ‘65’ and Aaron McHugh followed with a 2 pointer with Fergal Henry pointing a 22nd minute free for the visitors.
Dylan Murdock pulled one back for the ‘Town’ but when Fergal Henry got on the end of an excellent build up to fire home St. Joseph’s third goal with five minutes remaining, there would be no way back for the hosts.
The skilful Henry concluded the scoring with a late point and Glenavy must now fancy their chances of going all the way after going through their group unbeaten.
However they are likely to face a tougher semi-final challenge from Sarsfields who secured their place in the semis after a win away to Naomh Padraig in Group 1 yesterday or Moneyglass who can top the group if they secure a victory away to Rasharkin on Sunday evening.
Glenavy will be joined by St. Teresa’s, last year’s beaten finalists, in the semi-finals as a result of Naomh Comhghall’s defeat to Glenavy and things should liven up when an interesting looking semi-final line-up is confirmed