Reserve Football Shield Final
Glenavy 2-12 Gort na Mona 1-9
Goals from Finn Shannon in the 22nd minute and another from Micky McCourt leading up to half time were the scores that swung this Reserve Football Shield final at a wet and slippery Dunsilly the way of St. Joseph’s Glenavy.
In a low scoring opening period it took both side some time to find their range in the difficult conditions with Finn Shannon getting the score board flashing with the game’s opening point in the 9th minute and David McKeown firing over the equaliser for the Turf Lodge side, four minutes later.
James Monaghan for Glenavy and Conchuir Clarke for Gort na Mona exchanged further points and Fergal Green edged the Chapel Hill side ahead before Finn Shannon finished a good move to the net in the 22nd minute to move St. Joseph’s four ahead.
Things were starting to liven up as Michael Brady replied with a point at the other end but two points from a Micky McCourt free and a great effort from play from Odhran Arthurs extended the Glenavy lead.
A fine 2Pointer of the ground from the impressive Manus Mullan in the 29th minute closed the gap to three but a great move that started deep in their own half, a minute later saw veteran Micky McCourt finish to the net and put St. Joseph’s in a strong position.
The final score of the half fell to Tiarnan Mort for the men from the Mona Bye-pass and at half time they found themselves trailing by five but there still looked plenty to play for in the second half.
HT 2-5 TO 0-6
Conal Keenan pointed for the Gorts on the restart but Glenavy continued to edge the exchanges and James Monaghan followed up on a great save from Jude Reilly to fire over and extend their lead.
Finn Shannon struck a good long range point and followed with another from a free and when Fergal Green punished another indiscretion to split the posts in the 18th minute it looked a long way back for Gort na Mona.
The West Belfast side were still battling hard however and were rewarded for their efforts as Manus Mullan fired past Gareth Collins for a fine goal with ten minutes still remaining and it looked like game on again.
It would be as close as the Turf Lodge side would get however as Finn Shannon and Manus Mullan exchanged frees before Collins came to Glenavy’s rescue with a good save with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Manus Mullan, who was excellent throughout, converted an injury time free for Gort na Mona but the final score of the game fell the way of Glenavy’s Darragh Armstrong who split the posts from out on the left.
A good game of football played in difficult conditions with both sides giving it everything and that first half double from Shannon and McCourt decisive in the end.
Paddy Fox was excellent at full-back for the Chapel Hill side and McCourt and Shannon were prominent in a good all round Glenavy side.
Manus Mullan impressed for Gort na Mona and Conal Keenan, Michael Brady and Caoimhin Magee were others to catch the eye.
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