Division 1 relegation play-off
St. James Aldergrove 1-17 All Saints 4-15
All Saints were in danger of becoming a pub quiz statistic when they made the journey to Crumlin for this division 1 relegation play-off. The pub quiz question would probably have read. What team played in a division 1 league final and were relegated in the same year?
In the end Baker Bradley’s All Saints were spared the ignominy of being part of that quiz question as they turned in a strong performance to overcome the brave challenge of a St. James side who finished mid-table themselves and will feel they should not have been in this position.
The Ballymena management rang the positional changes, fielding team captain, Sean O’Callaghan at the edge of the square where he did an excellent marking job on Ronan Hanna with James McDonnell moving to centre half and given the job of containing Seamus McGarry.
The Ballymena side got off to a great start as Patrick Ferris raced through the Aldergrove defence from deep in his own half and despite his initial shot on goal being blocked, he followed to fire the rebound first time to the net after 30 seconds.
Aldergrove kicked a number of wides before Ronan Hanna opened their account from a pointed free in the 2nd minute but the hosts wouldn’t register again until the 19th minute as the visitors took control.
James McDonnell, Paddy McAleer (2frees), Conor Stewart, with a well struck 2 pointer and Ciaran Campbell added unanswered points to move All Saints 8 ahead and it wasn’t looking good for the home side.
A well struck 2 pointer from Christopher McSteen got them going however and as they started to grow in confidence Seamus McGarry pointed a free and followed with an excellent effort from play.
Suddenly the momentum was all with the men in Red as they began to turn over All Saints attacks with alarming regularity and the towering Ryan McCarthy added a great long effort from play before Seamus McGarry guided his ‘45’ between the posts.
Suddenly the gap was down to two and it wasn’t looking good for the Slemish Park side but Kavan Keenan, playing in an attacking role, hit their first point for 13 minutes to get them up and going again.
The visitors attacked again from the kick-out and an astute ball over the top sent Paddy McAleer clear. His initial attempt at goal was parried by Eoin Gough but Ciaran Campbell followed up to first time to the net and leave the Ballymena side a rather flattering six points ahead at the break.
All Saints took a time to emerge from the dressing room at half time but when they did it was soon apparent that whatever was said during the half time talk had the necessary effect.
Benny McDonnell pointed after 20 seconds and as St. James dallied, Kavan Keenan took a quick bounce and go before placing Conor Stewart who blasted past Oisin McGarry after racing clear.
Paddy McAleer followed with a point and suddenly there was 11 between the sides and control was very much back in the hands of the league finalists.
Seamus McGarry, pointed a 6th minute free and followed with another from play after Gerald Mallon had replaced Conor Browning in the St. James side but Benny McDonnell replied immediately with a point at the other end.
The Ballymena side were playing with confidence and attacking at pace and Conor Stewart fired over after 41 minutes to move his side 11 ahead before McGarry raised another Orange flag to keep his sides fading hopes alive.
Those hopes were soon dashed however and again it was an attack where pace played its part with Kavan Keenan getting on the end of an attempted punched point by Conor Stewart to palm home.
Joe Rafferty got his name on the All Saints score-card after a strong run from deep to put the contest out of reach with 11 minutes of normal time remaining but to their credit Aldergrove fought to the end.
Seamus McGarry began a late rally when he converted a close range free and followed with another from a ‘45’ and when he slipped as he attempted to convert another, the ball fell favourably to substitute Glenn Dunham who swivelled and fired past the unsighted Conor Brennan.
McGarry pointed another free before Sean O’Callaghan received a second Yellow to reduce the visitors to 14 and another McGarry conversion had it down to 10 with three minutes of normal time remaining.
All Saints regrouped however with Paddy McAleer moving back to defence and Benny McDonnell and Conor Stewart responded with points at the other end before Ryan McCarthy concluded the scoring with a consolation 2 pointer for the home side.
There was only muted celebrations after the game. The Ballymena side had done enough to get themselves out of a situation they felt they should never have been in.
This was an excellent all round performance from All Saints with everyone playing their part but two men deserve special mention with Emmet Killough and Peter McNicholl giving an exhibition of high fielding and distribution that was the corner stones of this win.
They will play their football in division 1 again next year but spare a thought for St. James Aldergrove. They return to division 2 next year after finishing a very creditable 8th in their league programme.
They found themselves in a 3 way play-off with Sunday’s opponents and Tir na nOg and lost to both but look quite capable of making a quick return to the top grade.
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW