South West Antrim Laverty Shield Final
All Saints 2-10 Dunloy 0-12
Wednesday 22 October
Brendan McTaggart reports from Ballymena
A strong second half performance from All Saints proved to be the decisive factor as they overturned a three point half time deficit to win the Laverty Shield. Dunloy were well worthy of their three point half time lead and probably should have been further ahead. They were denied on numerous occasions by All Saints ‘keeper Alex Crawford. The Ballymena side regrouped at the interval and made the Cuchullains pay for passing up on those chances.
Fiontan Bradley’s stock in the GAA world continues to soar as he put in an excellent performance for the All Saints. He finished with 1-5 and had a hand in the second goal also – that coming from Eddie Smyth and came at a time when Dunloy were gathering some momentum at the other end of the pitch.
Donnach Laverty had an excellent game for Dunloy, causing the All Saints defence plenty of problems with his movement and direct play while Emmett McKendry and Jay McAlonan were always a threat. McKendry moving further out the field in the second half proving to be a massive factor as Dunloy looked to turn the tide and momentum the Ballymena men had gathered.
Anthony Hampson was Dunloy’s major threat, back playing for the first time since being in a major car accident early this year, Hampson landed two points and was a creative force for the Cuchullains.
The home side were excellent throughout the second half however and could have had further goals. The Cuchullains produced a number of last gasp blocks, namely Paudraig McColgan denying Eddie Smyth while Matthew McCamphill put on a goal keeping clinic.
Dunloy were denied majors in the second half with Donnach Laverty’s long range free coming back off the crossbar while Anthony Hampson’s effort was partially blocked before Crawford dived at full length to deny him.
As well as Bradley and Smyth, Sean O’Brien also shone while Conan McKeown and Matthew Watt were excellent. Their ability to break lines and pick passes to runners from deep was telling in the second half.
Dunloy looked for majors at the end of the game Hampson going close in injury time but All Saints held them out to run out four point winners.
TEAMS
ALL SAINTS: Alex Crawford; Leo Wright, Finn Connon, Seamus Anderson; Callum King, Robert Crooks, Matthew Watt; Sean O’Brien, Patrick Murphy; Jacub Kaczmarek, Jack Patterson, Shane McQuillan; Conan McKeown, Eddie Smyth, Fiontan Bradley
Subs: Conall Boyd for S McQuillan (47)
Scorers: F Bradley 1-5 (3f); E Smyth 1-1; C McKeown 0-2; J Kaczmarek 0-1; S O’Brien 0-1
DUNLOY: Matthew McCamphill; Michael Johnston, Joseph Doherty, Paudraig McColgan; Joel Dillon, Ryan McClements, Ruairi Blaney; Aaron Doherty, Damian Kinsella; Ronan Black, Donnach Laverty, Seamus McMullan; Emmett McKendry, Anthony Hampson, Jay McAlonan
Subs: James McGarry for R Black (40); John McQuillan for R Blaney (43); John Ferguson for S McMullan (43)
Scorers: D Laverty 0-4 (3f); A Hampson 0-2; J McQuillan 0-2; J McAlonan 0-1; E McKendry 0-1; D Kinsella 0-1; J Dillon 0-1
Referee: Ronan Rocks (Bellaghy)
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