ACFL Division 1
All Saints 0-12 St. Gall’s 2-13
St. Gall’s took the honours in the proverbial game of two halves when they overcame the challenge of All Saints in Ballymena on Sunday.
Shaun O’Callaghan pulled up with an injury to be replaced by Harry Connon after only 9 minutes and with a strong wind at their backs the Milltown Row side looked to have it wrapped up at the interval when they led 2-10 to 0-3 and that lead could have been greater had it not been for three splendid saves from keeper, Ryan Stewart.
When All Saints kicked the first five scores of the second half, including two 2 pointers from James McDonnell to close the gap to five with only 9 minutes gone it looked like the home side were on their way to a remarkable comeback but they failed to sustain that early commitment.
All Saints Patrick Ferris comes under pressure from Liam Lynn
St. Gall’s got to grips with that early onslaught and began to play the possession game to great effect, helped in no small way by the failure of their host to push up and execute a high press.
All Saints did have a great opportunity to close the gap further with 7 minutes remaining but Chris Kerr got down to save James McDonnell’s spot kick and effectively end the game as a contest.
Both sides went into this opening game of the season minus a handful of players but still managed to serve up a descent game of football with St. Gall’s taking full advantage of the strong breeze that blew from the pavilion end in the first half.
The Ballymena side coped well during the opening exchanges and trailed by only two after 18 minutes with Daniel Quinn with a 2 point free and Dubhaltach MacLiam on target for the visitors before Conall Lemon opened the home side’s account with a good point.
Indeed the visitors were thankful to veteran keeper, Chris Kerr who pulled off a good save to deny Sean McVeigh and at the other end Ryan Stewart made an even better stop at the expense of a Niall Fallon point.
Aaron Mackle gets out in front of Benny McDonnell to claim possession
Points from Patrick Ferris and a Benny McDonnell free kept the home side in touch but St. Gall’s began to take control as the impressive Daniel Quinn struck three on the bounce, one of them a 2 pointer.
Stewart was doing all in his power to keep his side in the game as he pulled off another spectacular save but the big Ballymena keeper fluffed a kick-out and Padraig O’Muirigh placed his shot left and low to the corner.
Stewart denied the same player at the expense of a point before Daniel Quinn got through for his side’s second goal to leave St. Gall’s 13 in front at the break.
It was going to take something special to get All Saints back into contention in the second half and for a period it looked like materialising as the splendid James McDonnell raised 2 Orange flags and another single and Patrick Ferris and Benny McDonnell added points to take their total to seven for the half by the 9th minute.
It would be as close as they got however as Manus McCrossan fisted over at the other end and Daniel Quinn added another before Connell Lemon replied with a point for a home side who were sitting much too deep and finding it difficult to get their hands on the ball.
Chris Kerr got down to deny James McDonnell from the penalty spot to banish any hopes of an All Saints recovery as Aodhan Gallagher, Martin Murray, Liam Lynn and Daniel Quinn maintained possession as the Milltown men recorded an opening day win.
All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Oliver O’Rawe, 3 James McDonnell, 4 James Gillan, 5 Patrick Ferris, 6 Michael Read, 8 Peter McNicholl, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Sean O’Brien, 11 Shaun O’Callaghan, 12 Conall Lemon, 13 Brendan McDonnell, 14 Sean McVeigh, 15 Darach Bradley.
Subs: Harry Connon for Shaun O’Callaghan, Charlie Metrustry for Harry Connon
St. Gall’s: 1 Chris Kerr, 2 Christopher Hale, 3 Aidan McDonagh, 4 Eoghan McCurdy, 5 Conaill Murray, 6 Dubhaltach MacLiam, 7 Liam Lynn, 8 Aodhan Gallagher, 9 Manus McCrossan, 10 Aaron Mackle, 11 Daniel Quinn, 12 Martin Murray, 13 Niall Fallon, 14 Callum Walsh, 15 Padraig O’Muirigh Jnr.
Subs: Ethan Walsh, Barra McCaffrey, Gerard O’Neill
Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)
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