ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 1-14-1-15 Portglenone
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Despite trailing 1-12-1-3 less than 10-minutes into the second half, Portglenone battled back and claimed a dramatic 1-15-1-14 victory over a shell-shocked Lámh Dhearg at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.
Jack Davitt’s goal gave the hosts a deserved lead after a largely dominant opening 40-minutes, but the Ports utilised their shooting from range and landed five two-pointers scores in the remainder of the game, the last two coming in added time to seal a fantastic comeback win and make it back-to-back victories.
Lámh Dhearg hit the front when Ryan Murray launched a free direct and into the path of brother Conor to steer the ball over.
Murray doubled his account from a converted free and made it three from three attempts after Niall McGarry fed him, and the former Antrim forward jinked into a shooting position and popped over.
The Hannahstown side extended their advantage when Terry McCrudden took a lay-off from Adam Murray and swung over.
Portglenone showed their attacking threat and could count themselves unfortunate when a fiercely struck shot from Sean Byrne crashed off the underside of the crossbar and out.
Just before the midway point in the opening half Michael Kelly clipped a high shot over the bar to get his side up and running.
A high angled attempt from Terry McCrudden dropped over at the near post and Jack Davitt burst forward and popped over as Lámh Dhearg opened up a 0-6-0-1 lead.
Aidan McAleese grabbed his sides second score from a free and just over 60-seconds later the reduced arrears to the bare minimum with the games opening goal.
After the resulting kick out from McAleese’s score was broken and won by Conor McGhee the visitors streamed forward with patience until the ball was slipped into the path of Paddy Graffin to slam home,
In response, Mark Finnegan converted a straight forward free, Conor Murray swept over his fourth of the half and fourth from play, and on the stroke of the break – Adam Murray kicked a 45’ over the bar as the hosts held a 0-9-1-2 lead at halfway.
Early in the second half a Mark Finnegan two-pointed free attempt dropped short and was partially parried by Kevin Mullan, with Conor Murray on hand to hook the ball over.
At the other end Ronan Kelly got his side up and running from a converted free, but it was Lámh Dhearg who continued to show their efficiency.
Jack Davitt doubled his account for the afternoon with a high shot that bounced over, Ryan Murray then carried the ball forward and shot over and when Kevin Mullan’s resulting kick-out was gathered by Terry McCrudden- he strode forward and slipped a simple pass to Jack Davitt to steer home and make it 1-12-1-3.
Points were traded through Ronan Kelly and Ryan Murray (free) before the opening two-pointed score arrived courtesy of the boot of Ronan Kelly to give his side a much needed boost with little under a quarter of an hour remaining.
Just over 60-seconds later Michael Hagan guided a high shot over the bar and suddenly the Lámhs advantage had reduced by a third.
A second point of the game from Lámhs goalscorer Davitt had briefly halted the Ports momentum, though the visitors regained it and successive two-pointed frees from Aidan McAleese within a three-minute period saw their deficit half further (1-14-1-11).
It was a backs to the wall job for the Lámhs, they continued to hold their three-point advantage until injury time when the pressure finally told,
A third two-pointer from Aidan McAleese and his first from play ensured just a point separated the sides and when they turned over the resulting kick out the intention was clear to get another which arrived through Ronan Kelly to cap a stunning turnaround, having been 1-12-1-3 down on the 38th minute.
There was still time for Lámh Dhearg to respond but Portglenone stood firm and saw out the remaining time to take the two-points and victory from the jaws of defeat.
LÁMH DHEARG: J Finucane, N McGarry, D Smyth, R Diamond, B Rice, D Lynch, D Martin, P FItzsimons, C Boyd, R Murray (0-2, 0-1f), T McCrudden (0-2), M Finnegan (0-1), A Murray, C Murray (0-5, 0-1f), J Davitt (1-3). SUBS: J Quinn for M Finnegan (30), D Mulholland for R Diamond (54).
PORTGLENONE: K Mullan, R Delargy, D McNicholl, R Convery, C McGhee, M Kelly (0-1), K O’Kane, A McAleese (0-7, 1×0-2pt, 2×0-2ptf,0-1f), S Kelly, D McAleese, P Graffin (1-0), R Kelly (0-4, 1×0-2pt, 0-1f), M Hagan, (0-1), S Byrne. SUBS: R Hagan for K O’Kane (19), R Moore for D McNicholl (47),
REFEREE: Collie Thompson (St JOHNS)
