Antrim Football League Division 1
Dunloy 1-08 Glenravel 1-09
Glenravel secured their first league points of the season in their second outing with victory by the narrowest of margins over county champions Dunloy. The lead was exchanged on no less than six occasions in this low scoring game so it was no surprise that a single point separated the two teams at the end.
Dunloy chose to play with the aid of a very strong breeze in the first half and that seemed to be a good decision as James Scally stroked over a 45 in the opening minutes and that was followed by a lovely 2-pointer from Nigel Elliott to give the home side a three point lead. However Glenravel hit a purple patch with loads of possession in the following ten minute period. A lovely move through Dunloy’s defence put Colla Ward in on goals and he duly obliged to level the scores. Three further points from the visitors in almost as many minutes gave them a three point advantage; Joe Martin (2) and Harry Fyfe the providers. James Scally again came to the rescue for Dunloy with a 2-point free making good use of the wind to his back. A Harry Fyfe free restored Glenravel’s two point lead but in the final minute of the half Nigel Elliott burst on the scene to fire to the roof of the net to send his team into the changing rooms at half time ahead by a single point on a 1-05 to 1-04 scoreline. Dunloy would have been relieved to go in ahead having trailed for most of the half but having only four scores when playing with a strong breeze would have raised alarm bells in their changing rooms.
When the teams took to the field for the second period the wind had all but died much to the delight of the home fans. Still Glenravel wrestled control of the opening exchanges and in minutes eight and nine of the second half they drew level when Aiden O’Donnell popped over from close range after a breach by the home side and Eamon Ward restored Glenravel’s lead from play. O’Donnell added another to put two between them but this jolted Dunloy into action and they would level and re-take the lead with three points in three minutes with Nigel Elliott, Jack Martin and Tom McFerran providing those scores and ten minutes left on the clock.
All to play for. Daniel McQuillan levelled and Aiden O’Donnell again put Glenravel back in the lead as he swivelled and pointed from close range to score what would ultimately be the final score of the game to put Glenravel ahead 1-09 to 1-08. At this stage there were five minutes of ordinary time left and that would be followed by extended injury time of seven minutes due to injuries. Dunloy dominated those closing stages but dogged defensive work from the visitors thwarted them time and again so when referee Cathal McDermott brought the game to a conclusion the men in green and white breathed a sigh of relief at collecting the points of offer.
Dunloy (Cuchullains)
1. Chrissy McMahon, 2. Michael Traynor, 3. Sean Óg Blaney, 4. Cathair McCloskey, 5. Conor Kinsella, 6. Aaron Crawford, 7. Reece Cunning, 8. Ciaran McQuillan, 9. Padraig McGilligan, 10. Aodhan McGarry, 11. Tom McFerran, 12. James Scally, 13. Jack Martin, 14. Nigel Elliott, and 15. Emmett McKendry.
Glenravel (Con Magees)
1. Jude Scullion, 2. Niall Dickson, 3. Sean Higgins, 4. Conor Carey, 5. Daniel McQuillan, 6. Niall Swann, 7. Rian Lennon, 8. Callum Higgins, 9. Conor McQuillan, 10. Eamon Ward, 11. Aiden O’Donnell, 12. Joe Martin, 13. Colla Ward, 14. Harry Fyfe, and 15. Fergus Donaghy.
TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW