Antrim Football League Division 2

St. Enda’s 3-16 Davitt’s 0-11

St. Enda’s delivered a commanding performance to secure a convincing victory over Davitt’s in their Antrim Football League Division 2 clash on Friday evening. Played in blustery conditions at Hightown, the home side fully utilized a strong first-half breeze to build an unassailable lead that a spirited Davitt’s side simply could not overturn

The opening fifteen minutes saw Davitt’s work hard to hold their own against a stiff breeze, but St. Enda’s methodical attack soon began to wear them down. The home side opened their account early with a pointed free from Conor Eastwood. This was quickly followed by a well-worked team score finished by midfielder Padhraig O’Hare.

The Hightown men extended their advantage on the eight-minute mark when Michael McKenna landed a brilliant two-pointer from play. Sustained pressure yielded further points from Odhrán Eastwood in a scramble and a sharp strike from half-back Sean McBride.

The turning point of the half arrived at the fifteen-minute mark when a flowing St. Enda’s move was emphatically finished to the net by full-forward Darragh Rooney. Odhrán Eastwood followed up with a difficult point under heavy pressure to widen the gap.

Davitt’s finally found the target at the 25-minute mark. With standard avenues closed, goalkeeper Aaron Slane stepped up to launch a massive, long-range two-point free through the wind. However, St. Enda’s instantly cancelled it out when midfielder Sean Murray split the posts with a long-range two-pointer of his own.

The final ten minutes of the half belonged entirely to St. Enda’s as they ruthlessly put the game to bed. Conor Eastwood struck for two goals in the space of two minutes—the first from open play, and the second capping off another excellent team move. A fisted point from Sean McBride just before the whistle left the halftime score at a daunting 3-09 to 0-03.

Armed with the wind advantage after the turnaround, Davitt’s faced a massive uphill battle. St. Enda’s struck first again, with Darragh Rooney pointing two and a half minutes into the half.

Davitt’s began to apply heavy pressure, but they were repeatedly thwarted by St. Enda’s goalkeeper Owen Kennedy, who produced a brilliant blind save in the 37th minute to deny a certain goal.

At the other end, Davitt’s keeper Aaron Slane continued to be his team’s primary offensive weapon from dead balls, reducing the deficit with two quick frees. He added another spectacular two-point free in the 47th minute, but St. Enda’s managed the game beautifully. Former county star Odhrán Eastwood kept the scoreboard ticking over for the home side, landing a point from play and two composed frees to keep Davitt’s at arm’s length.

A slick team point finished by Padhraig O’Hare highlighted St. Enda’s continuing efficiency in possession. While Davitt’s kept fighting—culminating in another key save from Owen Kennedy under heavy pressure and a final two-point free from Aaron Slane on the stroke of full-time—the damage had well and truly been done in the first half.

While the second half was a much more evenly contested affair, St. Enda’s clinical 10-minute blitz before halftime proved decisive. Their ability to maximize the wind advantage, combined with a resolute defensive display anchored by Owen Kennedy in the second half, ensured a comfortable and well-deserved two points in Division 2.

St. Enda’s Starting XV: The St. Enda’s starting lineup, from numbers one through fifteen, featured Owen Kennedy in goal, followed by Cillian Browne, Diarmuid McNulty, Eoghan O’Hare, Conan Lyttle, James McAuley, Sean McBride, Sean Murray, Padhraig O’Hare, Zac Kyle, Michael McKenna, Mickey Morgan, Conor Eastwood, Darragh Rooney, and Odhrán Eastwood.

Davitt’s Starting XV: The Davitt’s starting lineup, from numbers one through fifteen, consisted of Aaron Slane in goal, followed by Sean Lindberg, Caoimhin Rainey, Jack Scally, James Lindsay, Anthony Hargan, Deaglan Mooney, Anthony Rowntree, Michael Connolly, Paul Mc Laughlin, Sean Og O’Neill, Brady Maguire, Conor John Sullivan, Oskar Deevy Persson, and Caomhan Slane.

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