ACFL Division 1 Reserve
All Saints 2-5 St. Gall’s 2-11
An experienced and more physical St. Gall’s proved too good for a youthful All Saints in the opening game of the Division 1 Reserve league at Quinn Park on Friday evening.
The Belfast side with the elements in their favour cruised into an early 1-2 to 0-0 lead by the 11th minute with Niall Fallon and Conor Burke pointing and Niall McCurdy getting forward for their goal.
The visitors continued to dominate with further points from Simon Dowds, Conor Burke and a pointed free from Niall Fallon following a breach.
A young All Saints were battling hard to get their own game together and after kicking a number of wides were finally rewarded when Daniel Henry forced the ball home from close range as half time approached.
The final point of the half belonged to St. Gall’s Anto Healey as the former All Ireland winner split the posts to leave his side 1-6 to 1-0 ahead at the break.
All Saints introduced a number of more experienced players for the second half with Sean McVeigh coming into mid-field and Cal O’Brien and Darrach Bradley joining the action but it was the Milltown side who continued to call the shots.
Anto Healey, Matt Shannon and Simon Dowds added points in the opening six minutes to move them 9 ahead before the battling Archie McGreevey got forward for an All Saints point.
St. Galls responded with a decisive score when Niall McCurdy fired past Jason Givens for his second goal of the evening at the other end and when Niall Fallon added a point it looked all over.
To their credit All Saints battled to the end and Cal O’Brien pointed and followed with a 2 pointer before Healey replied with the visitors final score as he split the posts for the third time with 9 minutes remaining.
Damian Kelly marked his introduction with a fine point for the Ballymena side and Darrach Bradley added a late goal to put a much better look on the final score-line but All Saints never looked like clawing back the St. Gall’s lead.
All Saints: 1, Jason Givens, 2 Matthew Watt, 3 Finn Connon, 4 Paddy Murphy, 5 Oliver O’Rawe, 6 Sean McDermott, 7 Archie McGreevey, 8 Rian Tom, 9 Charlie Metrustry, 10 Sean O’Brien, 11, Michael McCarry, 12 Corey McKillop, 15 Michael Connolly, 14 Daniel Henry, 13 Conan McKeown.
Subs: Damian Kelly, Sean McVeigh, Darrach Bradley, Joseph Rocks, Paidin Mitchell, Michael Read, Cal O’Brien
St. Gall’s: 1 Louisa McCormick, 2 Oisin O’Callaghan, 3 Aidan McDonagh, 4 Eoghan McCurdy, 5 Gerard O’Neill, 6 Ruairi Wilson, 7 Matt Shannon, 8 Conor Burke, 9 Manus McCrossan, 10 Jarlath Mervyn, 11 Michael Hopkins, 12 Odhran Delaney, 13 Niall McCurdy, 14 Niall Fallon, 15 Simon Dowds, 17 Anto Healey
Referee: Francis Neeson (Ahoghill)
RESULTS:
In the other games played in the Division 1 Reserve League last night Cargin defeated neighbours Creggan on a score-line of 4-8 to 1-2 Casements defeated Aghagallon 3-13 to 3-6 and St. Brigid’s defeated Rossa 1-10 to 2-5