Antrim ACFL Division 1
St Mary’s Aghagallon 5-15 Naomh Pól 2-05
Report and photos by Brian Hamill
St Mary’s Aghagallon sent out a clear statement of intent in the ACFL Division 1 on Wednesday evening, dismantling a shell-shocked St Paul’s side with a ruthless display of attacking football at Pairc Na nGael. The home side’s ability to find the net at crucial intervals proved the difference, as they finished with a massive nineteen point winning margin.
From the throw-in, Aghagallon looked sharp, utilizing the wide expanses of their home turf. Ruairi McCann was the orchestrator-in-chief, finishing the day with an incredible 2-01. While his finishing was exemplary, it was his ability to link play with onrushing forwards and midfielders that caused the Belfast men endless headaches.
Aghagallon’s goal-scoring spree was spread across the forward line. Jack Lenehan showed his engine by getting forward from midfield to raise a green flag, while Gareth Magee, Ruairí McCann and Tommy Mallon also found the net to put the game out of reach. Enda McCartan, Marc McAfee, Jamie Lamont and Jack Lenehan pulled the strings from the ‘forty,’ in a dominant middle-third performance.
St Paul’s did find some joy through Conall Duffy, who managed to breach the Aghagallon goal twice, but these scores proved to be mere consolidations against the home side. Brendan McMorrow fought a lonely battle in the full-forward line, hitting five points, but the supply line was frequently cut off by impressive performances from Cormac Mulholland and Kieran Hamill.
The victory moves Aghagallon further up the Division 1 standings, leaving St Paul’s with plenty of defensive questions to answer before their next outing.
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
TO VIEW MORE OF BRIAN HAMILL’S PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW