Antrim Football League Division 2

Glenavy 1-11 St Enda’s 1-19

In a highly anticipated Antrim Division 2 clash between two unbeaten sides, St Enda’s ultimately proved too strong for Glenavy, pulling away in the second half to secure a 1-19 to 1-11 victory. The match was preceded by a respectfully observed minute’s silence for the former St Enda’s stalwart Eamon Prenter who died recetly.

The St Enda’s and Glenavy teams stand for a minute’s silence before the game in memory of former St Enda’s stalwart Eamon Prenter who died recently

While the first half was a tightly contested, point-for-point battle, the second half saw the momentum shift decisively. The return of Odhran Eastwood to the St Enda’s ranks after a couple of years’ absence has been a massive boost to the Glengormley men this season, and the former county star delivered a masterclass in forward play. Conversely, a severe head injury to Glenavy’s talisman Paddy Gallagher early in the second half served as the game’s undeniable turning point, significantly blunting the Glenavy challenge.

St Enda’s started brightly, with captain Stephen O’Connor opening the scoring just 90 seconds in. The returning Odhran Eastwood immediately made his presence felt, knocking over four consecutive points (three from play, one free) inside the first ten minutes to give his side a commanding early rhythm.

Glenavy, however, refused to be cowed. Fiontan O’Boyle got them off the mark on 12 minutes, followed swiftly by a Darragh de Brún free and a fine score under pressure from Michael Morgan. On the 15-minute mark, a brilliantly worked team move was finished to the net by O’Boyle, giving Glenavy a vital boost.

The game’s frantic pace continued. St Enda’s responded just three minutes later with a superb individual goal of their own from Fionn Nagle. Glenavy’s Finn Jack Shannon then electrified the crowd with a phenomenal long-range two-pointer. Both goalkeepers were called into action, with St Enda’s Owen Kennedy pulling off a brilliant point-blank save on 27 minutes to keep his team in touch.

Following late points from Sean Murray and Eastwood for St Enda’s, and Morgan and de Brún for Glenavy, the teams headed into the break with virtually nothing between them.

Half-Time Score: Glenavy 1-08 | St Enda’s 1-07

St Enda’s burst out of the gates in the second half, with O’Connor equalizing within the opening minute.

The complexion of the game changed drastically on 6 minutes. Glenavy’s star man and captain, Paddy Gallagher, sustained a bad head injury and was forced off the pitch, replaced by Chris Grant. The loss of Gallagher disrupted Glenavy’s shape and momentum, and St Enda’s ruthlessly capitalized.

Eastwood continued his scoring clinic with back-to-back frees, while the St Enda’s defense tightened their grip. St Enda’s began to spread the wealth, with well-worked team points finished by James McAuley and Sean McBride.

Glenavy fought hard to stay in the game, with Morgan and de Brún adding to their tallies, and their goalkeeper Matthew Lawlor producing a stunning point-blank save on 21 minutes to deny a certain goal. However, St Enda’s were simply finding scores easier to come by as Fionn Nagle and McBride added points from play, before a massive two-pointer from play on 27 minutes effectively ended the contest.

Stephen O’Connor capped off a stellar performance with two late points, before Glenavy’s Finn Jack Shannon converted a final free to close out the game

St Enda’s shade this one and lay down a serious marker for the rest of the year. With Odhran Eastwood back and firing, and a squad capable of racking up 1-19, they will be very difficult to stop in the race for the league title.

For Glenavy, there are positives to take from a fantastic first-half performance, but they will rue some missed shooting opportunities that could have kept the scoreboard closer. Ultimately, the unfortunate loss of Paddy Gallagher to injury was a blow they couldn’t recover from against a team of St Enda’s quality.

• St Enda’s: Odhran Eastwood (0-7), Stephen O’Connor (0-4), Fionn Nagle (1-1), Sean McBride (0-2).
• Glenavy: Michael Morgan (0-4), Fiontan O’Boyle (1-1), Darragh de Brún (0-3), Finn Jack Shannon (0-1, plus one 2-pointer).
• Glenavy: 1. Matthew Lawlor, 2. Ruairi Forester, 3. Darragh Doherty, 4. Jonathan Phillips, 5. Odhran Arthurs, 6. Conor Hamill, 7. Padhraic McKevitt, 8. Patrick Gallagher, 9. Ciaran Loney, 10. James Monaghan, 11. Darragh Armstrong, 12. Finn Jack Shannon, 13. Michael Morgan, 14. Darragh de Brún, 15. Fiontan O’Boyle.
• St Enda’s: 1. Owen Kennedy, 2. Cillian Browne, 3. Diarmuid McNulty, 4. Eoghan O’Hare, 5. Conan Lyttle, 6. James McAuley, 7. Sean McBride, 8. Sean Murray, 9. Padraig O’Hare, 10. Zac Kyle, 11. Stephen O’Connor, 12. Fionn Nagle, 13. Odhran Eastwood, 14. Darragh Rooney, 15. Ronan Kalla.

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