ACFL Division 1
Naomh Gall 0-17 — 0-08 St. Paul’s
Naomh Gall maintained their unbeaten run and kept the pressure on league leaders Creggan with a professional nine-point victory over St. Paul’s at Milltown on Wednesday night. Despite missing several key regulars, the Milltown men showed the depth of their panel to pull away in the second half of this ACFL Division 1 encounter.
Clinical Quinn Leads the Way
The standout performer for the hosts was Daniel Quinn, who was in scintillating form. Quinn finished with a personal haul of 0-07, including four dead-eyes from frees, punishing any St. Paul’s indiscretion in the scoring zone. He was ably supported in the full-forward line by Bara McCaffery and Cece Walsh, who notched two points apiece to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Midfield Control
The engine room battle was won by the pairing of Manus McCrossan and Conal Murray, providing a solid platform for the St. Gall’s attack. In a defensive effort that restricted St. Paul’s to just eight points, John McCaffery not only anchored the backline alongside David Ball but also pushed forward to register a fine point of his own.
Impact from the Bench
The strength of the St. Gall’s bench was evident in the closing stages. Cormac Austin made a significant impact upon his introduction, contributing two points—including a well-taken effort—to kill off any hope of a St. Paul’s fightback. Marty Murray and Ethan Walsh also found the range to ensure a comfortable finish for the home side.
Looking Ahead
With this result, St. Gall’s remain neck-and-neck with Creggan at the summit of the table. Their ability to secure a result of this magnitude while missing several starters will be a major plus for the management as the business end of the season approaches.
Naomh Gall: Chris Kerr; Christopher Hale, Aodhan McDonagh, Garrick Adams; John McCaffery (0-1), David Ball, Gerard O’Neill; Manus McCrossan, Conal Murray; Ethan Walsh (0-1), Daniel Quinn (0-7, 4f), Martin Murray (0-2); Bara McCaffery (0-2), Cece Walsh (0-2), Aaron Mackel.
Subs used: Cormac Austin (0-2).