Senior Football League
Division One
All Saints 1-13 Dunloy 0-17
Wednesday 6 May
Brendan McTaggart reports from Quinn Park, Ballymena
Dunloy recorded their second league victory of the year on Wednesday evening as they produced a smash and grab win over All Saints. Leading by four with a little over 11 minutes left, the Cuchullains had to withstand a barrage of attacks from the Ballymena men and when Cal O’Brien tied the scores by splitting the uprights for his second of the evening, it looked like there was only going to be one winner.
Dunloy managed to break free from the resulting kickout and Jack Martin converted the winning score with what was the last action of the contest.
The Saints weren’t happy coming off the pitch and you can understand why. The home side were dominant in those closing stages and should have put the game to bed but they switched off for the last kick out of the game and Dunloy took full advantage.
Despite Dunloy opening the scoring with Tom McFerran’s first of seven points, it was the home side who started brightly. Brendan McDonnell and O’Brien were excellent in attack while Connell Lemon, Peter McNicholl and Peter McReynolds movement was always giving them an option. McDonnell fired over a brace of scores and while Dunloy defender James Scally tied the scores, the Ballymena men were giving the Dunloy defence a torrid time. Sean McVeigh popped up to score the first two pointer of the game and and McDonnell converted his second free of the match soon after.
The only goal of the game came in the 13th minute, coming at the end of a patient move before McDonnell provided the injection of pace to get the yard needed in the danger area and gave the Saints a 1-5 to 0-2 lead.
The home side wouldn’t register another score for fully 15 minutes however as Dunloy began to find their feet. Three points in as many minutes from Nigel Elliott, Jack Martin and McFerran left McDonnell’s major the only score between the sides but a brace of frees from Eoghan ‘Corkery’ McGrath brought the visitors to Quinn Park to within one point going in to the final 10 minutes of the half.
McDonnell took his tally to 1-4 for the half with his third free of the game but a brilliant two pointer from McFerran had the sides all square at the short whistle.
On reflection, the sides being tied at the interval was a fair reflection on that opening 30 minutes. All Saints started superbly but when Dunloy began to win ball in the middle third, they showed how devastating their attack can be.
The Cuchullains started the second half on top and had opened a four point lead inside the opening eight minutes of the half – scores coming from McFerran and McGrath before McFerran added his second two pointer of the game and take his personal tally to 0-7.
The Ballymena men began to settle into the second half with Lemon and O’Brien splitting the uprights in response to scores from McGrath and Ryan McGarry as the Cuchullians maintained that four point lead going into the final quarter.
The home side found another gear however with substitute Ronan McKillop playing a pivotal role. He would score three points in a little over six minutes with Lemon adding his second of the night and while Nigel Elliott replied for the Cuchullains, the Dunloy lead was cut to the minimum going into the final minute of the 60.
As injury time was announced, All Saints were on the prowl once again. They looked for a way into the Dunloy defence and O’Brien provided the composure when required to tie the scores.
There looked like there would only be one winner at that point but Dunloy somehow managed to break. Chrissy McMahon’s kickout finding Donnacha Laverty free in the middle third and the young Dunloy forward began the attack. Two passes later, the ball was fed to Jack Martin and he split the uprights to score his second of the match and effectively hit the match winning point.
All Saints will be hoping to get back to winning ways next Wednesday when they host Cargin while Dunloy will welcome St Paul’s to Pearse Park on the same evening.
TEAMS
ALL SAINTS: Ryan Stewart; Oliver O’Rawe, Michael Read, Ryan Thom; Cathal Metrusty, Connell Lemon, Matthew Downey; Emmet Killough, Peter McNicholl; Harry Connon, Cal O’Brien, Peter McReynolds; Sean McVeigh, Brendan McDonnell, Darach Bradley
Subs: Joe Rafferty for R Thom (HT), Sean McDermott for M Downey (HT), James Gillan for S McVeigh (38), Ronan McKillop for D Bradley (38)
Scorers: B McDonnell 1-4 (3fs), R McKillop 0-3, S McVeigh 0-2 (1tp), C O’Brien 0-2, C Lemon 0-2
DUNLOY: Chrissy McMahon; Michael Traynor, Sean Og Blaney; James Scally, Aaron Crawford, Conor Kinsella; Ryan McGarry, Ciaran McQuillan; Jack Martin, Tom McFerran, Aodhan McGarry; Eoghan McGrath, Nigel Elliott, Karl Fitzpatrick
Subs: Donnacha Laverty for J Scally (15), Emmet McKendry for K Fitzpatrick (54)
Scorers: T McFerran 0-7 (2tp), E McGrath 0-4 (2fs), N Elliott 0-2, J Martin 0-2, J Scally 0-1, R McGarry 0-1
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
To see more of Brendan’s photos from the game, follow the link below….
https://myalbum.com/album/m9RNasqgxhXN7t/?invite=2636025c-ab29-4267-b8e1-d2233705e2f7