ACFL Division 2A
St Teresa’s 1-20-2-19 Glenavy
Kevin Herron reports from St Teresa’s
Fiontan Boyle’s last gasp goal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Glenavy in their thrilling 2-19-1-20 win over St Teresa’s on the Glen Road on Sunday afternoon.
Glenavy didn’t fall behind in the game until the dying embers when Paul Johnston’s point looked to have snatched a comeback win for the hosts.
However, Boyle carried the ball forward and despite being fouled en route towards the target he continued on and saw the goal open up, slotting home to seal victory.
It was Glenavy who were quickest off the mark and in front inside of a minute through a James Monaghan point, with Niall McCann restoring parity a few minutes later.
The games opening goal came in the 6th minute with Monaghan to the fore again, touching the ball home past Mark Small.
Niall McCann doubled his account from a 45’ but his side were very much on the back foot in the aftermath,
Referee Ritchie Leahy penalised Eoin Connolly for overcarrying and that allowed Glenavy goalkeeper Luke Devereux the opportunity to come forward and kick a two-pointed free.
The visitors made the most of their wind advantage in the first period and Leon Lavery added his side’s second two-pointed score, this time from play.
Lavery blasted over a further score after being slipped in by Monaghan, with Niall McCann kicking a two-pointed free in response to keep St Teresa’s in touch (1-6-0-4).
With five minutes to the break Glenavy had moved ahead by double figures. They added two further two-pointers, the first following a patient move before Pearse O’Neill dropped the shot over from outside the arc, Leon Lavery added his second from a tigh angle and Finn Shannon then surged towards goal but saw his shot parried over for a point.
St Teresa’s had a lifeline before the break, Philip Maguire’s free was kept in play by Ronan Hamill and Sean Maguire palmed the loose ball past Devereux and into the net to make it 1-11-1-4.
A further two-pointed free was converted by Niall McCann before the break, but Glenavy responded when Finn Shannon’s high shot from outside the arc dropped between the posts to ensure his side were 1-13-1-6 ahead at the midway point.
It was Glenavy who would extend their lead after the restart courtesy of a third two-pointed score from Leon Lavery, on this occasion from a free.
A straight-forward free from Niall McCann got his side up and running and the hosts ate into the nine-point deficit that Lavery’s free had established.
Darren McCann kicked his sides first two-pointed score from play and two minutes later Niall McCann scored his third of the afternoon and first from play to make it 1-15-1-11.
A further point followed from John Mallon, but St Teresa’s momentum was ended by successive close range frees by Leon Lavery and James Monaghan.
John Mallon increased his personal tally, converting his side’s third two-pointed free of the contest.
A few minutes later Ronan Hamill popped over and by the 51st minute the bare minimum separated the sides as Mallon took a lay-off from Ryan Mallon and split the posts.
The margins widened slightly as James Monaghan surged forward and pointed and he added his second free of the half two minutes later to make it 1-19-1-16.
The hosts came battling back with experienced veteran Philip Maguire scoring his first, John Mallon converted a free to make it a point game again and it stayed the way until the 60th minute when Mallon stroked over a further placed ball to tie the sides level for the first time since the 6th minute.
In a battle of wits St Teresa’s looked to have seized victory a minute into injury time when Paul Johnston calmly fisted the ball over to give his side the lead for the first time.
Luke Devereux’s kick out was won by a team-mate and immediately the visitors charged forward in search of a leveller at the very least.
Fiontan Boyle took up possession and used to pace to drive into a shooting position for a point, he was fouled by Ritchie Leahy allowed the advantage to develop and Boyle found himself bearing down on goal and he showed great composure to steer a low shot beyond Mark Small and into the corner to dramatically make it 2-19-1-20.
There wasn’t enough time for St Teresa’s to try and hit back for a second time as Boyle’s late strike proved the difference.
ST TERESA’S: M Small, A Dugan, P Johnston (0-1), R Mallon, E Connolly, C O’Rawe, C McGoldrick, D McCann (0-2, 1×0-2pt), P O’Rawe, J Mallon (0-5, 1×0-2ptf, 0-1f), S Maguire (1-0), P Maguire (0-1), R Hamill (0-1), N McCann (0-10, 2×0-2ptf, 1×0-2pt, 0-1f, 0-1 45’).
GLENAVY: L Devereux (0-2, 1×0-2ptf), O de Brun, R Forester, M Fox, F Boyle (1-0), C Hamill, P McKevitt, P Fox, O Arthurs, J Monaghan (1-4, 0-2f), R Phillips, P O’Neill (0-2, 1×0-2pt), L Lavery (0-8, 2×0-2pt, 1×0-2ptf, 0-1f), B Loughran, F Shannon (0-3, 1×0-2pt). SUBS: B McCambridge for O Arthurs (51).
REFEREE: Ritchie Leahy (ST ERGNAT’S, MONEYGLASS)
More photos from the game can be accessed below
https://myalbum.com/album/AjCjb34jcJdodf/?invite=83c79114-6834-48c6-bb93-acf34b4928e6