OB CONSTRUCTION 1FC Group 2
Naomh Comhghall 1-18 Naomh Eanna 2-19
St. Enda’s of Glengormley went into this OB CONSTRUCTION IFC Group 2 opener against Naomh Comhghall of Antrim as the firmest of favourites and eventually obtained the result that they had set out to achieve, but only after a mighty scare from the Antrim town side.
Naomh Comhghall took the game to the division 2 league winner’s right from the throw in with Torin Hodkinson hitting a 2pointer inside the opening minute and Ryan Clarke converting a free to put them 0-3 to 0-0 ahead by the 4th minute.
The home side were playing with great pace and intensity and when Aaran McGaw palmed the ball to the net from close range following a lung busting run from James McCabe, the Hightown side looked in trouble.
Two more converted frees from the sweet striking Torin Hodkinson had Naomh Comhghall 8 points ahead and seemingly in dreamland and Naomh Eanna looked in serious trouble but they slowly got a grip on proceedings and showed just why they are league champions.
Ruairi Griffin’s driving runs caused plenty of problems for Naomh Eanna
Sean McBride got them of the mark with a point in the 11th minute and points from Stephen O’Connor, Sean Neilan and a splendid 2 pointer from Padraig O’Hare had the gap down to three by the 16th minute.
It was the Glengormley men who were now controlling matters as they got to grips with Naomh Comhghall’s kick-out strategy as O’Hare fired over again and when Conan Lyttle struck a first time ground shot, via an upright to the net, they were ahead for the first time.
SeanMcCullagh added a point to move the visitors 2 ahead but Naomh Comhghall responded through a Ryan Clarke free and another from play from the excellent Ruairi Griffin to level matters with four minutes remaining to the break.
The visitors edged ahead for the second time when Sean McCullagh split the posts and then struck a decisive blow when Sean Neilan finished to the net from close range after his initial effort had come back of an upright.
Team captain, Stephen O’Connor, who was having an increasing influence on proceedings, added a couple of points and when Ruairi Griffins effort came back of an up right at the other end, fate seemed to have turned its back on the Antrim town men with referee Paul McNally calling for the ball and the visitors six ahead.
Naomh Comhghall returned to the field for the second half with renewed determination and vigour as Michael McCabe hit the opening point and Odhran Eastwood and Torin Hodkinson exchanged further points before another Hodkinson effort saw the umpire raise another Orange flag.
Sean McCullagh had a good game for St. End’s but retired with what looked a serious shoulder injury
Ruairi Griffin was causing plenty of problems for the opposition and he raced forward again to split the uprights and cut the gap to two by the 12th minute as the Naomh Comhghall support found its voice.
It was mouth-watering end to end entertainment as Eastwood replied for St. Enda’s to move them three ahead once more but once again the sweet striking Hodkinson struck from distance and his 2 pointer had it back to the minimum again.
His opposite number on the Naomh Eanna side, O’Connor responded with an Orange flag of his own with Hodkinson replying once again, this time for a single point and at the other end Michael McCabe produced a superb block with his face, the Naomh Comhghall number seven had prevented what looked a certain goal but had to be replaced for his pains.
There was no let up from either side with Ryan Clarke and Miles Devine pointing for the ‘Town’ to leave it all square again with 6 minutes of normal time remaining but Naomh Eanna once again found a response.
Stephen O’Connor kicked two in reply at the other end, his second going over via the cross-bar with Aaran McHugh replying for the home side and it was back to a single score again.
A long range effort from Caolan O’Loan sailed just wide of the upright as Naomh Comhghall threw their last dice and it was St. Enda’s who kicked the final two points of the game through Sean McBride and Odhran Eastwood to leave them four to the good at the final whistle.
A good win in the end for the league winners but the four point margin slightly flatters them and doesn’t fully do justice to an excellent Naomh Comhghall side who gave it everything and certainly played their part in making this an excellent contest.
Sean Neilan finishes from close range for a St. Enda’s goal
Naomh Comhghall: 1 Caolan Mc Known 2 Shane Og Gribbon 3 Iarlaith McKeatin 4 Dannan OHara 5 Rauiri Griffin 6 Cathal Donnelly 7 Micheal Mc Cabe 8 James Mc Cabe 9 Louis Higgins 10 Aaron Mc Gaw 11 Torín Hodkinson 12 Leo Mc Aleer 13 Dylan Murdock 14 Miles Devine 15 Ryan Clarke
Subs: Eoin Lynot for Dannan Ohara Caolán O’loan for Aaron Mc Gaw (Ht) Micheal Mc Cabe for Aaron Mc Hugh
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 Padraig O’Hare, 9 Sean McCullagh, 10 Zac Kyle, 11 Stephen O’Connor, 12 Mickey Morgan, 15 Odhran Eastwood, 14 Fionn Nagle, 13 Sean Neilan
Subs: Deaglan MacDiarmid, Michael McKenna, Ronan Kalla
Referee: Paul McNally (Creggan)
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