IFC Group 2
St. Mary’s Ahoghill 5-13 St. Joseph’s Glenavy 1-21
St. Mary’s Ahoghill and St. Joseph’s Glenavy produced a thriller at Cloney on Saturday in this Group 1 IFC contest with the result in the balance until late in the game.
In a very even opening half it was St. Mary’s who made the early running and Tom McGlone got on the end of a pass from Colla McDonnell to fire to the net in the opening minute.
Glenavy replied through a Finn Shannon point but a James O’Connell point from play and another from a converted free moved the Cloney men four ahead before Finn Shann responded from a well struck 2 point free.
Eamonn Brady and James O’Connell moved the home side four ahead again and then a terrible mix-up between Luke Devereaux and Paddy Fox as James O’Connell challenged, saw the ball trickle to the St. Joseph’s net to move Ahoghill 24 to 0-4 ahead after 11 minutes.
Luke Devereaux and Paddy Fox collide with James O’Connell with the ball trickling to the visitors net
The visitors looked in trouble but to their credit they regrouped and the impressive Michael Morgan soloed through for a goal and a point from Finn Shannon and another from James Monaghan closed the gap to two at the end of the opening quarter.
Suddenly it was the Chaple Hill side who were calling the shots with the movement of James Monaghan and Finn Shannon opening up gaps in the Ahoghill defence and keeper Devereaux came forward to convert a free to level the contest.
The visitors continued to press and Michaerl Morgan and Darragh Doherty moved them two ahead before Colla McDonnell replied for the hosts to close the gap to one by the 24th minute.
Another Luke Devereaux conversion, this time a 2 pointer had the visitors three in front and seemingly in control but it was St. Mary’s who finished strongly with James O’Connell 0-2 (frees) and another from play leaving it all square at the break.
Whatever was said in the St. Mary’s dressing room at the break seemed to do the trick as the home side adopted a high press on the restart and it certainly unsettled the Glenavy men.
Ronan Graham and Jimmy McGlone both shot wide before a turnover in the Glenavy defence sent Colla McDonnell in for his side’s third goal with James O’Connell pointing with his right foot to move the hosts 4 ahead.
Finn Shannon palmed over at the other end in reply and Glenavy looked in for a goal of their own but Ryan Martin came bravely off his line to deny Pearse O’Neill and the ball was cleared to safety.
Michael Johnston, Glenavy wins possession from Eamonn Brady
Back came the Cloney side as the high press continued to pay dividends and Dan O’Neill and Conor Crossey goaled within a minute of each other to leave Ahoghill in a seemingly unbeatable position with only 10 minutes of the new half gone.
James O’Connell added a point but slowly the visitors began to get to grips again with Finn Shannon converting a free and adding another from play and when free taking specialist, Devereaux converted 2 more 2 pointers the lead had been reduced to 2 with 8 minutes remaining.
St. Mary’s were very much in need of a response and Ronan Graham provided it from a pointed free and James O’Connell added another to put a little bit of daylight between the sides.
Glenavy went route one as they went in search of a much needed goal and Ciaran Loney climbed to challenge Ryan Martin but the ball crept over, much to the relief of the home side.
As the game edged into time added on Glenavy continued to press but were punished for a breach and Jimmy McGlone kept his cool to send over the insurance point and get his side of to a winning start in Group 1.
Ahoghill keeper, Ryan Martin comes out bravely off his line to deny Pearse O’Neill
Ahoghill: 1 Ryan Martin, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Seamus McKeever, 5 Eoin Graham, 6 Diarmaid Graham, 7 Eamonn Brady, 8 Patrick Graham, 9 Tom McGlone, 10 Dan O’Neill, 11 Eoin Graham, 12 Patrick Dougan, 13 Conor Paul Crossey, 14 James O’Connell, 15 Colla McDonnell.
Subs: Donal Graham, Martin Graham
Glenavy: 16 Luke Devereaux, 21 Michael Fox, 2 Ruairi Forester, 3 Padhraic McKevitt, 24 Paddy Fox, 5 Michael Johnston, 6 Conor Hamill, 8 Darragh Doherty, 9 Ciaran Loney, 11 Paddy Gallagher, 12 Pearse O’Neill, 15 Finn Shannon, 23 Michael Morgan, 22 James Monaghan
Subs: Darragh Brown, Darragh Armstrong, Ryan Phillips,
Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghsll)
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