SFC Group 2
All Saints 4-19 St. Paul’s 0-9
All Saints produced an excellent performance to sweep aside the muted challenge of St. Paul’s in this SFC Group 2 opener at Quinn Park on Sunday afternoon.
There was only a point separating these sides when they met earlier in the league on the Shaw’s Road and many expected a similar close contest but an under strength St. Paul’s never looked like mounting a challenge.
Right from the throw in a slick moving and pace loaded All Saints took the challenge to the opposition with Sean O’Callaghan pointing in the 3d minute and his half-back colleague, Kavan Keenan striking an excellent 2 pointer with 6 minutes gone.
The mostly one-way traffic towards the visitor’s goal continued as Ciaran Campbell split the posts and then a flowing move saw Paddy McAleer place Benny McDonnell for the game’s opening goal in the 9th minute.
Ronan McKillop palms the ball to the net for All Saints third goal
St. Paul’s were doing all in their power to get their own game going with Conor Hughes and James Farrell driving them forward but the All Saints defence turned everything that came their way with corner backs, Sean McDermott and Joe Rafferty making some excellent interceptions.
Benny McDonnell, Conor Stewart and Paddy McAleer added points and when Stewart followed with a goal in the 15th minute the Ballymena side were 2-7 to 0-0 ahead and it was already looking like a long evening for St. Paul’s.
Ciaran Rogers-Duffy, who was one of their more industrious players finally opened their account with a point in the 20th minute but it provided only temporary respite as Kavan Keenan, Emmet Killough and Benny McDonnell replied with points for the home side to leave them 2-10 to 0-2 ahead at the break, St. Paul’s second score coming from a Rogers-Duffy pointed free.
St. Paul’s did perform much better in the second half without ever looking like getting back in the game and Caolan O’Duibhfinn kicked their third point of the evening after Paddy McAleer had edged All Saints further ahead from a free.
Connell Lemon and Paddy McAleer added to the All Saints ever increasing total with Rogers-Duffy converting another free for the Shaw’s Road side in the 9th minute and at this stage ‘Baker’ Bradley began to empty the Ballymena bench and with immediate effect.
Kavan Keenan celebrates after netting for All Saints
Paidin Mitchell and Ronan McKillop added their names to the score-sheet before Conall Duffy got his opening score of the evening for the visitors with Mitchell and O’Duibhfinn exchanging further points to leave it 2-15 to 0-6 with 12 minutes remaining.
The visitors never gave up but the fresh wave of subs added impetus to an already score hungry All Saints attack as Ronan McKillop and Ciaran Rogers-Duffy exchanged further minors.
There would be no let up from the Quinn Park side with score difference a possibility in deciding qualification places and County player, McAleer raised another Orange flag.
The men in black continued to press and a great run from Patrick Ferris saw him set up Ronan McKillop for their third goal and McAleer then placed his county colleague, Keenan for a fourth with Rogers-Duffy kicking a consolation point for the visitors, deep into injury time.
All Saints travel to Corrigan Park on Sunday 23d August to take on a St. John’s side who served notice that they are serious championship contender by beating league winners, Kickham’s Creggan at their Staffordstown Road venue in their opening game on Sunday night.
The day before, St. Paul’s entertain Creggan on the Shaw’s Road and will need to show marked improvement if they are to get anything from that one.
Caoimhin Killyleah and Caolan Rogers-Duffu worked hard for St. Paul’s
All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Joe Rafferty, 3 Cal O’Brien, 4 Sean McDermott, 5 Patrick Ferris, 6 Sean O’Callaghan, 7 Kavan Keenan, 8 Paddy McAleer, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Connell Lemon, 11, Conor Stewart, 12 James McDonnell, 13 Peter McReynolds, 14 Brendan McDonnell, 15 Ciaran Campbell
Subs used: Sean McVeigh, Michael Read, Harry Connon, Paidin Mitchell, Ronan McKillop
St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Niall McKenna, 3 Aodhan Kavanagh, 4 Miceal Duffy, 5 Caoimhin Killyleagh, 6 Mark Munce, 8 James Farrell, 10 Niall McStrtavick, 11 Ciaran Rogers-Duffy, 12 Caolan O’Duibhfinn, 13 Shea Burns, 14 Conall Duffy, 15 Caoimhin Duffy, 18 Ewan McGregor, 20 Conor Hughes
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
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