Senior Football Championship: Glenravel at Slemish Park, Ballymena

2-10 Dunloy 0-8

Glenravel produced one of their most important performances of the season as they defeated already-qualified Dunloy by eight points to secure their place in Division One football and the Senior Football Championship for 2027.
The stakes were very different for the two sides before the throw-in. Dunloy had already booked their place in the championship knockout stages and, understandably, fielded a much-changed side with one eye firmly fixed on next weekend’s Senior Hurling Championship clash with Cushendall. Glenravel, meanwhile, knew that only victory would guarantee their top-flight status in both league and championship, and they approached the game with that urgency from the opening whistle.
Glenravel battle the breeze
Playing into a stiff breeze in the opening half against a dangerous Dunloy attack, Glenravel made the perfect response after falling two points behind early on.
Dunloy opened the scoring with points in the 3rd and 11th minutes before Ryan McQuillan calmly dispatched a penalty in the 13th minute to edge Glenravel in front.
Further points from Aiden O’Donnell, Davy Higgins and Callum Higgins kept Glenravel ticking over as Dunloy replied through a 45 and a free to leave the sides separated by the narrowest of margins.
Conn Mag Aoidh were delighted to hear the half-time whistle leading 1-3 to 0-4.

Having played into the elements, Glenravel held a two-point advantage that felt much greater given the conditions.
A huge reason for that lead was goalkeeper Conleth O’Loan, who produced two outstanding saves to preserve Glenravel’s advantage. First he somehow stretched full length to deny Dunloy from point-blank range, before later standing tall to save a penalty, lifting both his teammates and the Glenravel support.
Two-point burst changes the game
With the wind now at their backs, Glenravel controlled much of the second half, although their dominance wasn’t immediately reflected on the scoreboard as a series of promising attacks ended with inaccurate shooting.
Eventually their accuracy returned — and it came from the boot of Aiden O’Donnell.
The Glenravel forward landed a superb two-pointer from play before following it minutes later with a magnificent two-point free. Those scores suddenly opened daylight between the teams and gave Glenravel the breathing space they had been searching for.
Soon afterwards Shea O’Broin finished a flowing move with Glenravel’s second goal, pushing the lead to nine points and effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
Dunloy continued to battle and reeled off four late points through a youthful attack, but Glenravel never looked in danger of surrendering control.
Late scores from Eamon Ward (2) and Ryan McQuillan ensured the scoreboard accurately reflected Glenravel’s second-half superiority as they closed out a deserved 2-10 to 0-8 victory.
What it means
The defeat does little damage to Dunloy’s ambitions. Already assured of a place in the championship knockout stages, they can now turn their full attention to next weekend’s eagerly anticipated hurling championship encounter with Cushendall.
For Glenravel, however, this was a season-defining afternoon. Victory guarantees their place among the county’s elite in Division One and ensures they will once again compete in the Senior Football Championship in 2027 — a reward for a composed, disciplined and determined performance when it mattered most.

GLENRAVEL

6 Conleth O’Loan, 2 Declan McAuley, 19 Eamon Ward, 11 Colla Ward, 12 Niall Hynds, 6 Niall Swann, 7 Rian Lennon, 8 Callum Higgins, 5 Cahal Hynds, 27 Joe Martin, 14 Ryan McQuillan, 15 Cormac McKeown, 29 Shea O’Broin, 9 Davy Higgins, 23 Aiden O’Donnell.

DUNLOY

1 Karl Fitzpatrick, 2 Sean Og Blaney, 3 Reece Cunning, 4 Michael Traynor, 5 Luke McFerran, 6 Conor Kinsella, 7 Cathaoir McCloskey, 8 Padraig McGilligan, 9 Ciaran McQuillan, 10 Donnach Laverty, 11 James Scally, 12 Barry McCloskey, 13 Charlie Cunning, 14 Eoghan McGrath, 15 Emmett McKendry.

TO SEE MORE OF DYLAN’S PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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