Antrim Football League Div. 2

St.Joseph’s Glenavy 0-15 St.James’ Aldergrove 0-12

Glenavy welcomed local rivals Aldergrove (who were unbeaten) to Chapel Hill on a cold dry evening but it was the home side who collected the points and the bragging rights. The game was played in a very sporting manner with referee Danny O’Neill kept close control but allowed the players to play the game.

The visitors started the game in whirlwind fashion with three unanswered points from Connor Browning, Fergal Hanna and Ronan Hanna. The home side’s midfielders Ciaran Loney and Ruairi Forester were beginning to get to grips with the game however and their ever alert centre forward Malachy Doherty stopped the rot with an excellent point.

St. James responded immediately from the kick out and Ryan Owens gained possession and quickly passed to the inrushing Ronan Hanna to extend the lead to three again.

The game was being played at a fast pace with both teams guilty of some poor decision making and passes going astray. David Nelson was giving his maker a tough time by his constant movement and he was rewarded when he got on the end of a long delivery and split the uprights for a point.

With the game flowing from end to end Connor Morris extended the visitors lead with a well worked point but once again the home side moved the ball up the field to the alert David Nelson who added a point to his score.

 Back came St.James’ but Declan Gough was denied by an excellent save by Gareth Collins when a goal looked eminent but Ronan Hanna gathered the rebound and fired over.

Both teams battled for supremacy in a game that took their supporters minds of the cold as evening drew in. Fergal Henry, who was closely marked by Chris McVeigh broke away to score a beauty for the Chapel Hill side from an acute angle.

Henry’s point closed the gap to two but Seamus Trowlen got in on the scoring act with a well worked point to move the visitors three ahead once more as play swung from end to end.

As the pace and intensity of the game increased Ciaran Loney took possession from the kick out and went on a solo runs to again close the gap as the white flag was raised.

Glenavy were beginning to enjoy a bit of success and Fontaine O’Boyle showed all his class when he broke forward to score a beauty to leave the minimum between the sides.

Back came the Crumlin side however and Fergal Hanna quickly replied with a point but Glenavy were coming more and more into it and Fergal Henry showed all his class when he pointed a long range free.

The final score of the half fell to St. James’ as defender Gerard Mallon got forward to bring the scoring to a close with a long range point to leave the halftime score 0.09 to 0.07 in favour of Aldergrove.

It was St. Joseph’s who opened the second half on the offensive and from the throw in the ball was worked into the danger area with David Nelson taking possession and once again closed the gap to one.

Fergal Henry added a pointed free to bring the side’s level but the visitors replied and looked to be in for a goal but Gareth Collins was on hand to clear the danger but the ball broke to Seamus Trowlen who split the posts.

Aldergrove were dealt a blow when the lost the hard working Chris McVeigh with an elbow injury but Aldergrove seemed to up their game at this stage and added two more points through Seamus Trowlen and Ronan Hanna to put their side three up with twelve minutes remaining.

To their credit the home side came back into the game with two excellent points as Malachy Doherty fired over and Fergal Henry pointed a free to bring his side level and at this stage it still looked anyone’s game.

The momentum was now very much with the Chapel Hill side however and Fergus Cunningham, who had been introduced a few minutes earlier scored a beauty from out on the wing to restore their lead

St. Joseph’s finished strongly and Malachy Docherty and Fergal Henry added points in the closing stages to leave them winners by three points.

This was an excellent game of football with Aldergrove dictating the early exchanges but St. Joseph’s kept battling away and in the end were worthy winners.

St.Joseph’s G. Collins  D. Doherty; L. Henry; O. McStravick; P. Fox; P. Gallagher; M. Fox; R. Forrester; C. Loney; M. Hamill; M. Docherty; R. Phillips; F. Henry; D. Nelson; Fintaoin O’Boyle

Res Used Oisin Hamill; Niall McCann; F. Cunningham.

St.James’ S. O’Neill; C. McVeigh; C. Browning; D. Aiken; G. Mallon; A. Flood; C. Browning; O. Graham; R, Owen; D. Gough; F. Hanna; C. Morris; R. Hanna; S. McCullough,  S. Trowlen

Referee: Danny O’Neill (Gort na Mona

 

ACFL Division One
Naomh Éanna 2-12 St Brigid’s 0-10

Pics by JJ Lawell

St. Enda’s recorded their second win from three starts when they defeated St. Brigid’s at Hightown on Wednesday evening. A goal from Kristian Healey after 40 minutes clinched it for the Glengormley side who were pushed hard for most of the game by St. Brigid’s with matters all square early in the second half.

St. Enda’s were a goal ahead at the interval with Rory Scott providing the finish midway through the opening half. Healey’s major turned matters decisively in the direction of the home side who went on to hit 1-5 without reply as the St. Brigid’s challenge welted.

Healey finished as top scorer with 1-3 with Odhran Eastwood in excellent form for the Hightown men, finishing with 0-5 and he was very much involved in the build up to both St. Enda’s goals while his Antrim colleague, Peter Healey got through a mountain of work.

It was St Brigid’s who were first off the mark in the artic conditions at Hightown with Peter Webb’s third-minute effort sneaking just inside the posts with Eastwood responding from a free, but the visitors were back in front when Conor McAleer slotted over following good work from Paul Bradley.

.Eastwood levelled matters for a second time from a free and then he turned provider when he sent Ruairi Scott free from an inch perfect delivery and the former made no mistake as he fired to the net.
The home side were dominating possession at this stage but their finishing was letting them down, while St Brigid’s were struggling to get their game together at the other end against a packed defence.

The sides exchanged points in the closing stages of the half with Bradley punishing a foul on Patrick Finnegan before Eastwood kicked his third free as the hosts went in at the break leading 1-3 to 0-3.

After a lacklustre opening 30 minutes it was St. Brigid’s who made a bright start to the second period
with Conor McAleer kicking a free a couple of minutes in before Peter Webb converted two beauties off his left boot from play to level the game on 38 minutes.
At this stage it was St. Brigid’s who looked the more likely winners but Naomh Éanna responded to reclaim the lead as Kristian Healy cut inside onto his right and shrugged off a challenge to fire over and a minute later the same player swung matters back in favour of the Hightown side. Eastwood found Healy to the left of goal and the wing-forward produced an excellent finish to find the far corner of the net.
St. Brigid’s pushed on at this stage as Peter Healy gained some reward for his efforts as he split the posts and Conor Maxwell added another from a tight angle on the right with Eastwood landing an almost identical score to make it 2-8 to 0-6 on 49 minutes.
St. Enda’s looked to have matters sewn up at this stage but St Brigid’s dug deep and found a response as Paul Bradley sent over and then Jack Dowling kicked two excellent points, either side of a James Smith effort to halve the deficit and give the South Belfast men some hope with five minutes remaining.
It was as close as they got however with Eastwood firing over after Ronan O’Neill’s attempt at a fisted point came off the post, while Kristian Healy kicked another two scores either side of one from Donal Walsh to complete the scoring.

NAOMH ÉANNA: M O’Boyle; F Eastwood, P Hamilton, C Maxwell (0-1); P Healy (0-1), C Lyttle (0-1), R O’Neill; P Curran, M Morgan; C Morgan, D Walsh (0-1), K Healy (1-3); R Scott (1-0), O Eastwood (0-5, 3 frees), G Crossey.

Subs: F O’Connor for M Morgan (48), C Scott for G Crossey (54), S McBride for C Morgan (60+1), O Kennedy for P Curran (60+2)

ST BRIGID’S: J McKenna; J Morgan, M Cummings, S McKenna; P King, S Campbell, F Meenagh; J Toner, J Dowling (0-2); P Webb (0-3), P Finnegan, N Lundy; P Bradley (0-1), J Smith (0-1), C McAleer (0-3, 2 frees).

Subs: R Finnegan for J Toner (20), D Foster for S McKenna (46), M Lynch for N Lundy (48), J Finnegan for P Webb (52), J McCarney for S Campbell (60).

REFEREE: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)

ACFL Division 2

All Saints 0-11 Ardoyne 0-3

Both these teams were unrecognisable from the sides that faced each other in the corresponding fixture last year with a long list of absentees in both lineouts but All Saints manager, Liam Bradley continues to call on youth and had a useful side on view under the Quinn Park lights.

The early exchanges were close enough as Ciaran McLarnon and Shea O’Brien pointed the home side into an early lead before Kevin Lynch replied for the visitors to close the gap to one.

Ronan Ward, who had replaced Rory McVeigh early in the contest, got his name on the All Saints score sheet and a couple of converted frees from ‘Jimbo’ McDonnell had All Saints 0-6 to 0-2 in front by the 27^th minute, the Kickham’s second point coming from a Kevin Lynch free.

That was how it stood at half time and after the break a young and pacey All Saints continued to move the ball around confidently as they put the visitors on the back foot and Emmet Killough extended their lead with a point in the opening minute.

James McDonnell added a great score and his brother, Brendan moved All Saints 0-9 to 0-2 ahead with another in the 11^th minute as the visitors fought a rear guard action in an effort to contain a rampant All Saints attack.

Ace free taker, James McDonnell moved the Quinn Park side eight in front at the end of the third quarter as the home side emptied their bench and the scores dried up after that with the impressive Shaun O’Callaghan getting their final point and Aidan McNeill pointing a late consolation free for the Kickham’s.

All Saints: Niall Shannon, James Gillan, Cormac Lemon, James McDonnell, Ciaran McGarry, Rhys O’Mullan, Shaun O’Callaghan, Emmet Killough, Ciaran McLarnon, Shea O’Brien, Rory McVeigh, Cal O’Brien, Eoin Campbell, Brendan McDonnell, Eoin Walsh. Subs: Ronan Ward, Darra Mussen, Emmet McAllister, Ronan McKillop

Kickham’s Ardoyne: 1 Tiarnan Hughes: 2 Eoghan Corrigan, 3 Gary McKiernan, 4 Fiontan Marley, 6 Conor McDowell, 7 Conor Carter, 8 Kevin McLaughlin, 10 Declan McCormick, 11 Aodhan Mullan, 12 Oisin McVicker, 13 Pearse Marley, 14 Kevin Lynch, 15 Aidan McNeill, 17 Aaron Stewart, 18 Odhran Mullan, 19 Diarmuid Martin, 20 Anthony McKenna, 21 Joseph Gibson, 22 Cahal Keown, 23 Cormac Curran, 24 Conor Magee, 28 Sean Joe Rooney

Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)

ACFL Division 2

All Saints 0-12 St. James 3-6

St. James Aldergrove made a great start to the season when they scored 6-8 against Ardoyne in Crumlin and that rich vein of form continued when they visited Slemish Park today and came away with a three point win over All Saints.

They didn’t get it all their own way against an All Saints side who dominated the opening exchanges and moved into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead after 27 minutes and were playing some great expansive football with goal keeper Connor Brennan joining his attack on a number of occasions and scoring a point.

The turning point came with a minute remaining to the break when a misplaced pass across their own goal and a slip by Sean McVeigh gifted Ronan Hanna a goal and the visitors took a slender one point lead into the half time break.

The early exchanges were nip and tuck as James McDonnell pointed All Saints ahead from a 3d minute free and James Trowlen replying for Aldergrove from a free in the 9^th minute. All Saints looked to be in for the game’s opening goal but the woodwork came to St. James’ rescue twice in as many minutes before Benny McDonnell settled for a point to restore his side’s lead.

Trowlen squared the contest for the second time from another free in the 12^th minute before Seamus McGarry saw his attempted point come back off an upright and then All Saints hit the front for the third time when their keeper, Connor Brennan fired over after being involved in an intricate build up.

Conor Morris for the visitors and Oisin Connolly for All Saints exchanged further points before a fisted point from Cal O’Brien move ‘Baker’ Bradley’s men two in front with seven minutes remaining to the break.

There was little between the sides at this stage but a youthful All Saints were looking comfortable as Gerard Mallon and Rory McVeigh exchanged further minors but Hanna’s goal in the 29^th minute changed all that.

All Saints had one last chance to restore their lead as they opened up the visitors but Brendan McDonnell’s first time ground strike was superbly saved by Sean O’Neill in the Aldergrove goal and the visitors took a slender one point lead into the second half.

The new half was only minutes old when Ronan Hanna got through for the visitors second goal with the home defence nowhere to be seen but a couple of points in quick reply from Brendan McDonnell and Oisin Crilly brought All Saints right back into contention.

Fergal Burke’s side were starting to get on top however as Conor Browning and Seamus McGarry responded with points and when substitute Ryan McCarthy rose to fist a Ronan Hanna free to the All Saints net in the 18^th minute they looked in complete control.

The Ballymena men tried to respond but Sean O’Neill in the Aldergrove goals denied Brendan McDonnell for the second time in the contest as the home side tried to respond. All Saints did enjoy a period of pressure and James McDonnell fired over three frees in but the goal they need never looked like materialising as the visitors defence stood strong.

St. James now move onto 4 points at the top of the table with Moneyglass and after a difficult 2021 they looked like a side on a mission and could be challenging for promotion come the end of the season.

All Saints: Connor Brennan, Matthew Downey, Sean McVeigh, James McDonnell, Connell Lemon, Rhys O’Mullan, Sean O’Callaghan, Emmet Killough, Shea O’Brien, Joe Rafferty, Eoin Campbell, Oisin Connolly, Cal O’Brien, Benny McDonnell, Rory McVeigh. Subs: Ronan Ward for Eoin Campbell, Ciaran McLarnon for Reece O’Mullan

Aldergrove: 1 Sean O’Neill, 2 David Aiken, 3 Christopher Browning, 4 Chris McVeigh, 5 Gerald Mallon, 6 Andy Mallon, 7 Declan Gough, 8 Conor Browning, 9 Emmett Irvine, 10 Seamus Trowlen, 11 Seamus McGarry, 12 Conor Morris, 13 Ronan Hanna, 14 Stephen McCullagh, 15 Oisin Graham. Subs: Eoin Gough for James Trowlen, Ryan McCarthy for Stephen McCullough, Seanie Flynn for S McGarry, Corey Fogarty for Conor Morris, Logan Fleming for Declan Gough.

Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghall)