On a lovely sunny day to kick start the league campaign a good crowd turned up in anticipation of a good performance from the home team.
Aldergrove came out of the traps very strongly in the first 5 minutes but worryingly didn’t convert their first four chances before settling in and going 1-3 up with 2 points from. Brian McQuillan sandwiching a super goal from Seamus McGarry after fast hands from Anton Flood, followed by another point from G Mallon.
Ardoyne came back with two points before Aldergrove replied with 2 points from Seamus McGarry and Chris Browning and another goal from J Trowlen after some strong running, quickly followed by another point from J Trolwen to extend the lead.
Ardoyne finished the half with another point from their No 11 but looked to have a lot to do in the second half if they were going to get back into contention.
HT 2-5 to 0-3
After trading another point each, Aldergrove put the game beyond reach with another well worked goal from R Hanna and followed up with another point from G Mallon.
With the game already in the bag, Aldergrove made a series of changes to give their bench some game time and this was followed by another point from J Trowlen before the subs made an impact with F Hanna scoring another well worked goal. Ardoyne replied with a couple of points before Aldergrove finished off the game emphatically with two more goals through McGarry and O Rooney who made his Senior debut.
St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass 1-10 All Saints Ballymena 0-11
St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass got their division 2 campaign up and running when they had two points to spare over visitors, All Saints at Marian Hill today. The home side held a four point lead at the interval but the visitors were left to rue a missed penalty in the 24th minute which was to cost them dear in the end.
Rory McVeigh opened the scoring for the visitors with a point in the 1st minute but it was the home side who responded positively as Colm Duffin Dermot McErlean and Conal Prenter replied with points to leave the home side 0-3 to 0-1 ahead with 12 minutes gone.
Things got worse for the Ballymena men when the excellent Colm Duffin got in for the game’s opening goal and when his brother Seanahan added a point in the 14th minute the home side were in total control and lead 1-4 to 0-1.
All Saints looked stunned but they replied with points from Michael McCarry and Cormac Lemmon to close the gap to four by the 18th minute but that was as close as they got with both sides adding two points in the run into half time with Conal Prenter hitting two for the home side and McCarry and Lemon replying for the visitors to leave it 1-6 to 0-5 for Moneyglass at the half way stage.
All Saints upped their game in the second half with Michael McCarry pointing after two minutes and Colm Duffin replying for the home side and when Cormac Lemon added an All Saints point in the 34th minute it was the excellent Duffin who responded with a similar score at the other end.
The visitors fought hard to get back into contention and Michael McCarry and Cormac Lemon split the posts to leave just two between the sides at the end of the third quarter but that was as close as they got despite a sustained late effort.
Niall Boyd for Moneyglass and James McDonnell for All Saints exchanged further points as the visitors pushed forward in search of the goal that might snatch victory from the jaws of defeat but the St. Ergnat’s defence were giving nothing away.
McCormick for the Marian Hill men and full-back James McDonnell, now up in attack for All Saints exchanged points in the run in to the final whistle, the All Saints score coming in injury time but it was St. Ergnat’s who held on for an opening day win that should set them up for a strong league campaign.
2015 was a great year for All Saints, Ballymena when they won promotion to division 1 for the first time in 21 years. Today we take a look at the game that secured them promotion when they faced St. Enda’s Glengormley in the final game of the campaign at Slemish Park. The Hightown side needed a win to avoid relegation to division 3 and certainly put it up to the Ballymena men but in the end Felix McQuillan’s side won by three points to secure promotion amidst scenes of wild celebration.
ACFL Division 2
All Saints 1-15 St. Enda’s 1-12
The long wait for a return to Division 1 is over for All Saints Ballymena following this hard earned win over St. Enda’s of Glengormley at Slemish park on Sunday in the final game of this year’s Division 2 campaign. The visitors arrived in Ballymena with an entirely different goal with Division 2 survival their motivation, and they certainly made life difficult for a Ballymena side who were forced to fight all the way to gain the vital win.
All Saints made a bright opening with Sean McVeigh taking control at mid-field and Paddy McAleer causing early problems for the visitors on the edge of the square. The County panellist, showing his best form since his Summer sabbatical to America was giving his marker the run around and was dragged down with Damian Kelly pointing the resulting free in their first serious attack.
McAleer followed with another from play as the home side dominated the early exchanges and when the same player was dragged down again it was Dee Kelly who repeated his early fete with a fine point from an acute angle.
The visitors had hardly had a sniff of goal at this stage but in their first attack they opened up the All Saints defence and Ruairi Scott was fouled as he bore down on goal with the result a penalty which veteran corner-forward, Paul Darby confidently tucked away in the 8th minute.
Eoin Campbell turns away in celebration after fisting home the game’s opening goal
Normal service appeared to have been resumed as Michael McCarry split the posts at the other end but St. Enda’s were now using a sweeper to good effect as they tried to contain a lively home attack and it was starting to pay dividends as a long ball into Ruairi Scott saw him turn his marker, Joe Rocks before sending over a fine point to tie the contest once more.
McCarry again edged the home side in front but the Glengormley side were matching All Saints blow for blow as the impressive Ruairi Scott curled a great point from 40 yards inside the upright to level the scores once more at the end of the opening quarter.
At this stage the All Saints management switched Emmet Killough to full-back in an effort to contain Scott who was giving his marker, Joe Rocks a torrid time with Rocks moving to centre-half but it was Paul Darby who put the visitors ahead for the first time from a twice taken free after his initial effort had gone wide with a defender penalised for encroachment.
The home side looked in a bit of trouble but they rallied and a well worked point from Rory McVeigh which involved Paddy McAleer, Joe Rafferty and Eoin Campbell had the contest all square once more with nine minutes remaining to the break.
The score that should have settled the Slemish Park side arrived in the 25th minute as Paddy McAleer chased a wayward pass from Damian Kelly and managed to keep the ball in play. He found Peter McReynolds running at the St. Enda’s defence before shooting but his shot dropped short. Keeper Paddy Flood came to claim but dropped the ball under pressure from Eoin Campbell who dived bravely to fist to the net.
Peter McCann drives forward from defence to set up asn All Saints attack
This score should have handed the initiative to The Ballymena side but the visitors quite simply refused to panic and continued to frustrate their opponents with their short passing and methodical build ups and a point from Donal Walsh put them right back in touch as half time approached.
It was end to end stuff as both sides battled for supremacy and the final score of the half was to go the way of Felix McQuillan’s men as Paddy McAleer combined once more with Peter McReynolds and ‘Pizza’ finished with aplomb to leave his side with a two point lead at the short whistle.
nervousness
The opening half had certainly been played with great energy and competitiveness with every ball fiercely contested but there was a nervousness in the All Saints play, perhaps the thought of failure so close to the finishing line was playing on their minds as both sides returned to second half action.
Peter McCann moved forward for the first time but a strong run from defence wasn’t matched by the finish as his shot went agonisingly wide and this miss was to set the tone for the second half. Ruairi Scott showed no such nerves as he closed the gap to the minimum with three minutes of the second half gone as St. Enda’s responded once more.
It got even worse for the home side as Minor star, Odhran Eastwood confidently stroked over the equaliser in the 4th minute to silence a good home support but a great interception from Phelim Killough and a strong run out of defence brought that support back to life.
All Saints Ciaran McGarry goes past Colm McGowan of St. Enda’s
Killough, who has had another excellent season, found Rory McVeigh with a long hanging pass and as his marker moved in to contest McVeigh found his brother Sean with a deft flick and the latter sent over an excellent point to restore his side’s lead.
This score seemed to lift the Ballymena side and a strong run from Joe Rafferty saw the defender turned attacker fouled and Michael McCarry confidently stroked over the resulting free to edge his side two in front with six minutes gone.
All Saints continued to create openings but some of their shooting certainly didn’t match their approach play as Rory McVeigh, missed a good chance before Sean McVeigh steadied the ship once more as he got on the end of a good move, instigated by Damian Kelly.
The home side looked to be taking control again but they received a set back after nine minutes when towering mid-fielder, Barney Logan went down injured following a heavy collision as he contested a breaking ball and it was obvious from his reaction that the big number 9 was going to play no further part in proceedings.
A six minutes stoppage ensued as Logan was removed from the field on a stretcher with Peter McNicholl coming on to replace him. When play resumed Odhran Eastwood served notice that this game was far from finished as confidently split the posts with a left footed effort.
Straight from the kick out Paddy McAleer won possession and set up Michael McCarry for a good point to restore All Saints three point advantage and when McAleer added another himself the eventual winners at last looked to be pressing home their advantage but they continued to miss chances.
Joe Rafferty gets out in front of Kevin Hillen to win possession
Paddy Logan was called from the bench to steady the ship with a few eyebrows raised when Michael McCarry was called ashore but All Saints continued to press and Joe Rafferty and Sean McVeigh combined to set up Peter McReynolds who duly restored their four point advantage.
Paddy Logan made his first contribution as he rose to field the ball on the edge of the square before laying off to Joe Rafferty who pointed from close range and with six minutes of normal time remaining the finishing line looked tantalisingly close.
The visitors had other ideas however and quite simply refused to give up as Conan Lyttle responded with his first point of the game in the 25th minute as the Glengormley side continued to look dangerous when they broke from defence.
The tension was palatable as the game went into time added on with referee Jarlath O’Donnell deeming that there was a further 10 minutes to play and those 10 minutes must have seemed like an eternity as Ruairi Scott and Paul Darby hit the target for the visitors in response to a Peter McReynolds point for All Saints.
The full time whistle was greeted with a mixture of relief and elation as the big home support, who had turned out to be part of this historic occasion, rushed onto the field to greet their heroes. Those present were then privileged to witness a lovely moment as the team made their way to the end line to beckon one of their players, Niall McCarry onto the field to join in the celebrations.
Young Niall received a serious neck injury back in early July when playing for All Saints in the Feis Football final and the unassuming lad emerged from his father’s car wearing the Cinderella neck brace he has been forced to wear for the last three months.
Also joining in the celebration photograph were Jack Magill, who received a knee injury in the same game and is awaiting an operation and Conall Lemon who received a serious shoulder injury while playing for St. Louis in a McLarnon Cup semi-Final, four months ago.
Young Lemon had the pleasure of making a cameo appearance in All Saints final two league games and, God willing all three will be back in action when the Ballymena side make their long awaited return to Division 1 next season.
All Saints: Paul McCann: Phelim Killough, Joe Rocks, Joe Rafferty: Damian Kelly, Emmet Killough, Ciaran McGarry: Sean McVeigh, Barney Logan: Rory McVeigh, Peter McReynolds, Michael McCarry: Eoin Campbell, Paddy McAleer, Peter McCann. Subs: Peter McNicholl for Barney Logan, Paddy Logan for Michael McCarry, Conall Lemon for Eoin Gillan.
St. Edna’s: Paddy Flood: Colm McGowan, Phillip Curran, Conor Maxwell: Peter Healy, Kevin Hillen, Cormac Eastwood: Robert McElhone, Conan Lyttle: James McAuley, Odhran Eastwood, Donal Walsh: Paul Darby, Ruairi Scott, Gerard Crossey.
Antrim ladies Minor Football champions, St. Ergnat’s
Moneyglass step onto the Ulster stage tomorrow when they take on Fermanagh
champions Kinawley at Quinn Park, Ballymena.
Moneyglass powered their way to victory over Glenravel in the Antrim final, a couple of weeks ago with
a magnificent display of fast skilful football under the lights at tomorrow’s
venue. The Con Magees girls battled bravely against the odds but they were left
chasing shadows against a St Ergnat’s side who were simply unstoppable, scoring
an incredible total 14 goals and 12 points. The were 6-4 to 1-1 clear at the
break but that was just a sample of what was to come and they added a further
eight goals in the second half.
St. Ergnat’s have dominated juvenile football in Antrim for a number of years and the hard work put in by their mentors has resulted in back to back All Ireland Feile titles and a number of those successful sides will feature in this excellent minor team tomorrow.
Saoirse McErlain, Sarah O’Neill and Cliona Griffin backbone
a strong St. Ergnat’s defence with Aoife Kelly and Emma McAreavey powerhouses
around the middle of the field and Maria O’Neill, Mollie Higgins and Niamh McKeefrey
prominent in a slick attack.
Kinawley Brian Borus stand in their way tomorrow in
Ballymena and Fermanagh football seems to be in a good place at the moment
given the success of their senior side but I expect the Marian Hill girls to
have too much know how and firepower and advance to the next round with
something to spare.
MONEYGLASS SIDE V GLENRAVEL: Emily McIlroy, Jude McIlroy, Saoirse McErlain, Naimh Neeson, Sarah O’Neill, Cliona Griffin, Katie Scullin, Aoife Kelly, Emma McAreavey, Mollie Higgins, Maria O’Neill, Ciara Scullin, Naimh Martin, Naimh McKeefrey, Hannah Murray.
