IFC Group 2

Glenavy 0-11 All Saints 1-12

A fast start and a strong finish saw All Saints advance from this winner-takes-all encounter with St. Joseph’s Glenavy in the final Group 2 game of the Intermediate Football Championship.

Four points separated the sides at the final whistle but Glenavy will reflect on a period in the opening quarter when they shot seven wides with a strong breeze at their backs.

The Ballymena side sat deep and broke at pace to lead by five with only 8 minutes gone with their goal coming from a Sean McVeigh tap in from close range after Matty Downey’s original effort was well saved by Stephen Daly.

The Chapel Hill side began to find their range during the second quarter to out-score the visitors 0-5 to 0-1 and close the gap to the minimum at the halfway stage but with the breeze to face in the second half.

All Saints increased that gap to three early in the second half but the home side kept in touch throughout the second period thanks mainly to the accuracy of Fergal Henry.

They came close to getting back on terms after 18 minutes with Ryan Stewart pushing a Ciaran Loney goal bound attempt over for a point but that was as close as they got as Ronan McKillop 0-2 and substitute Michael McCarry added late scores to usher the visitors into the semi-final.

Sean McVeigh’s finish from close range after 2 minutes and points from Conor Stewart and Paddy McAleer moved All Saints five ahead by the 8^th minute as their fast direct football opened up the home defence.

St. Joseph’s, with a strong breeze at their backs might well have been on terms but some wayward shooting saw them miss a handful of scoring chances that would eventually lead to their downfall.

James McDonnell moved the visitors six ahead after 18 minutes with a great point as he put the finishing touch to a move that began deep in his own half but after that the scores dried up as the Chapel Hill side began to find their range.

Paddy Gallager and Fergal Henry from a couple of converted frees closed the gap to a goal and a great point from James Gallagher from out on the right and another Henry conversion closed the gap to the minimum at the halfway stage.

Connell Lemon raced through to fist over on the restart and Kavan Keenan added a second to move the Slemish Park side three in front with only two minutes gone with Fergal Henry replying from another free.

Things were starting to move up a notch as Conor Stewart and Paddy McAleer moved All Saints four in front by the 10^th minute but a Fergal Henry converted free and another excellent point from play from the same player left just two in it at the end of the third quarter.

Ronan McKillop replied with a good point to move the Ballymena side three ahead once more but Glenavy might well have been back on terms but Ciaran Loney’s well struck shot was pushed over at the expense of a point by Ryan Stewart.

McKillop for the visitors and Ryan Phillips exchanged further points and Michael McCarry for the visitors and Fintan O’Boyle for the home side did likewise and there was still only two in it with two minutes of normal time remaining.

It was the Ballymena side who would finish on the front foot however as the impressive Ronan McKillop added two late points to ensure that his side would go through to the semi-final where they will meet St. Paul’s in two weeks-time.

In the other semi-final Sarsfield’s will meet St. Teresa’s after the Glen Road men finished their Group 1 campaign with a win over Naomh Padraig in Lisburn to finish second to St. Paul’s in Group 1 on score difference.

St. Joseph’s: 1 Stephen Daly, 2 Ryan Phillips, 3 Patrick Fox, 4 Timmy Honeyford, 5 Liam Henry, 6 Pearse O’Neill, 7 Mathew Lawlor, 8 James Gallagher, 10 Patrick Gallagher, 11 Ciaran Loney, 13 Fergal Henry, 15 Conor Hamill, 17 Malachi Doherty, 20 Michael Fox, 23 Michael Johnston.

Subs: Fintan O’Boyle

All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Michael Read, 3 Cal O’Brien, 5 James McDonnell, 6 Sean O’Callaghan, 7 Patrick Ferris, 8 Sean McVeikgh, 9 Peter McNicholl, 10 Connell Lemon, 13 Emmet Killough, 14 Conor Stewart, 15 Paddy McAleer, 20 Kavan Keenan, 21 Ciaran Campbell, 24 Ronan McKillop

Subs: Joe Rafferty and Michael McCarry

Referee: Colin Thompson (St. John’s)

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IFC Group 2

Glenavy 2-11 Sarsfields 1-11

Glenavy overcame the challenge of Group leaders, Patrick Sarsfield’s to keep their semi-final hopes alive in a sometimes bad tempered contest at Chapel Hill on Sunday afternoon.

The home side got off to a great start with a goal and a point from Fergal Henry inside the opening 3 minutes and were dominant during the opening 20 minutes of play.

Sarsfield’s came back with a pointed free from Brian Healy but St. Joseph’s continued to carry the play to their opponents with some excellent football as Fergal Henry 0-3 and two from Ciaran Loney moved them 7 ahead.

Sarsfield’s were struggling to get their game together but finally found a response as Gary Lennon and Thomas Skillen pointed at the other end but it was Glenavy who finished the half strongly as James Gallagher 0-2 and Fergal Henry 0-2 moved them into a 1-10 to 0-4 half time lead.

The Group 3 leaders, who had already qualified prior to Sunday’s encounter started the second half brightly with points from Gary Lennon and Brian Healy followed with another from a free.

They were rocked back on their heels however when Malachi Doherty replied with the Chapel Hill side’s second goal to move the home side 10 ahead and at this stage it looked a long way back for the Stewartstown Road men.

Henry added a pointed free to increase that lead to 11 before Sarsfield’s finally sprung to life as Ferris pointed and Healy followed with another before the excellent Gary Lennon brought the game to life with a well taken goal.

Lennon and Niall McAlea added points to close the gap to two as things got a bit heated before Pearse O’Neill eased the pressure with a good point for the home side.

Sarsfield’s threw everything at their opponents in the closing stages and Fionn Jemfrey fired over to close the gap to two once more but a late pointed free from Fergal Henry saw St. Joseph’s prevail with three to spare.

This win sees Glenavy in a strong position going into their final game against All Saints at Chapel Hill in two weeks-time and a win over the Ballymena side would see them top Group 2 and eliminate Baker Bradley’s side from the championship.

There was obviously no love lost between Sunday’s opponents as things threatened to boil over at the final whistle and these two might well meet again in the knockout stages if results go their respective ways.

Glenavy: 1 Stephen Daly, 2 Ryan Phillips, 3 Patrick Fox, 4 Timmy Honeyford, 5 Liam Henry, 6 Pearse O’Neill, 7 Matthew Lawlor, 8 James Gallagher, 9 Fiontan O’Boyle, 10 Patrick Gallagher, 11 Ciaran Loney, 13 Fergal Henry, 15 Conor Hamill, 17 Malachi Doherty, 23 Michael Johnston

Sarsfields: 1 Michael Brady, 2 Pearse Murray, 30 Conor Laverty, 4 Martin McPollin, 5 Ethan Mervyn, 6 Liam Mitchell, 7 Christopher Loughran, 8 Conor Moley, 9 Cormac Murray, 10 Phillip McPeake, 11 Niall McAlea, 12 Tomas Skillen, 14 Gary Lennon, 15 Brian Healey, 28 Joe McNally. 21 Miceal Ferris, 22 Fionn Jemfrey

Referee: Paul Burns (Naomh Comhghall)

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IFC Group 2

All Saints 8-11 Davitt’s 0-4

Baker Bradley and his backroom staff will not read too much into this facile victory with Davitt’s arriving at Quinn Park with only 15 men and quite a number of their regulars missing for various reasons.

Before the game kicked off qualification was going to be down to the final game of the series away to Glenavy in two weeks-time and before throw in word filtered through that St. Joseph’s had beaten Sarsfields, who had already qualified.

Bradley gave game time to a number of players who have not figured recently but it was his more established campaigners that would ensure a night devoid of anxiety for the Derry native.

The Ballymena side, with all their county men on board scored four goals in each half and played some good attacking football against a Davitt’s side who battled to the end but were out of their depth on this occasion.

Sean McVeigh fisted home the first with more than a hint of square ball about it and then the returning Ronan McKillop added a second to make it 2-4 to 0-0 with 17 minutes gone.

Paddy McAleer palmed home goal number three before the Davitt’s persistence paid off with a wonderful point from Deaglan Mooney in the 22^nd minute.

McAleer powered home a rocket to make it four majors for the Ballymena side who went on to lead 4-6 to 0-2 at the short whistle.

Caomhan Slane opened the second half scoring with an excellent point for Davitt’s but with places very much up for grabs and the possibility that score difference might come into play the home side never eased up with McAleer making it a hat-trick with another fisted effort after 8 minutes.

At this stage the home side emptied their bench, a luxury unavailable to the depleted visitors and it was one of the replacements, Patrick Ferris who got through for a sixth goal as the West Belfast side started to tire.

Paddy McAleer brought his total to four with a simple tap in after the ball rebounded into his path off the woodwork and the big county man concluded the scoring with his side’s 8^th of the evening with time almost up.

Three minutes earlier the impressive Paul McLaughlin had brought his side’s total for the evening to 0-4 with possibly the best point of the game and the West Belfast side will now prepare for their final game against Gort na Mona.

A win there would see them avoid a relegation playoff and they are likely to have a much stronger panel available for that one in two weeks-time.

All Saints now face the daunting task of an away visit to St. Joseph’s Glenavy, the Chapel Hill side will start that one as favourites following Sunday’s win over Group leaders, Sarsfield’s who have already inflicted defeat on the Ballymena side in the Group stages.

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IFC Group 1

Naomh Padraig 1-8 Rasharkin 4-11

St. Mary’s Rasharkin produced their best championship Group 1 performance of the season to comprehensively beat Naomh Padraig Lisburn at Kirkwoods Park on Saturday but their joy was short lived when the news filtered through that St. Paul’s and St. Teresa’s had drawn in Belfast.

That result means that the Belfast pair have qualified for the semi-finals but at least the Dreen side will avoid the relegation play-offs to decide who will drop to Junior Championship for next season.

Eamonn McNeill led the way for a St. Mary’s side who took control from early in the game with a pointed free in the third minute with Naomh Padraig keeper, Ruadhan McKenna equalising from a similar scenario with four minutes gone.

Slowly the visitors began to take control with Shane Hasson firing to the Lisburn net in the 9^th minute and further goals from Eamonn McNeill, Donagh Quigg, and Seamus Ellis had the visitors in control when they led 4-4 to 0-5 at the half way stage and it looked as good as over, even at this stage.

Ellis goal came in the 25^th minute and from the resulting misplaced kick-out the ball fell to the dangerous McNeill and he returned it post haste to the net.

Oisin Gorman, James Morgan and Conor Ewing were the Lisburn point scorers with McNeill 0-2Killian O’Boyle and Conor McFerran on target with the visitor’s points

HT 0-5 to 4-4

It didn’t get much better for Naomh Padraig after the break as Shane Hasson extended the Rasharkin lead with a point after 30 seconds and he added another from a free with four minutes gone.

Naomh Padraig enjoyed their best spell in the game with Eoin Dixon pointing a free before getting in for his side’s only goal in the 22^nd minute after McFerran and mcNeill had added to the visitors point tally.

Eamonn McNeill from another free and Shane Hasson completed the scoring for St. Mary’s with substitute Conor Dixon and Eoin Dixon finishing with two late consolation points for the Lisburn side.

A disappointing evening for St. Mary’s as they bow out of the IFC but many of Saturday’s side are members of the Junior Hurling Championship team who could be serious challengers in that competition.

Naomh Padraig: 1 Ruadhan McKenna, 2 Conor Dornan, 3 Thomas Burns, 4 Paul Law, 5 Jack McMullan, 6 Ben McMullan, 7 Che Smyth, 8 Colm Burns, 9 Eoin Dixon, 10 Rory Kennedy, 11 Josh McMullan, 12 Adam Patterson, 13 Conor Ewing, 14 Oisin Gorman, 23 James Morgan,

Sub: Conor Dixon

St. Mary’s: 1 Tiernan O’Boyle, 2 Pearce Kelly, 3 Emmett McFerran, 4 Conor Higgins, 5 Colm Kennedy, 6 Fergus Quigg, 7 Fearghal Kennedy, 8 Ruairi O’Boyle, 9 Shane Hasson, 10 Donagh Quigg, 11 Seamus Ellis, 12 Oran McMullan, 13 Killian O’Boyle, 14 Eamonn McNeill, 15 Conor McFerran

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Intermediate Football Championship – Group 1 – Round 3

Saturday 31^st August

Report by Niall Kelly 

St Teresa’s 2-10    St Paul’s 3-07

St Teresa’s and St Paul’s both qualified for the semi-finals of the Intermediate Championship after they ended level in Sunday’s penultimate round-robin game at the Glen Road. Naomh Teresa were thirty seconds away from avenging their defeat in the Division Two league decider between the sides, when the sides met a few weeks ago. However Naomh Pól sharpshooter, Lorcan Phillips, had other ideas and he converted a close range free on the stroke of full time to give both teams a share of the spoils, a result which sees both ot them through to the knock-out stages.

In what was a manic first half, St Teresa’s looked potentially down and out after shipping three goals in a five minute period in the opening quarter. However, spearheaded by chief marksman, Jay Mallon, the Glen Road side clawed away at the deficit as both outfits went hammer and tongs to claim top spot of the group, and both will now go through as first and second in the group.

Trailing by three at half time, the hosts then manufactured four unanswered scores in the closing eight minutes to gain the lead for the first time since the fifth minute. All seemed as though the stars had aligned and the two points looked destined to stay at Pairc ÚiDhoctairtigh. Nonetheless, it was not to be as the concession of a close range free gave the visitors the perfect opportunity to half the verdict.

Today was perhaps August’s last gasp in producing any sort of summer weather. In what were hot, humid and indeed energy sapping conditions, it was Jay Mallon who drew first blood with a well taken free on the fourth minute. All seemed well for the hosts in the opening exchanges as they had the lion’s share of possession and looked bright going forward but failed to capitalise further on the early momentum.

What followed can only be described as five minutes of madness. St Paul’s ability on the counterattack would be devastating as they notched up three goals all stemming from relentless direct runs forward. Niall McStravick was the first to get the green flag waving as his slaloming run left three men in his wake before unleashing an unstoppable bullet across Phil Maguire’s net and into the top left corner.

Moments later, it was midfielder Mark Munce’s turn to get in on the act. The Naomh Pól number eight took flight from the middle third and just couldn’t be stopped as he evaded tackles left and right, driving into the open space in his path before slotting home in a near mirror image to his teammate McStravick.

St Teresa’s were shell-shocked and matters were exacerbated further when Lorcan Philips was the fox in the box blasting home from close range after netminder Maguire had pulled off an excellent save to deny Munce for a second.

Trailing by 0-01 to 3-00 the hosts were in dire need of a score to settle them which came in the form of another Mallon free. They then began to turn the screw themselves, bombing forward to cut into the sizable deficit. Their bravery garnered its reward as they managed to grab their first major on the fifteenth minute as Anton Taylor fired home on the rebound after Luke Cassin’s effort was well stopped by Jack McCaufield.

Buoyed by their change in fortunes, St Teresa’s continued their advances and when Paul McGoldrick’s marauding surge forward was brought to an abrupt halt in the box, Darren McKeown had no other option but to signal for a spot kick. Mallon was calmness personified in his execution, sending the keeper the wrong way. Game on.

As the game ticked closer to the short whistle, it was now St Paul’s who needed a score to gain them a reprieve. Thankfully for them, Lorcan Phillips was on hand to demonstrate his prowess from the placed ball to leave the score 2-02 to 3-02 in favour of the visitors at the half.

The second period might’ve lacked the same goals as the first, but it wasn’t short in entertainment as the pendulum of momentum swung this way and that. With thirty-six minutes on the clock, the gap had been narrowed to the minimum thanks to two more well despatched frees from the host’s number ten. The ever-dangerous Francis Duggan was unlucky to see his shot kiss the wrong side of the post a few minutes later as the hosts seemingly had their tails up. Stephen Rooney and Mallon traded scores before St Paul’s hit their stride midway through the second half with Philips coming to the fore to bolster his tally by two.

With ten minutes remaining, the game was on a knife edge as both sides battled to gain the ascendancy. Both sets of fans held their breath as once more the teams traded points with Mallon eagle eyed from the placed ball yet again and Conall Duffy adding the gloss to a flowing Naomh Pól attack.

It seemed now that the Shaws Road men had just about done enough but the script was to be flipped on its head as a rampant St Teresa’s fired over four consecutive points. Darren McCann split the posts from range before Francis Duggan flighted his effort perfectly.

One point down with one minute to go, St Teresa’s were inspired and levelled through the trusty right foot of full forward Anton Taylor before talisman Paul McGoldrick fisted over from close range to trigger an almighty roar from the Super T’s supporters in time added on.

It was a backs to the wall job then as the hosts tried to stem the flow of their counterpart’s attacks. The men in red and white came forward in their droves and in the end the pressure took its toll as they were awarded a close range free for their efforts. Lorcan Phillips, who top scored along with Jay Mallon, added to his tally of 1-04 to deadlock the score just before the whistle sounded.

A thoroughly entertaining and intriguing affair where both will feel they could and should’ve gained the verdict. In the end, a share of points was probably the fairest outcome. They now both sit level on 5 points atop the group with only score difference separating them. St Paul’s will hope to finish off with victory at home to winless Ardoyne whilst St Teresa’s will seek maximum points away to Lisburn in what could be a potential banana skin. Nevertheless, it’s clear that both of these sides harbour realistic Championship ambitions and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them in mix in the semis.

Teams:

St Teresa’s:

P Maguire; A Dougan, P Johnston, R Mallon; E Connolly, C O’Rawe, C Mallon; L Cassin, D McCann (0-01;) J Mallon (1-05,) N McCann, P O’Rawe; F Dugan (0-02,) A Taylor (1-01,) P McGoldrick (0-01)

St Paul’s:

J McCaufield; A Kavanagh, S Rooney (0-01,) D O’Sullivan; M Duffy, J Farrell, P Magee; M Munce (1-00,) C McAlea; C Duffy, N McStravick (1-00,) R Hamill; L Phillips (1-05,) L McLarnon, C Duffy (0-01)

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