O’Neill’s ACHL Division 4

All Saints 2-8 Bredagh 1-16

Bredagh continue to set the pace at the top of division 4 of the Antrim ACH League but not before being pushed all the way by a battling All Saints side who looked to be on their way to something of a hiding when they trailed 1-8 to 0-4 at the half way stage.

During the opening half the visitors put the home side under pressure in every sector of the field and imposed a strangle hold around mid-field, depriving All Saints star men time on the ball and time and again forcing turn over.

When All Saints did get ball into their forward line the Bredagh full-back line of Mark Patterson, Eoin McAllister and Niall Smyth dealt with everything that came their way and a Sean McGourty goal and a flurry of points from Ian Galway saw the league leader’s move into a comfortable 7 point lead at the short whistle.

After the break it was a different story and All Saints returned for the second half a much more focused and determined side and at one stage had reduced the deficit to four points. However the league leaders had done enough during the opening half but were never the less relieved to hear the full-time whistle.

As the rain came down it was visitors Bredagh who opened on the offensive but Danny Robinson was wide of the target before Ciaran Neeson’s attempt suffered the same fate at the other end. Robinson atoned for his earlier miss as he opened the visitors account in the third minute and points from Michael Woods and Ian Galway had them three ahead with six minutes gone.

All Saints were struggling to gain meaningful possession around the middle third of the field but Liam Cassley got them off the mark with a point in the 8^th minute but the visitors response was immediate and Sean McGourty sent over a couple of points to move them four in front.

Ian Galway pointed an 11^th minute free and McGourty added another from play as the Down men’s high press and sharp tackling continued to disrupt the efforts of the Quinn Park side to get any rhythm into their game.

Bredagh struck with a goal in the 16^th minute and it was one that might have been prevented but Sean McGourty was allowed to steal in unmarked to bat an Ian Galway long range free to the net from close range and put his side into a commanding 1-6 to 0-1 lead.

Oran McFlynn added a point before Liam Cassley freed himself of the shackles of his marker to send over All Saints second point and the home side were now enjoying much more possession but unfortunately hit a series of wides with the usually deadly Ciaran Neeson off target from a couple of frees.

Neeson redeemed himself with All Saints third point of the night and he appeared to have found his range when he added another in the 22^nd minute but the visitors regained the initiative in the closing stages of the half and added points from Sean McGourty, Damian Hanraghan, Oran McFlynn and Ian Galway with Neeson getting the home sides fourth and the league leaders looked in complete control as referee Rab Lappin sounded his half time whistle.

A betting man would have probably torn up his betting slip at this stage had he taken a punt on All Saints before the game but whatever the message from mangers ‘Skinner’ McAllister and Paddy Neeson at half time that same punter might well have been searching through the wet grass for that same betting slip with only minutes remaining.

The Ballymena men came out for the second half much more determined and focused, epitomised by mid-fielder Ciaran McGarry who contested every ball as if his life depended on it. Emmet Trainor extended the Bredagh lead with a point in the 5^th minute and normal service appeared to have resumed.

Damian Gillan replied with an All Saints point and then the same player bundled home a goal from close range as the new found intensity of the All Saints men began to pay dividends. Ciaran Neeson added a point from a 40 meter free off the hand of Bredagh keeper, Aaron Maguire and for the first time we had a game on our hands.

The home side continued to press and a good move saw Neeson fire to the net again but the referee’s whistle had sounded for an earlier infringement, much to the consternation of the Ballymena men but Neeson pointed the resulting free and there were only five between the sides.

Like all good sides Bredagh regrouped and appeared to have weathered the early storm as Ian Galway, Sean McGourty and Galway again split the posts to move the visitors eight ahead again but All Saints quite simply refused to throw in the towel.

Ciaran Neeson, now operating very effectively in the corner came out field to point a 21^st minute free and then substitute, Joe Crawford robbed keeper Aaron Maguire to set up Ciaran Cassley and the big mid-fielder made no mistake as he drilled his shot to the net and there was only four in it with six minutes of normal play remaining.

Donal Hughes extended the visitors lead to five from the puck out but All Saints responded and were awarded a close range free in the 26^th minute with Neeson deciding to go for goal but his well struck shot was repelled by a packed Bredagh defence and the danger cleared.

The visitors kept their nerve and refused to panic as Ian Galway pointed in the 27^th minute and in a hectic close to the game Damian Gillan was wide from a long range free and Ciaran Neeson’s attempt at goal from another free sailed wide of the target.

In the end the best team won and it isn’t hard to see why Bredagh lead this division and look uncatchable. They were solid throughout the game with Mark Patterson, Niall Smyth, Oran McFlynn, Ian Galway, Danny Robinson and Sean McGourty their outstanding performers on the night.

All Saints went into this game minus a few regulars and looked to be heading for a heavy defeat at half time but when I spoke to ‘Skinner’ McAllister after the game he was very pleased by his side’s second half effort.

The Ballymena defence tightened considerably after the break with Terence Diamond, Padhraig Magill and Colum Neeson to the fore while the insatiable work rate of Ciaran McGarry and the skill of Ciaran Cassley started to have a big influence at mid-field.

The moving of Ciaran Neeson into the corner gave them a lot more punch in attack and young Neeson may be disappointed that a number of his frees were off target in difficult conditions but his overall effort cannot be faulted and he remains one of his side’s best prospects in a season that has been very satisfactory to date.

All Saints: Daire Hasson, Darren McGinty, Terence Diamond, Anthony Mitchell, Padhraig Magill, Colum Neeson, Eoin McGuigan, Ciaran McGarry, Liam Cassley, Ciaran Neeson, Gary Miskella, Damian Gillan, Vinny Esler, Barry Dorrity, Tony Connolly. Subs: Joe Crawford, Michael Dorrity.

Bredagh: Aaron Maguire, Mark Patterson, Eoin McAllister, Niall Smyth, Ryan Curran, Donal Hughes, Oran McFlynn, Ian Galway, Danny Robinson, Michael Woods, Emmet Trainor, Damian Hanrahan, Sean McGourty, Matthew McAffee, Tiarnan Curran, Subs: Vince McCool.

Referee: Rab Lappin (Lamh Dhearg)

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Ciaran Neeson who scored 1-6 for All Saints in their win over St. Agners at Slemish Park today.

O’Neill’s ACHL Division 4

All Saints 3-14 St. Agnes 0-7

All Saints, Ballymena recorded their fifth win of a season where they have returned to All County action after a number of year’s absence and to date they have performed admirably as they attempt to build a team for the future.

A lack of players brought about their withdrawal but an influx of young players has heralded their return and on recent performances the future looks bright for the Ballymena side. After losing to a strong Glenravel team last week but performing well they had St. Agnes as visitors to Slemish Park on Sunday.

The ‘Aggies’ hung in for a time thanks mainly to the excellent free taking of Ronan Carroll but when Ciaran Neeson fired home a 31^st minute penalty Paddy Neeson’s side took control. It was the visitors who took the lead when Carroll pointed a long range free but two pointed frees from Damian Gillan and another from Ciaran Neeson had the home side two in front.

St. Agnes were battling hard to stay in contention and an excellent point from Conor Mclean from out on the left closed the gap to the minimum with ten minutes gone. Ciaran Neeson replied immediately with three excellent All Saints points to move his side three in front after 16 minutes.

Another well struck free by Ronan Carroll closed the gap to two but again Neeson relied from a free to edge them three in front again after 20 minutes. Vinny Esler added a good point and Liam Cassley took a pass from Joe Crawford to extend the Ballymena lead to five.

Cormac Flannery struck an excellent point for the visitors to stop the rut but a goal by Ciaran Neeson from the penalty spot in the 31^st minute put All Saints in pole position as the half time whistle sounded.

All Saints Luke O’Rawe wins possession at mid-field.

It wasn’t to get any better for the South Antrim side when play resumed after  the break as Ciaran Cassley extended the home lead with a fine long range point and Luke O’Rawe and Ciaran McGarry both fired wide before the excellent Carroll struck his side’s fifth point from another free with six minutes gone.

All Saints were now on top in most areas of the field and their fitness and movement continued to stretch the opposition as Ciaran McGarry got in for their second goal to move them nine ahead before Ronan Carroll again replied with a point for the ‘Aggies’ who were now struggling to keep in touch.

Damian Gillan responded with another All Saints point in the 20^th minute to extend his side’s advantage to 13 and when Sean O’Rawe got in for a third goal in the 27^th minute it was over. St. Agnes keeper Kevin Grieve made a great initial save to deny Ciaran McGarry but substitute O’Rawe collected the rebound to fire to the net from an acute angle.

St. Agnes responded with a consolation point from Grieve who had switched his keeper jersey to move outfield with Cassley from a long range free and Ciaran Neeson from play concluding the scoring.

A good win for All Saints and encouraging signs that they can continue to improve in their first season back in division 4. They have unearthed a fine crop of young players in Daire Hasson, Vinny Esler, Brendan McDonnell, Ciaran Neeson, Luke O’Rawe and Sean O’Rawe all enjoying their first season in league action supplemented by the experience of Darren McGinty Chris McAffee, Liam Cassley, Damian Gillan and Ciaran McGarry.

Spare a thought for St. Agnes though. They arrived with only 15 players and lost a player to injury. They had excellent performers in Kevin Grive, Ronan Carroll, Cormac Flannery and Sean McIlhatton and never threw in the towel.

All Saints: Daire Hasson, Darren McGinty, Christopher McAffee, Francis Casey, Anthony Mitchell Colum Neeson, Brendan McDonnell, Liam Cassley, Luke O’Rawe, Eoin McGuigan, Damian Gillan, Vincent Essler, Joe Crawford, Ciaran McGarry, Ciaran Neeson. Subs: Niall McGarry, Gary Miskella and Sean O’Rawe for Eoin McGuigan, Joe Crawford and Anthony Mitchell

St. Agnes: Kevin Grieve, Neill Gillespie, Martin Robb, Diarmaid Kelly, Matt Carlin, Ronan Carroll, Fintan McBride, Briondan McLarnon, Cormac Flannery, Joe Robinson, Conor McLean, Declan McLarnon, Sean McIlhatton, Donal Rooney, Conor Pelan

Referee: Ryan O’Reilly (Glenravel)

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