Match Report: Senior Men v All Saints, Ballymena

ACFL  League Division 2

All Saints 2-09 v 2-08 St.Joseph’s Glenavy

Report: Terry Cormican

Photos: Bert Trowlen

In a keenly contested game in which could have gone either way right up to the final whistle the home side edged it by a point. Glenavy fielded with seven debutants to senior football and they gave a very good account of themselves.

The visitors got off to a very good start with team captain Ciaran Loney getting the opening point before Paddy Gallagher burst through, took a pass from his brother Owen and scored an excellent goal. Back came Ballymena with two good points to level the scoring The supporters were enjoying the end to end football that was served up as the orange men had three unanswered points from a Fergal Green free, Owen Gallagher split the posts and Alex Gallagher pointed to leave the score after 15 minutes 1-04  to 0-02 in the Hill side’s favour.

Shea O’Brien pulled a point back from an acute angle to narrow the gap but Fergal Green then hit two beauties to put his side back in control. The Slemish Park lads then came thundering back with an excellent worked goal from Michael McCarry as they fought to get back into contention. Fergal Green added a point for St. Joseph’s but the home side finished the half strongly and Michael McCarry and  McReynolds  added points to leave the half time score 1-07 to 1-05 in favour of the visitors.

ACFL  League Division 2

All Saints 2-09 v 2-08 St.Joseph’s Glenavy

Report: Terry Cormican

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

In a keenly contested game in which could have gone either way right up to the final whistle the home side edged it by a point. Glenavy fielded with seven debutants to senior football and they gave a very good account of themselves.

The visitors got off to a very good start with team captain Ciaran Loney getting the opening point before Paddy Gallagher burst through, took a pass from his brother Owen and scored an excellent goal. Back came Ballymena with two good points to level the scoring The supporters were enjoying the end to end football that was served up as the orange men had three unanswered points from a Fergal Green free, Owen Gallagher split the posts and Alex Gallagher pointed to leave the score after 15 minutes 1-04  to 0-02 in the Hill side’s favour.

Shea O’Brien pulled a point back from an acute angle to narrow the gap but Fergal Green then hit two beauties to put his side back in control. The Slemish Park lads then came thundering back with an excellent worked goal from Michael McCarry as they fought to get back into contention. Fergal Green added a point for St. Joseph’s but the home side finished the half strongly and Michael McCarry and  McReynolds  added points to leave the half time score 1-07 to 1-05 in favour of the visitors.

All Saints’ halftime team talk had the desired effect with Michael McCarry pointing from a free and for good measure he pointed from an acute angle to level the scores. Niall McCann put the visitors back in front with a point but the home side went in front for the first time with points from Diarmuid McNally and Michael McCarry. With both sets of forwards battling against two strong defences scores were proving hard to come by.

Owen Gallagher went on one of his famous solo runs and placed Peter Traynor who gave keeper Steven McAvoy no chance but as so often happens in games, back came the lads in opposition from the kick-out the ball was quickly moved into the forward line and broke to Shea O’Brien who gave keeper Jake Nelson no chance with a rocket to the net. This put All Saints’ a point in front with four minutes plus injury time to go. Both sides fought to the final whistle for an all-important score but none came. Sean Laverty blew the final whistle to leave the home side winning on a score of 2-9 v 2-8.Both sides deserve great credit for the entertainment they gave their supporters.