Goals Galore at Chapel Hill

Antrim U-16B Football League

St. Joseph’s, Glenavy 7.17 v 3.05 Kickham’s, Creggan

The home side had a resounding winning margin against a gallant Creggan at a sunny Chapel Hill. The winning margin doesn’t tell the whole story as the young visitors played well but could not quell the home forward line. Indeed the scoreline would have been much more only for the heroics Finlay Bradley in Creggan nets.

Finn Shannon had the first point inside the first minute to settle the home side. Peadar McGuickan levelled with a well taken point. Once again young Shannon showed his skills when he weaved his way the defence to split the posts. We then had the first Glenavy goal when a move started by the home keeper Jamie Hanna finished with the ball reaching Finn Shannon who gave the keeper no chance with the ball nestling in his net. Eoin Phillips landed a beauty raising the white flag. Young Shannon split the posts from a free to put his side six in front.

To their credit the Staffordstown side kept going and were rewarded when Oran McAfee finished a good team play with a point. The Orangemen responded with two points from Cormac Donnelly and one apiece from Shay O’Neill and Fiontan O’Boyle. Oran McAfee and Peadar McGuickan closed the gap with a point each. Matthew Kane got in on the scoring act with a point to leave the score 1.08 v 0.04. We then had a second goal for the Green and Gold side when Ryan O’Neill fired to the net. Matthew Kane brought the first half scoring to an end when fired over the black spot while being tightly marked. H/T 1.09 v 1.04.

Finn Shannon had the opening two scores of the second half with a point from play and one from a free. The home support gave the visitors no chance of a comeback when Fiontan O’Boyle and that lad Shannon blasted two unstoppable shot to the net to leave thirteen between the sides. Not to be outdone back came the visitors with two goal of their own when from Peadar McGuickan and Finn close to close the gap to seven.

Full forward Ronan Hill quelled his side’s nerves with a well executed point. When Finn Shannon added a goal and point from play his side was well on course for a well deserved victory. Peadar McGuickan showed his skills when he weaved through for a well deserved point which was his side’s last score. Chris O’Hare, Shay O’Neill and Fiontan O’Boyle added points. We then were treated to two goals from Shay O’Neill. Finn Shannon pointed to seal an excellent game from him. Ruairi Hamill finished the scoring with a goal to leave the final score 7.17 v 3.05  in the Hill side’s favour.

I must hand out plaudits to the visitors for their efforts particularly goalkeeper Finlay Bradley, Peadar McGuickan and Ryan O’Neill who lead by example.

It would be unfair to single out any Glenavy players as twenty of them contributed to the victory.

St. Joseph’s: Jamie Hanna; Conor Loney; Odhran Arthurs; Angus MacDonald (Ethan Hotchkiss) ; Eugene Clenaghan; Dara McAlister; Niall Burke; Matthew Kane; Fiontan O’Boyle; Peter Mulholland (Ruairi Hamill}; Shay O’Neill; Eoin Phillips (Daniel Hamill); Finn Shannon; Ronan Hill; Cormac Donnelly (Chris O’Hare)

Referee: Joe McCavana St.Comgall’s.