St. Joseph’s Come out on top in Local Derby

Report: Terry Cormican

Photographs: Bert Trowlen

ACFL Division 2

St.Joseph’s Glenavy 1-09 St. Patrick’s Lisburn 0-11

Newly promoted, St. Patrick’s, Lisburn lost for the second time in two Division 2 outings when they visited St. Joseph’s, Glenavy but have shown that they are more than capable of holding their own in the higher division as they pushed the home side right to the wire.

On a beautiful evening these sides served up an exciting game of football with the home side coming out on top with a one point victory. The standard of football may not have been of the highest standard but the closeness of the scores kept the large crowd excited.

The Hill side got the first score of the game after ten minutes when Fergal Green converted a free. Alex Gallagher popped one over the black spot quickly followed by a Fergal Green special from the 45 meter out before Eoin Fay opened the visitor’s account from a pointed free. Niall McCann operating on the edge of the square pointed to leave his side three up after 20 minutes but the City side came thundering back with 3 points to level the game with 2 pointed frees from Eoin Fay and a beauty from out on the wing from Josh McMullan. Once again Fergal Green put his side one up with a long range point but Francis McMeel responded with the final point of the half to leave the score at 5 apiece.

The second half commenced with Eoin Fay pointing a free to give St. Patrick’s the lead for the first time but the orange men replied in style with the ever alert Alex Gallagher finishing to the net. Francis McMeel pointed a free and Eoin Fay added another from play to leave the sides level and it was obvious this one would go right down to the wire.

Sean McEvoy put the Lisburn side back in front for the second time with a well taken point but County full-back Patrick Gallagher produced a strong run before tying the contest once more. As the intensity of the contest increased Ben McMullan pointed a free to edge the visitors ahead for the third time.

St. Patrick’s must have fancied their chances of taking both points at this stage as Fergal Green Levelled only to see the opposition go straight down the pitch for a point to leave the scores Glenavy 1.07 v 0.11.

Nerves began to play their part and the last five minutes were filled with mistakes from both sides. With the visitors running out of steam the home side got the two points they needed for a win with Niall McCann and Fergal Green getting the necessary scores for a very welcome win.

Glenavy: J. Nelson; N. Scullion; C. Scullion; E. Forrester; R. Phillips; P. Gallagher; D. Nelson (S. McGirr); C. Loney; P. Traynor (O. Hamill); M. Kane (T. Gallagher); M. McCourt; F. Green; P. O’Neill; N. McCann; A. Gallagher.

Lisburn: P. O’Neill; T. Burns; M. Chemek; T. Ó Meallaigh; E. Fay; D. Burns; J. McMullan; D. Taggart; F .McMeel; B. McMullan; S. McEvoy; M. Hughes; N. Ward.

Referee. Paul Hughes (O’Donnell’s)