Honours Even at Sally Gardens

Antrim Division Two Football League

Davitt’s v 1.14 v 1.14 St.Joseph’s

With both sides on ten points at least a point was needed to guarantee division two football next season. In a highly entertaining game resulted in the point needed to escape a relegation battle. Played on a 4G pitch on a very hot evening the players deserve the highest praise in keeping their supporters on tender hooks until the final whistle. Once again the country side allowed a seven point lead to vanish and was relieved when substitute James Gallagher equalised with the last kick of the game.

Fergal Henry cut in from the wing to split the posts for the opening score. Caomham Slane levelled the game with a well worked point. Thomas Gallagher and Michael McCourt pointed to for the hill side. Aaron Slane Davitt’s goalkeeper got the first of his five pointed frees. The visitors had their best spell of the game scoring 1.04 without reply. Thomas Gallagher took a pass from his brother Anthony and gave the home keeper no chance when he rattled the back of the net, Ciaran Loney wit tow and Fergal Henry landed points to give their side a sizeable lead.

Instead of kicking on they let the Belfast side back into the game a pointed free from their keeper. A long kick into the big square allowed James Lindberg added a point. A long kick from midfield into the large square allowed Niall McPartland to gain possession and finish to the net. Padraig McPartland landed a pointed free from an acute angle. to leave the minimum between the sides. Thomas Gallagher and Caomham Slane exchanged points to leave the halftime score 1.07 v 1.06 in the orange mens favour.

Padraig McPartland levelled the scores and Caomham Slane put the home side in front for the first time. Niall McCann levelled the scores with a well taken point. Once again indiscipline in the visitors defence cost them dearly when the home keeper came up and pointed a free. Once again the sides were level when Niall McCann gained possession and split the posts. Davitt’s kept exerting a lot of pressure on the Glenavy defence and were rewarded with a pointed free from Aaron Slane. James Gallagher who had entered the fray and Niall McCann put their side one up with ten minutes to go.

Padraig McPartland and James Lindberg put their side one up with a point apiece. James Gallagher pointed a free to level the scores for the seventh time. Jake Nelson brought off an excellent save at the expense of a forty five which Aaron Slane pointed for his fifth point and put his side one up entering added time. To their credit the visitors kept plugging away and were rewarded when Ryan Malley stole up from corner back to score an excellent point. This was Ryan’s first senior game having stepped up from minor and proved he is not out of place.

From the kickout Davitt’s won the ball in the middle and quickly got the ball through to Padraig McPartland who kept his nerve and put his side one with time almost up. James Gallagher gained possession from the kickout and quickly put the ball over the bar to level the scores at 1.14 apiece. The final whistle blew to the relief of both sides and their supporters. A word of praise is not out of place for referee Conall James Roberts who did a excellent job .

Glenavy:  J. Nelson; R. Malley; J. Phillips; M. Kane; R. Phillips; P. Gallagher; C. Grant; P. Treanor; M. Johnston; M. McCourt; N. McCann; A. Gallagher; T. Gallagher; C. Loney; F. Henry.

1. Hamill; F. Cunningham; P. O’Neill; D. Shannon; J. Gallagher.