GLENRAVEL 1-09
ST. ENDAS 0-10
The senior footballers head for division 2 next year as champions having won the division 3 title by virtue of a very gritty performance at home against nearest league rivals, St Endas, on Sunday.
With both teams having only lost one team during the league, a draw would have given us the title and because we were missing a few players, Henry, Vincy and co. would have settled for that before the throw-in.
This was as disciplined and committed a performance as we have produced all year and each and every player should be proud of his efforts. The defence led by veteran, Marty Mulholland, was magnificent, never giving St Endas time to settle and always looking to burst up-field to support the forwards. Indeed our last score came from centre half and captain, Ally McKeown who charged through from the back to score with 4 minutes left. Our mid-field of Eamon Hegarty and David Birt worked their socks off with Eamon getting some great possession and Davy playing brilliantly for a man who had literally got out of his sick bed to play. Our forwards only hit 4 wides over the hour, hit the woodwork 3 times and were unlucky not to knock up a bigger tally.
We began rather nervously, with no-one tasking on the responsibility of taking the shot which resulted in much over-passing and over-carrying. This allowed St Endas to make a more positive start and they were 3 up after ten minutes. Paddy Bell brought off 2 great catches in the full forward line with no reward though 1 great effort hit the post. Davy Birt flashed a great shot just wide but the high-town men held the whip hand. With Eamon and Davy coming more into the game the tide began to turn and Chris McAuley had our 1st score after 15 minutes following a very determined solo run. Mick McQuillan pulled another one back after good work by young David Higgins and the Balcony Boys went mad when Paddy Bell lashed the ball to the St Endas net after 20 minutes following great build-up work by the Birt cousins to give us the lead for the 1st time. This was followed by a pointed free from Josh McKeown and now we were playing well through-out the field. St Endas keeper, Martin Craig, did well to keep out a goal bound effort from Davy BIrt as yet another McKeown free opened up a 4 pt gap with 5 minutes left of the 1st half. However, 2 converted frees from St Endas danger man, Paul Darby, left the half-time score 1-04 to 0-05 in our favour.
The same player converted 2 more frees to level the game for the first time and he again hit the target to give his side the lead after 7 minutes into the second half. Darby had contributed 7 of his side’s 8 pts and was obviously the player we would have to watch. Glenravel levelled with a DJ Birt free and
Team
: Brain Birt, Connor Reid, Martin Mulholland, Damian O’Hagan, Kieran McKeown, Ally McKeown (Captain) (0-01), Aidan McCafferty, Eamon Hegarty, Davy Birt, Mick McQuillan (0-01), DJ Birt (0-02 1f), David Higgins (0-01) (Johnny Boyle 56min), Paddy Bell (1-01), Josh McKeown (0-02 1f), Chris McAuley (0-01).