Saints’ Ulster title dreams end with extra-time defeat

The sides were deadlocked at the end of normal time after a rip-roaring sixty minutes but the Armagh champions got on top during extra time and outscored the Ballymena by 3 points to one to book a final place.

As has been the case in their two Ulster matches to date All Saints were slow to start and Culloville went three points clear with points from Keran Hatzer, Seamus Watters and Niall Rowland.

All Saints hit back and after Peter McReynolds was denied a goal by Culloville keeper Kiearn McMahon Michael McCarry got them on the scoreboard before Paddy Logan and McCarry again found the target to level matters at 0-3 apiece.

Culloville’s John Kingham was then yellow carded for a terrible challenge on Saints Liam Cassley and in truth the Armagh man could easily have received a straight red, but referee Martin McErlane was lenient.

Cullaville edged back in front with a point from right-half-back Padraig Caherty in the twenty-sixth minute but All Saints responded well and two points from Damian Kelly in the twenty-ninth and thirty-first minutes gave the Ballymena boys a 0-5 to 0-4 half-time lead.

Culloville levelled matters within a minute of the restart and though Michael McCarry put Ballymena back in front with another pointed free the Armagh men struck a significant blow when Johnny McGeeney caught the Saints defence napping and rose high to punch the ball to the Ballymena net.

The All Saints fans were soon in full cry again when two minutes later corner-forward Peter McReynolds palmed a Sean McCambridge cross to the net but the see-saw nature of the second-half continued when Culloville hit back immediately and Colm Watters fired a left footed shot to the Ballymena net.

As the excitement grew in the final quarter All Saints drew level on three occasions as Michael McCarry, the outstanding Sean McVeigh and Paddy Logan answered scores by Culloville’s Kiaran Hatzer, Niall Rowland and Johnny McGeeney.

Culloville appeared to have clinched it when McGeeney edged his side 2-8 to 1-10 in front four minutes from time but as the game entered injury time Peter McReynolds saved the day for the Saints and his late points brought the game to extra time.

Two points within a minute midway through the first period of extra time from Roland and Hatzer put Culloville in control, though Michael McCarry reduced the deficit to the minimum by half-time when he again found the target from a free.

With wind advantage in the second period of extra time All Saints must have been confident they could book a final place but despite controlling possession in that final ten minutes they failed to raise another flag and Johnny McGeeney hit the final score of the game to give the Armagh men a two point win.

Bitter disappointment for the All Saints fans as their great journey comes to an end, but they can be very proud of their team who have given the club a season to remember.

All Saints: Brian Martin: Dara Walsh, Seamus McAffee, Emmet Killough: Damian Kelly, Peter McNicholl, Terry Logan: Sean McVeigh,Paddy Logan: Liam Cassley, Andy Kelly, Michael McCarry: Patrick McAleer, Sean McCambridge, Peter McReynolds. Subs: Peter McCann for Andy Kelly, Ryan Lyness for Dara Walsh, Rory McVeigh for Paddy McAleer.