St Joseph’s record derby win to get to next round

A St Joseph's Glenavy player tries to find a way through against St Mary's Aghagallon.

Luke Devereux lead the way for St. Joseph’s with a number of points to help his side to a derby win.

Both sides were guilty of over passing and wasted excellent chances of scores early on but then Niall McCann showed how to finish when he took an excellent pass from Ciaran Loney to put his side one up.

Devereux pointed from the placed ball after a foul 50 metres out.

St. Mary’s eventually started to get more ball around midfield and had their first point on fifteen minutes from a Rory Loughan free.

From the kickout the ball made its way to Oisin Lenihan who levelled the scores with a well worked point.

It was now the Aghagallon side who were controlling midfield with some excellent high fielding.

Once again St.Mary’s won the kickout and found David McAlernon who put his side one up.

When Francis Bustard added another point to double his side’s advantage the St.Mary’s supporters must have thought they were on their way to the second round.

Up stepped the ever reliable Devereux to put the minimum between the sides.

Eunan Walsh pointed from an acute angle to stretch the lead.

Lenihan went off on a solo run he played the ball to Ryan Phillips who spotted Ciaran Loney free and from the resultant point there was only a point between the sides as the referee blew the halftime whistle.

Five unanswered points after the break put St Joseph’s four points up.

Owen Gallagher scored two points to join Niall McCann, Fergus Cunningham and Luke Devereux in extending the lead.

James Gallagher then pointed to put five between the sides.

From the kickout Aghagallon gained possession and worked the ball past a hesitant Glenavy defence to get the ball to Ciaran Brady for a well deserved goal.

This proved to be St.Mary’s last score.

St Joseph’s went up a gear and scored a number of points to put St Mary’s out of sight and finish the match seven points clear.

Both sides deserve great credit for serving up an exciting game with some excellent football and sportsmanship.

Glenavy will now play Moneyglass in the next round.