The 2018 season kicked off for Naomh Comhghall Senior team on Wednesday night at Dunsilly. Their opponents were Eire og from Belfast. Eire og started off the livelier and had a couple of attempts at scores, but both went wide. Naomh Comhghall soon found their rhythm and immediately had the ball at the other end of the field. A brilliant interchange between Paddy O’connor and Paddy Cooke saw the latter send a pile driver into the back of the net. Paddy Cooke was the scorer again a minute late, with a great point on the 3 minute mark. Such was Naomh Comhghalls dominance in the opening 10 minutes that they had 2 goals and 5 points to Eire ogs solitary point. The scorers for Naomh Comhghall were Paddy Cooke 1-1, Joe Webb 0-1,Rory McLarnon 0-3, one of these points from a foul on Ruairi Griffin. Full forward for Naomh Comhghall, Louis Higgins had the ball in the back of the net in the 9th minute thanks to an assist from Paddy O’connor. Eire og doubled their score in the 16th minute, after two other efforts went wide. Oisin Crilly for Naomh Comhghall notched up a further point after receiving a pinpoint pass from Rory McLarnon, who a minute later converted a free after a foul again on Ruairi Griffin. Young Griffin was terrorising the Eire og defence with zig zagging runs towards goal. The 1st half ended with a score line of Naomh Comhghall 2-7 to Eire og 0-2.
Naomh Comhghalls new manager James Brazier started to empty the bench such was the managements confidence in victory, off came Paul Flanagan, Joe Webb and Paddy Cooke and on came Miles Devine, Callum Mccabe and Mick Mccabe.
Miles Devine made an immediate impact with a long distance point on 32 minutes. Naomh Comhghall kept piling on the pressure on Eire og and 30 yard free kick resulted in a fortunate goal for Paddy Quinn with 35 minutes gone. The Eire og keeper appeared to be dazzled by the sun and Quinns free kick looped over his head.
Ruairi Griffin got Naomh Comhghalls 4th goal 6 minutes into the 2nd half courtesy of an assist from Louis Higgins. Naomh Comhghall registered another goal from Louis Higgins, who was having a great game and two points from sub Miles Devine and Oisin Crilly.
The game entered a quite period for Naomh Comhghall who went without a score for 10 minutes, maybe something the teams management will look at. Fresh legs were brought on for the Antrim Town side, with Colm Griffin and Conor mcauley replacing Louis Higgins and Rory McLarnon. Eire og got their 3rd and final score in the 42nd minute, with a good point from distance. The fresh legs seemed to re energise Naomh Comhghall, with a flurry of attacks on Eire ogs goals. Half time substitute Callum mccabe sent over a decent point from 30 yards out on 46 minutes. Conor McAuley had 3 efforts at points ruled wide by the umpire but his perseverance was rewarded with a superb goal after a poor kick out from the Eire og keeper. Paddy Quinn rounded off the scoring for Naomh Comhghall, scoring their last 4 points, two of which were free kicks and two from play. The final score in a very one sided game was Naomh Comhghall 6-15, Eire og 0-3.
Well done boys!
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