ACFL Div 2 – Davitts 5-3 Sarsfields 1-9

We kept our hopes alive of avoiding the relegation playoff with a much deserved win against Sarsfields at Boucher Road. This win leaves us level on points with Sarsfields with both teams having one game left to complete their league programme. We must travel to Glenravel while Sarsfields play St Endas (if sources are correct).From the start we stamped our authority on the game with two excellently taken points from Ciaran O’Riordan. We continued to threaten but following a breakdown in an attack Sarsfields swept up the field to open their account and score their first point of the game. The game burst into life when a long ball was delivered over the Sarsfields defence. As the keeper came out Anto McGrattan kept his cool to slot the ball passed him and into the net.Whilst we maintained the bulk of the play we became sloppy and silly mistakes and loss of possession allowed Sarsfields to claw their way back into the game as they responded with three unanswered points to take the score to 1-2 to 0-4 . The final score of the first half came from Daniel Largey as he hit a fierce shot which just didn’t dip enough to take it into the net but the point gave us a two point half time lead.We got a great start to the second half when Anto McGrattan took possession of the ball, soloed past the Sarsfields defense and fired a rocket into the roof of the net. Again, as with the first half we took our foot of the pedal and Sarsfield closed the gap with a well worked goal. Despite this we never panicked and every time we attacked it looked as if we would score – goals. The next score was bizarre as Ciaran O’Riordan took a free from 50 metres. He hit a high effort into the Sarsfields square and as the defender went to catch the ball he turned into the net to gift us the score and a 2-3 to 1-4 lead.Sarsfields regrouped and reduced the deficit to two hitting another three points. Back we came when substitute Kevin McParland fired in our fourth goal of the game to increase the pressure on Sarsfields and despite their two point reply Anto McGrattan’s third goal of the game left the final score 5-3 to 1-9.This was a much improved and all round performance from a hungry side eager to avoid the relegation playoff. It has taken us a while to realise that goals win matches and that we have the ability to run at defenses and hit the back of the net. Unfortunately we have not shown this type of character enough this year but hopefully we carry it into our final league match.While everyone played their part special mention should go to Anto McGrattan whose movement and finishing was exemplary, Colly and Ciaran O’Riordan who grafted tirelessy in the middle with Paul Mc Givern and Terry Park rock solid in defense.T Toland, M Rowntree, Fra McCabe, N McCabe, K Maxwell, P McGivern, T Park, Ciaran O’Riordan (1-2), Colly O’Riordan, S Smith, M Mooney, D Largey (0-1), G Burns, (K McParland (1-0)), S Prenter, A McGrattan (3-0)