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South Antrim Football
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Davitts senior South Antrim team gained their first point of the season with a hard fought draw against Gortnamona at Boucher Road. Trailing by 4 points at half time the Lower Falls lads stuck to their task and eventually led by a point going into the closing minutes, only for Gortnamona to peg it back. A draw was probably a fair result and full credit to this Davitts team, 'young and old', who keep these fixtures going.
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Draw for Senior footballers in league opener
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Sarsfields 0-5 Davitts 0-5
In this low scoring affair both teams had opportunities to win the game but it will be Sarsfields who will probably feel they should had taken both points as they racked up fourteen wides and missed a penalty.
We played against the wind in the first half and a combination of good defensive work and wayward shooting, particlulary by Sarfields, the game went for 22 minutes before Sean Smith registered the first score to give us the lead. Things didn't get much better and Sarsfields equalised just before half time to leave the score 0-1 apiece.
The second half started off a bit brighter. A long range Stephen Toner point was then followed by a well taken Sean O'Neill free and we stretched our lead to two. Sarsfields replied with a point and were then awarded a penalty after a long, high ball caused disarray in the box and the ball was subsequently lifted of the deck. It was a poor penalty to concede but thankfully a tame shot down the middle of the goal was easily saved by Sean McGovern. Ciaran O'Riordan restored our two point advantage with a long solo run from the half back line and split the posts with a fine effort. Sarsfields response was positive and they hit two points to level with six minutes left on the clock, the second following a good passing movement from their own defense. Sean O'Neill edged us in front with another free only for Sarfields to slot a equalising free. The game concluded as a draw despite both teams believing that the full sixty minutes had not been played.
Team: S McGovern, M Rowntree, G Rowntree, N McCleave, S Toner (0-1), P McGivern, T Park, G Shaw, C O'Riordan (0-1), S Smith (0-1), C O'Riordan, S O'Neill (0-2), A McGrattan, L McGivern, D Largey, Subs: M McAuley, C McAuley, G Cairns, S Prenter, J Kearney, P Maguire |
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South Antrim League 1 Football Fixtures
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The South Antrim fixtures have been scheduled for Thursday night's with the games commencing on 10 April.
The fixtures are as follows:
Round 1 - Thursday 10 April - 7.30pm - Davitts v Rossa at Boucher Road
Round 2 - Thursday 17 April - 7.30pm - Ardoyne v Davitts at Falls Park
Round 3 - Thursday 24 April - 7.30pm - Lamh Dhearg v Davitts at Hannahstown
Round 4 - Thursday 1 May - 7.30pm - Davitts v Gortnamona at Boucher Road
Round 5 - Thursday 8 May - 7.30pm - St Malachy's v Davitts at Cherryvale
Round 6 - Thursday 22 May - 8.00pm - Davitts v St John's at Boucher Road
Thursday 29 May has been set aside for any refixes
Round 7 - Thursday 5 June - 8.00pm - St Paul's v Davitts at Shaws Road
Round 8 - Thursday 12 June - 8.00pm - Rossa v Davitts at Rossa Park
Round 9 - Thursday 19 June - 8.00pm - Davitts v Ardoyne at Boucher Road
Round 10 - Thursday 26 June - 8.00pm - Davitts v Lamh Dhearg at Boucher Road
Round 11 - Thursday 3 July - 8.00pm - Gortnamona v Davitts at Enright Park
Round 12 - Thursday 10 July - 8.00pm - Davitts v St Malachy's at Boucher Road
Round 13 - Thursday 31 July - 8.00pm - St John's v Davitts at Corrigan Park
Round 14 - Thursday 14 August - 8.00pm - Davitts v St Paul's at Boucher Road
Thursday 21 August and Thursday 28 August have been set aside for refixes.
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Division 2 Status retained
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Davitts 1-7 Tir Na Nog 0-9
In a tough encounter we just managed to prevail by a single point in our relegation/promotion dog fight with Tir na Nog. We were well prepared for a tough game and this is what we got.
We started lively, having plenty of possession but only managed a single Daniel Largey point. Tir Na Nog hit back strongly with three unanswered points to lead 3-1 before Gavin Shaw reduced the deficit with a 30 yard point following a good solo run from midfield.
The game continued to ebb and flow with chances on both sides but a long pass from defense to Anto McGrattan saw him cut in from the wing and unleash a rocket into the roof of the net to give us a 1-2 to 0-3 lead. The first half ended with a Tir Na Nog point to leave a point between the teams.
We started the second half with Sean McGovern kicking a 45 metre free over the bar to give us a two point lead but as with the first half Tir Na Nog responded with two points to level. Anto McGrattan edged us a point in front before Tir Na Nog kicked two frees to take the lead for the first time in the second half 8-7. Daniel Largey then hit two successive points and with time running out we held a point advantage.
Tir Na Nog pressed for the equaliser and a mistake in our back line resulted in a foul to which the referee awarded a penalty and Tir Na Nog had the chance to win the game. The pressure was on as the Tir Na Nog man stepped up. He struck a hard and low shot to the keepers right - it looked a goal - but down went Darren O'Neill at full stretch to stop the ball. He reacted quickly, gained possession and played the ball out of danger. Was this to be the final straw and a Davitt win - not yet - Tir Na Nog equalised and seemed to have the impetus. We dug deep went on the attack and were awarded a 30 yard free. The experienced Kevin McParland stepped up to slot the ball over the bar and the vital score which gave us the win.
There were great performances all over the park. Gary Nelson was outstanding as was Terry Park, Darren O'Neill, Ciaran and Colly O'Riordan and Gerard Rowntree.
This was a vital win and perhaps we can now realise the potential we have within this team. If we can now sit down and draw up or plan for next season we will hopefully be in a better position to challenge for honours and we will not find ourselves in a similar position again |
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ACFL Div 2 - Davitts 5-3 Sarsfields 1-9
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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) |
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Two valuable points for Senior Footballers
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Rossa 0-4 Davitts 0-9
In this must win match we put in a much improved perfomance to deservedly take the points. The first half was very tight with both teams squandering chance after chance to open their account. Eventually after fifteen minutes the first point came when Martin Mooney slotted over a 30 yard shot. This fired us up and we started to take control of the game. We looked solid in defense and Gary Nelson was outstanding, breaking up the play and setting up attacks. Further points from Sean Smith and Anto McGrattan took us into a three point half time lead.
We started the second half as we had finished the first, with Gavin Shaw winning the midfield battle as he put in his best performance of the year. We added two more points from Anto McGrattan and Stephen Toner with Rossa cancelling these out with two points of their own. A Ciaran O'Riordan long range effort stretched the lead to four. Points were then exchanged to take the score to 0-8 to 0-4 with Anto McGrattan getting his third of the afternoon and Stephen Toner his second.
Rossa were then thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a controversial penalty, with the infringement having taken place outside the box. Close from Rossa stepped to hit a pile driver but Tommy Toland stood tall to parry the ball away from the goal and avert any danger. This was to signal Rossa's last throw of the dice and we then played some excellent keep ball which resulted in the final point of the game, Stephen Toner getting his third.
This victory now puts us level on points with Rossa and Sarsfields and everything to play for as we strive to pull out of the danger zone. |
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