St Michael’s hold on in Glenswilly to retain Division One status

St Michael’s had to withstand a fierce Glenswilly comeback in the closing stages to preserve their Division One status for 2023.

Glenswilly 1-10
St Michael’s 1-11

St Michael’s held on by the tips of their fingers as Glenswilly, aided by the return of Michael Murphy, chipped away at an eight-point deficit in the last seven minutes.

When Andrew Kelly pointed a 53rd minute free, St Michael’s were 1-11 to 0-6 in front.

Glenswilly hit four points over the next three minutes with Murphy (2), Cormac Callaghan and Shane McDevitt making a real fist of it.

Two minutes into added time, Glenswilly were thrown a massive lifeline. Oisin Cannon, the St Michael’s goalkeeper, got a good arm behind Caolan Kelly’s drive. The ball, however, dropped back down and inside the opposite post, despite the best efforts of Hugh O’Donnell on the line.

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Glenswilly launched their own goalkeeper, Philip O’Donnell, into full-forward for the closing chapter in a bid to complete the turnaround.

It proved too little, too late and, with an away game at Ardara to come, Pauric Bonner’s men remain in danger of getting caught in the quicksand.

This was something of a slow burner in a game played under a wintry sky in Foxhall.

Murphy fetched from McDevitt to post his first club score of 2022 to draw the Glenmen level after an Andrew Kelly free opened the scoring.

Caolan Kelly arrowed over off the outside of his right boot to cancel out a Martin McElhinney point, but Kelly’s score was Glenswilly’s last act until the 35th minute.

Seven wides told the story of a frustratingly wasteful first half from the hosts.

St Michael’s fared somewhat better and were 0-5 yo 0-2 in front at the break.

Carlos O’Reilly landed an excellent brace from the right-hand side and won a free for Kelly to point after Murphy dropped short from a ’45.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Colin McFadden scurried in from the left and thumped to the net, off the crossbar, to open a 1-8 to 0-4 advantage.

St Michael’s would extend their lead and managed to hold on, even if the fingernails were bitten to the quick over a frenetic finale.

Scorers for Glenswilly: Michael Murphy (2f, 2 ’45) 0-5; Caolan Kelly 1-1; Oisin Crawford, Gary McFadden, Cormac Callaghan Shane McDevitt (m) 0-1.

Scorers for St Michael’s: Andrew Kelly 0-5f; Colin McFadden 1-0; Martin McElhinney 0-3; Carlos O’Reilly 0-2; Liam Paul Ferry 0-1.

Glenswilly: Philip O’Donnell; Ruairi Crawford, Mark McAteer, Caolan Kelly; Sean Collum, Cormac Callaghan, Jake Kelly; Leigh Crerand, Caoimhin Marley; Sean Wogan, Gary McFadden, Oisin Crawford; Shane McDevitt, Michael Murphy, Gary Kelly. Sub: Ryan Diver for Crerand (47).

St Michael’s: Oisin Cannon; Stephen Doak, Liam Paul Ferry, Antoin McFadden; Hugh O’Donnell, Kyle McGarvey, Ruairi Friel; Martin Breslin, John McFadden; Colin McFadden, Oisin Langan, Carlos O’Reilly; Andrew Kelly, Martin McElhinney, Odhran McFadden. Sub: Michael Cannon for J.McFadden (50).

Referee: Val Murray (Aodh Ruadh).