AN INCREDIBLE night in Kentucky saw St Michael’s produce a 22-point turnaround to shake off a terrible start and claim a 14-point win over Ardara.
Ardara 2-10 St.Michael’s 4-18
By Charlie Collins at Pearse Park
What an incredible first-half we had at Pearse Park – a black card in the opening minute, two Ardara goals in the 6th and 7th minutes and an eight-point lead from the home team after seven minutes became a eight point deficit at half-time.
Ardara hit the ground running and scored three points in three minutes, two from Niall McCrossan and one from Johnny Sweeney.
St.Michaels had lost Michael Gallagher to a black-card for a trip on Conor Classon as the midfielder burst through.
Michael Langan opened the visitors account in the fifth minute but well-taken goals by Robbie Adair and John Ross Molloy inside a minute had Ardara eight points ahead in the 7th minute 2-3 to 0-1.
They wouldn’t score again until the 30th minute as St. Michaels finally hit the go bottom to hit 3-09 without reply.
Colm Anthony McFadden kicked two frees and rattled home their opening goal after a poor kick-out was intercepted.
Andrew Kelly and Colin McFadden added points and then after a super move Christy Toye unselfishly set up Michael Langan to palm home another goal in the 15th minute and the visitors were ahead 2-05 to 2-03.
The one-way traffic continued as yet another poor Ardara kick-out was pounced on and through went Andrew Kelly to hammer the ball to the net. Langan, Colm McFadden, Kelly and Colin McFadden all added points as St.Michaels added 3-09 without reply to lead 3-10 to 2-3 .
Robbie Adair and Niall McCrossan got late points for the home team to leave it 3-10 to 2-05 at half-time.
The second-half was certainly less dramatic as the teams exchanged points, but St. Michaels in control as they added seven to Ardara’s four with OisÃn Langan getting in on the scoring act with two from play, before they added a fourth goal when Daniel McLaughlin set up Edward O Reilly to Palm to the net to make it 4-17 to 2-09.
McCrossan added one for Ardara but Kyle rounded off an impressive St.Michaels performance with a fine score and ended a game which saw a 22-point turnaround from the seventh minute until the end – remarkable stuff without a doubt.
Ardara: Ciaran Gildea; Nicholas Breslin, John Ross Molloy (1-0), Tony Harkin; Brendan Boyle, Matthew Maher, Robbie Adair (1-1); Conor Classon (0-1), Shane O’Donnell; Lorcan O’Donnell, Jack Brennan, Johnny Sweeney (0-2); Tomas Boyle, Gareth Concarr (0-2, 1f) , Niall McCrossan (0-4, 1f ). Subs: Danny Walsh for Boyle (40), Paul Watters for O’Donnell (48), Nicholas Maguire for Brennan (50), Johnny Herron for Walsh (55).
St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; OisÃn Langan (0-2), Liam Paul Ferry, Chris McElhinney; Kyle McGarvey (0-1), Michael Gallagher, Peter Witherow; Michael Langan (1-3, 1 ’45), Christy Toye (0-1); Martin McElhinney, Daniel McLaughlin, Edward O’Reilly (1-1); Colm Anthony McFadden (1-5, 5f), Andrew Kelly (1-3, 2f), Colin McFadden (0-2). Subs: Ciaran Gallagher for Michael Gallagher (1, black card), Michael McGinley for McElhinney (half-time).
Referee: Mark Dorrian .
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