In association with Madden's Bar
Antrim SFC
Relegation Play-Off
Sarsfield's 0-20
St Paul's 6-8
At The Bear Pit
SARSFIELD'S lived to rue their defensive frailties as they fell to a damning defeat at the hands of rivals St Paul's who rattled six goals into the net and subjected the Paddies with a return back to the Intermediate level next season.
The three-team relegation group came down to the Belfast derby with the Paddies already suffering a defeat at the hands of Moneyglass in the first game of the relegation group a fortnight ago.
With home advantage Sarsfield's hoped that would help them prevail in a do-or-die derby clash but it would be the Shaws Road men who would have the final say and prevent their own demise at the expense of their rivals.
The hosts had the better start with Jay Maguire drilling a great score between the posts but Conall Duffy's free from inside the 13-yard line restored the early parity between the sides.
Tomas Skillen gave the Paddies the edge with a free and extended their lead with a another dead-ball strike into the catch net.
Maguire then put Sarsfield's firmly in control with yet another terrific score after a well worked team move allowed them to drive through the heart of the St Paul's defence and yet again they found a score when Cormac Murray fisted over the bar moments later.
The travellers responded through Caomhain Duffy who clipped a great effort inside the uprights but the game flipped on its head when the first of three goals hit the net.
Shea Burns managed to capitalise on a defensive mis-hap in the 22nd minute and managed to flash a cross into the danger area where Duffy turned home into the net for the first goal of the contest.
Moments later Duffy turned provider when his pass found Burns and with the forward showing the strength to hold off his marker, he then made use of the yard of space before flashing an effort into the top-corner.
Jay Maguire and Tomas Skillen both hit further scores but the late half flurry from the red and white hoops came out of nowhere with the Paddies controlling most of the game's possession without really being threatened until the first goal hit the net.
The game began to stretch away from Sarsfield's when Shea Burns struck his second and his side's third of the half as the forward once again used his nimble pace to beat his marker and arrow an effort into the roof of the net.
Conall Duffy then tallied another from a free before Cormac Trainor's effort raised another white flag before the half-time whistle blew with St Paul's heading into the changing rooms with six points between the sides.
When the game resumed the momentum flipped entirely in favour of the hosts when Daniel Smyth got the stands on their feet with a terrific two-pointer to really help the hosts eat into their heavy deficit.
Smyth followed it up with another thunderous effort which split the posts and another orange flag was raised with just two points between the sides within the first ten minutes of the restart.
Sarsfield's continued to really show their strengths on the point-scoring front when Jayden Smyth planted a free over the bar for two and levelled the tie.
Daniel Smyth then continued his great early half form with a terrific two-pointer from the left wing and the roar from the home crowd echoed the change in lead with the hosts once again taking the advantage.
Lighting seemed to strike twice however, as the basics seemed to fail the hosts and they began to get sloppy in dangerous areas.
St Paul's eventually got their first score of the second half with Duffy firing over a free before a controversial penalty was awarded to the away side.
Up stepped Duffy and with the assistance of both uprights the ball eventually hit the net and the lead flipped back in favour of the away side.
Two late goals for St Paul's completely sealed the win for them. The first was a very fortunate undercooked shot from Ruairi Hamill which managed to nestle in the far corner of the net.
Caolan Ó Duibhfinn saw his effort fortunately squeeze into the back of the net for another goal for the Shaws Road side.
Conall Finnegan then planted a great score from play to fully settle the score and grant his side the jubilation of survival once again in Division One.
Sarsfield's sadly could not avoid the drop on their return to the top flight this season and will return to Division Two and Intermediate football next season.
