THE comeback kids from Glenelly were at it again on Sunday, turning round a four-point half-time deficit to claim the Grade 3 minor league title by the slimmest of margins.
The two teams overcame what was a heavy, muddy pitch and a strong wind to serve up a pulsating game of football which had everything, fine long range shooting, plenty of goals, a missed penalty and a nailbiting finish.
Ultimately it came down to solid defending and inspired substitutions, especially moving Paul Finlay to mark Stewartstown powerhouse forward , a move which swung the game.
Backed by a powerhouse display at midfield from Darragh Bradley and the commanding captaincy of Colm Hicks, who seemed to be involved in everything good that Glenelly did, the St Joseph's men claimed the title.
Both sides initially struggled with possession, spilling a lot of slippery ball and kicking away possession in the blustery conditions.
Glenelly were first on the scoresheet after three minutes when Danny McGaughey was hauled down, and the half-forward picked himself to slot over the free. Glenelly's Colm Hicks tagged on a second two minutes later following good work from county minor star Tim Harney.
It was 10 minutes before another score came along, when Stewartstown's captain Michael Devlin charged through the middle to slot over a fine score. The sides were level two minutes later, when Devlin again got on the scoresheet, this time from a placed ball.
Glenelly were having the better of the play at this stage, working the ball out well from their half back line and finding men in space up front. On 16 minutes, a beautifully worked move resulted in a fine score from distance from midfielder Darragh Bradley. Glenelly started to push on and Danny McGaughey charged through for another good score to put Glenelly two up.
At this stage, the wind started to play a major role in the game, whilst it was blowing diagonally across the pitch, it was favouring the Harps in the first half, and Glenelly's inability to find men with long range passes into the breeze began to tell, with Stewartstown beginning to exert more pressure. This pressure told when, after some nice interplay in the corner, Stewartstown's Ordhan McCoy broke free to slot the ball past Glenelly keeper Simon Harney.
Stewartstown then stretched their lead with a free a minute later as Glenelly struggled to clear their lines against the wind.
St Joseph's were then presented with a gilt edged opportunity to get right back in it. Ciaran McConnell played in Shane McBride, the big midfielder charged through only for the keeper to bring him down for a penalty. Up stepped skipper Hicks to shoulder the responsibility, but his hard shot was well saved by Stewartstown stopper Shaun Sonner.
This penalty save gave the Harps added impetus and they were unlucky not to go even further ahead when Ronan O'Neill's shot cannoned off the post and across the face of goal. Glenelly kept in touch with another score from skipper Hicks, but they suffered a real blow on the stroke of half time, when Stewartstown scored a second major. Good work down the left found Martin Campbell in acres of space and he charged through and gave the keeper no chance to send the teams in at half time with Stewartstown enjoying a four point advantage and Glenelly looking decidedly despondent. Half Time scoreline Glenelly 0-5 Stewartstown 2-3.
Whatever was said to the St Joseph's lads at half time seemed to do the trick, as the began the second half with renewed vigour.
With the wind at their backs, the midfield and half forward line began to dominate.
Two minutes in, Glenelly were back within three when Fergal O'Neill slotted over after Stewartstown failed to get the ball out of the danger zone when they were awarded a free out.
Glenelly began playing with two up front and dropping in long balls, the tactic paid dividends when it caused panic in the Stewartstown defence and Ciaran McConnell capitalised with a goal, Glenelly were level and the comeback was on.
It was the Harps' turn to start suffering under the heavy gusts, as they continually failed to get the ball out of their own half. Tim Harney pointed to put his side one up, before Michael Devlin took the outstanding score of the game, firing over a Dooher-esque effort off the outside of his right foot from 30 metres out and tight on the right sideline.
Stewartstown stayed in touch with a free from skipper Devlin, but suffered a further setback halfway through the first half when the ball came lose on the ground following a scramble at the edge of their square and Glenelly's Daniel McGaughey pounced to slot it low into the corner to give his side a 2-8 to 2-4 advantage.
However, rather than let their heads drop, the Harps rallied and replied almost immediately when good work from substitute Kevin Donnelly allowed Martin Campbell to fist the ball home for his side's third goal to leave one point between the teams.
The next 10 minutes saw both sides battling hard, putting in heavy tackles and scrapping for every loose ball. Stewartstown drew level with six minutes to go with a fine effort from Michael Devlin. Glenelly then went back in front thanks to points from Daniel McGaughey and a beautifully worked score for Shane McBride after exchanging passes twice with Kevin McConnell, to leave his side two up entering the final minute.
Stewartstown battled hard to earn a free which skipper Devlin slotted over to leave one in it. However, injury time saw the Glenelly half back and full back line really stand up and be counted, fighting tooth and nail to restrict Stewartstown from getting a clear scoring opportunity, some fine tackling eventually resulting in a free out and the final whistle.
