League Table

1	Bangor Rangers	0	0
2	Annalong Swifts	0	0
3	Kirkcubbin	0	0
4	Queens II	0	0
5	Temple Rangers	0	0
6	Rooftop	0	0
7	Queens Grads	0	0
8	Grange Rangers	0	0
9	Newtownbreda	0	0
10	18th Newtownabbey	0	0
11	McQuiston Rec	0	0
12	Santos	0	0
13	Bangor Swifts	0	0
14	Kilroot Rec	0	0

Santos fall to Armagh

All the old curses revisited Santos with a vengeance on Saturday despite being buoyed and confident with their victory over Ford the previous week and preparing meticulously for this big game.

Blow one was that keeper Birch had departed to University in London, necessitating the dreaded reshuffle of a winning side.

Then three first-team regulars reported injured causing a further shake up.

Winning the toss, the wily Armagh side opted to play against the strong wind and Santos disorganised by so many changes (including seeing the on fire Hughes again forced into goal at the last minute).

Unfortunately Santos opted for the wind-assisted long ball forward and this tactic proved disastrous as the experienced Armagh men were superior in the air, boasting two GAA county men in defence and a scattering of solid club GAA men throughout, they dominated all the high balls and launched lightening fast counter raids on the Santos rearguard.

The Santos midfield was nullified as the ball flew over their heads and striker McCullagh attempted to compete but the pace of the wind assisted passes was just too much.

Armagh attacks
So it was really a steady procession of Armagh attacks on the Santos goal and they really should have punished Santos where full backs Bartosz and O’Gorman were ragged.

But then a break away chance fell to Santos when McAuley raced up field, drew the excellent Hughes in the Armagh goals and played in Jonny Agnew for a tap-in.

But in the long tradition of Santos spurning tap ins Agnew fluffed it and Armagh went up field and scored after dubious decision to play advantage after a Santos player had been fouled.

Thanks to Hughes in goal Armagh didn’t punish the dispirited Santos more as three times in a row he was brilliant in thwarting one-on-one situations. H/T 1-0

No recriminations
No recriminations were handed out at half time just a few positional changes and a fierce determination that win or lose the ball would be passed around on the ground.

The old Santos took the field with a succession of free kicks being awarded and here Hughes of Armagh measured up to his Santos namesake with a succession of great saves.

McGeehan was now pulling all the strings with McCullagh as support and newcomer McCarthy was now shining and played in McCormack twice but his shots were acrobatically saved by the Armagh keeper.

Cruel
But then a long punt into the Santos’ goalmouth was what appeared to be punched to the net only for the referee to award the ‘Hand of God’ goal.

Still the second half display of the vastly reshuffled team was a tribute to the spirit of the Santos players.

McCullagh in particular was a great influence as was the performance of young debutant Conor McCarthy.

This Saturday sees a return to League action for Santos as they entertain Queen’s Grads. And in the meantime Santos manager McGeehan will do what he has done over and over again in recent years – go in seach of a goalkeeper.


Player	Position	Rating	Info
Aidan Hughes	Goalkeeper
Bartosz Brudniewicz	Left Back
Manus O'Gorman	Right Back
Liam Maguire	Centreback
Stephen Walker	Centreback
Patrick Parker	Left Midfield
Conor McAuley	Right Winger
Joseph McGeehan	Center Midfielder
Johnathan Agnew	Center Midfielder
Michael Burns	Striker
Conor McCormack	Striker