Shels survive late goal rush
nine minutes but Starlights had a foothold in the game courtesy of Ryan Mahon and Nick Doyle.
However, the Bellefield crew failed to score again until Redmond registered in the final minute of the first-half. In between Shels scored some fine points including a couple from Brian Malone and one from Aaron Murphy that could, and maybe should, have been a goal (0-8 to 0-3 at half-time).
Starlights had a point to prove after the re-start and promptly matched their first-half scoring tally with Redmond, Liam Ryan and Alan Tobin on target. Yet all momentum was lost in the 36th minute when James Gordon fed a free Eoin Doyle who rattled the net with a clinical, low finish.
Shelmaliers serenely moved 1-11 to 0-7 clear at the end of the third quarter, only to have a hiccup of their own. Aodhán Foley made a fantastic save from Kevin Foley’s low strike but the netminder wouldn’t keep his clean sheet for much longer.
Pepper raced in from the left wing and fired past the Shels ‘keeper to cut the gap to three with two minutes of normal time remaining (1-12 to 1-9). Barry O’Connor looked to have settled growing nerves with his second point since his introduction in added time.
When Rory O’Connor’s booming ball was not dealt with in the Shelmaliers goalmouth, Killian Lett forced it across goal for Pepper to fire home his second major. However, their chance to level the game came and went with Kelly’s miss and Shelmaliers clung on to secure victory.