The Down senior football leagues commenced last weekend with
the first round of league matches.
Aghaderg senior footballers were scheduled
to play their first match at home -v- Aughlisnafin but unfortunately the home pitch was deemed
unplayable due to two days incessant rain and the match was switched to
Annsboro on Friday afternoon. Just
another snag in the pre season
preparations which were disrupted by the resignation of the management team
less than a month before the first
match.
The Annsboro pitch was in excellent condition when referee
Ronan Barry threw the ball in for what proved to be a high scoring and
entertaining match. The game ebbed and
flowed throughout the first half with each team having scoring opportunities
and it was the 'Fin who opened the scoring with a point after five minutes .
The Reds defence were struggling to contain the fast moving attack with Ruairi
Conway and Calum Meara most prominent. The 'Fin defence were also
struggling and were resorting to fouling
the Aghaderg forwards. On each occasion Christopher McAvoy converted three
frees and after eleven minutes Aghaderg were leading 0-3 to 0-1. However a fast moving attack resulted in a
well taken goal which gave goalkeeper Paul Colgan no chance. Aghaderg then lost the promising Christopher
Lennon to a nasty looking hamstring injury. He was replaced by Collie
Comiskey.
The second quarter was fast and furious with opportunities falling to both sets of forward.
The outstanding score was a sideline free approx 30 metres out on the right
converted by that man McAvoy . Shades of Maurice Fitzgerald in Croke Park all
those years ago. The Reds continued to
keep the scoreboard ticking over with three points by McAvoy and one
from Conor McGivern. Much of the good
work was undone when a pass went astray as the Reds launched another attack and
after quick exchange of passes the ball was finished to the back of the net to
leave the half time score,
Aghaderg 0-8,
Aughlisnafin 2-5.
The second half commenced with a disaster for the Reds as an
innocuous shot from twenty metres along the ground somehow found its way into
the net to put them six points in arrears. All credit to the team as they buckled down to
the task in hand. Michael Fitzpatrick became more influential and made a couple
of surging runs through the centre of the defence and after ten minutes
Fitzpatrick with two points and McAvoy with one had reduced the arrears to
three again. Points were exchanged.
Owen McGreevy came on for C McGivern and
with his first touch of the ball forced a fine save from the goalkeeper. The momentum was with the reds and in the final quarter a goal and a point from C McAvoy in quick
succession reduced the arrears to one point. A couple of half chances were
spurned and a classic counter attack by the 'Fin seen them cut the Aghaderg
defence to shreds and guarantee the two
points as they did last year in the first match of the season.
Final score:
Aughlisnafin
4-11 Aghaderg 1-13
Manager Paul McGrath who is recovering from a serious knee
injury sustained in the
championship last year was disappointed
with the result but extremely well pleased with the effort and performance of
the team. Even with the 4 - 11 score
against them the defence played
well as individuals but were often
caught out as a unit by the intelligent
movement of the opposition. Best performances in the defence were by Conway,
Meara and Doyle. The midfield gained
parity throughout most of the match. Fitzpatrick and S Comiskey were always a
threat through the centre. McGivern was hardworking throughout while McGreevy added movement when introduced. However
unquestionably man of the match was Christopher McAvoy with a personal tally of
1-9.
Team: Paul Colgan, Ryan Strain, Thomas Lennon; Ruairi Conway, Calum
Meara, Keelin Doyle; Ryan Donnelly, Louis Murray; Michael Fitzpatrick (0-2), Michael
Lennon(C Davis), Rory McShane (C Conlon), Christopher Lennon (C Comiskey-0-1)),
Conor McGivern (0-1)(E McGreevey), Steven Comiskey, Christopher McAvoy (1-9).
Subs: Colm Comiskey, Christopher Conlon,
Ciaran Davis, Niall Lennon, Steve McCann, Eoghan McGreevy
Next match -v- Ben Dearg
away Friday.