August 11 - Senior Football Q/F: Aidan McAnespies v Wolfe Tones

Aidan McAnespies 2-7 Wolfe Tones 0-12

Wolfe Tones missed a golden opportunity to advance to the semi-finals next week as they fell to Aidan McAnespies in the final minutes of a closely contested game.  Both sets of forwards misfired often, but it was the Tones who missed 4 chances to even the scores and force at least extra time in the last 5 minutes.  A goal in each half proved to be the killer blows for McAnespies, though the 2011 champions will be looking for a better performance in next week's semi-final.

Cathal Shine and Thomas Moolick contest the kickout.

The first half was evenly contested with the Tones taking the game to McAnespies.  The first scores came from Mark Treanor for McAnespies and blood sub, Jason Hickson for Wolfe Tones.  The Tones played well in the back line and cleaned up a lot of loose ball.  Points were tallied from John Comerford, Donie Smith, Danny Egan and Enda Smith.  McAnespies looked a little wasteful kicking some good chances wide of the posts, but Stephen Sherry and Jamie Doolan were on the Mark.  With the first 30 minutes almost up and the Tones in a 5 points to 4 lead McAnespies delivered a sucker puch to the Tones with a goal.  Play was stopped to tend to an injury to Enda Smith and referee Martin O'Connor blew for McAnespies to restart play.  McAnespies worked the ball down the field all the way to Doolan who finished from a tight angle to give his side a 2 point lead going into the break.

John Comerford

It was all square going into the final 10 minutes of the second half.  McAnespies netted a second goal from Stephen Sherry early in the half.  Cathal Hynes had saved the initial shot well, but Sherry was first to the rebound to put the ball into the net.  Wolfe Tones did well to come back.  Donie Smith put 4 points over the bar as Tones tried to keep the door closed at the back.  The Tones worked themselves into a one point lead with Thomas Moolick and the Smith brothers driving their side forward.  Cian Tobin leveled the scores with 20 minutes gone, and with 5 minutes to go, as each side vied for the advantage, Conor Daly stole upfield from wing back to put his team ahead.  With time running out Wolfe Tones kicked four chances wide of the posts, the last of which fell to John Comerford whose angled effort drifted wide of the far post.  A disappointing loss for the Tones, and McAnespies survive a squeaker and will meet the Shannon Blues in next week's semi-final.

Macs:  P. Coakley, E. Delmer, E. Rigney, C. Daly (0-1), C. McClean, N. Gallen, C. Shine, S. Sherry (1-1), C. Tobin (0-1), M. Treanor (0-1), L. Kelly (0-1), J. Doolan (1-2), F. Burke,  Tones:  C. Hynes, J. Gonoud, K. Cleere, B. McShea, J. Kelly, S. Higgins, C. McCarthy, T. Moolick, D. Egan (0-1), J. Comerford (0-2), E. Smith (0-1), S. Kelly (0-2), D. Smith (0-5).  Sub:  J. Hickson (0-1).

By Rory O'Donnell