Men's Senior Football - Connemara Gaels v Donegal

 By Alana Loftus

The game began with a minute's silence for Brian Connolly, a Connemara native and former coach of Connemara Gaels who passed away earlier this year.

The throw in was won by McAnespie's, number 8 Ruairí Gormely, who wasted no time in securing them the first score of the game.

Captains Owen Ward and Colman Mulkerrin with
Maurice Condon

The Gaels retaliated with number 9, Jack Lundy stealing the ball from a McAnespie's defender but putting the ball slightly wide. Another attempt at a point was put wide. A third attempt was finally successful, from number 10, Dan Lynam.

A free for McAnespie's taken by number 13, Robbie Croft, won them another point. Croft (13) took a penalty shortly after, which was saved by the goalie.

Gaels made a substitution, sending on number 14 for Dan Lynam (10). Scoring was minimal in the remainder of the first half. A point from McAnespie's number 10, Shane Pettit, was matched by one from Gaels’ James Darcy (11). As the first half drew to a close, Gaels’ Simon Garrity (13) made a last-ditch effort to defend their advantage, passing four defenders to then hit the post and finish the first half with a two-point advantage.

There was a huge increase in scoring in the second half. The teams went point for point, staying close in score. McAnespie's Shane Pettit (10) took a penalty that secured them an advantage for the first time in the game. McAnespie's made a substitution sending in number 18 for top scorer, Croft (13). 

However, their advantage was short lived, as James Darcy, (11) bagged two consecutive points for the Gaels. Moments after his second score, he received a black card. After completing his sin-bin, Darcy (11) returned for the last 5 minutes of the game, to take a free securing another point for the Gaels. The point was followed by a goal from Garrity (13) and another from Darcy (11), to put the final nail in the coffin. 

Despite a free awarded to McAnespie's in the final minutes, there was little they could do to bridge the gap the Gael’s had created. The game finished up with a score of Connemara Gaels 2-16 to McAnespie’s 2-05.  

Connemara Gaels”

1.      James Keoghan

2.      Tommy Gill

3.      Eoin Murray

4.      Colman Mulkerin

5.      Jack Lynch

6.      Mikey Kerr

7.      Ryan Caffery

8.      Nathan Donnelly

9.      Jack Lundy

10.  Dan Lynam

11.  James Darcy

12.  Maithis Barrett

13.  Simon Garrity

 

Aidan MacAnespie’s

1.      Mark Kelliher

2.      Tiernan Mc Skean

3.      Conor Beady

4.      Owen Ward

5.      Ruairi Scott

6.      Cadan Harvey

7.      Steven Ward

8.      Ruairi Gormelly

9.      Ben McDonnell

10.  Shane Pettit

11.  Rory Brolly

12.  Eoin Gormelly

13.  Robbie Croft