Note: Contrary to the report, McAnespies are not out of the champioship since depending on other results next weekend, there could be a playoff with a won versus Connemara Gaels in the final game.
Aidan McAnespies 0-12 Donegal 2-11
Aidan McAnespies were knocked out of the running for the
2012 Boston senior football championship following a loss to Donegal. McAnespies battled very hard to stay in it
and had one of their goal chances gone in would have at least secured a draw
and have had an outside chance of the playoffs.
It was a disjointed game with neither side settling into any sort of
rhythm. Donegal featured a side loaded
with intercounty talent. Louthmen Brian
White, Brian Donnelly, and Derek Maguire were joined by Kevin Cassidy and
Dessie Dolan. However, the game was not
decided until a late Dessie Dolan goal put four points between the teams with a
minute remaining.
 |
Donegal's Derek Maguire gets away
from Niall Gallen. |
Donegal threatened to run away with the game after the first
15 minutes. Derek Maguire was on form at
corner forward. The first time ball
worked well for Donegal and Maguire pointed, and then won a penalty shortly
afterwards following a similar situation.
Brian White took it and though Paddy Coakley went the right way, the
ball ended in the net. McAnespies made
some positional changes as it was clear the Maguire was on a tear. Fergal O’Doherty was given the Maguire
assignment and things improved for McAnespies.
After Kevin Cassidy looped a stylish point over the bar McAnespies
nearly netted, but Peter Boyle saved well from Sean Cournane. Boyle was called on later in the half to pull
off another fine save, again from Cournane.
A free fell short and a fist from the St. Mary’s man looked goalbound
but Boyle was quick to react and save.
Donegal held a 1-4 to 0-2 lead with 10 minutes left but McAnespies
worked hard to get back into it. Gareth
O’Neill, Emmet Bradley, Emmet McGuckian and Colm Donnelly pulled McAnespies
within four points to make it 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.
 |
Donegal's Brian Donnelly and McAnespie's
Donie Kingston up for the kick out. |
McAnespies continued the second half where they left off the
first and put the first three points of the half over the bar. Bradley put a well earned effort over,
followed by Cournane, and Bradley again.
As Donegal struggled to gel, McAnespies had plenty of possession to work
with. Another high ball into McGuckian
nearly ended up in the net but went just wide of the far post. With a point between the teams a Dolan free
and a Gary Reynolds point from play restored the lead to three points as
Donegal did enough to remain ahead.
Again McAnespies continued to work through Gareth O’Neill and Donie
Kingston in the middle. Bradley and
Donnelly reduced the deficit to a point and with six minutes to go it was all
on the line. However, Donegal secured
the points with the simplest of goals from Dessie Dolan. Kieran Williams slid the ball to Dolan who
side footed past Paddy Coakley from the edge of the small square, and with a
minute left McAnespies had it all to do to stay alive. Donegal kept possession and played out the
final minutes. There will be a new name
on the cup with McAnespies failing to make the playoffs for the first time
since their inaugural season in 2005.
Referee: Colm Schwer
(Cill Dara)
Man of the Match:
Peter Boyle
Macs: P. Coakley, P.
McConway, M. Bogue, E. McGuckian, F. O’Doherty, N. Gallen, G. O’Neill, E.
Bradley, S. Cournane, C. Donnelly, D. McKenna, C. McCrory, D. Kingston. Donegal:
P. Boyle, D. Reynolds, M. Canning, K. Mulhern, G. Reynolds, K. Cassidy,
E. Kelly, B. Donnelly, F. Clancy, D. Dolan, B. White, K. McWilliams, D.
Maguire.
By Rory O'Donnell
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