Aidan McAnespies 2-16 Shannon
Blues 1-19 (After Extra Time)
Every year you can be guaranteed a cracker of a game at the
ICC and Sunday afternoon Aidan McAnespies and Shannon Blues served one up. It was tied at half time, full time, the
extra time break, and at the end of extra time - meaning that a replay Tuesday
night at 5:30 will be required to separate the teams. With the sending off of Sean Moriarty in the
second half of normal time McAnespies had the impetus to push on and win the
game but the Blues battled hard and it was McAnespies who had to rescue the
draw at the end. McAnespies will look at
two missed goal chances in extra time as the Blues performed defensive heroics
to keep the ball out of the net, and wonder how it all came down to a Frankie
Burke free to force the replay. Burke
held his nerve and with the score the teams meet again.
 |
| It was do or die stuff when the Macs met the Blues. |
It was even stevens in the first half as both sides played
some good football. The Blues got their
game going after McAnespies had taken a 4 points to one lead. Barry John Keane and Cathal Moriarty
accounted for 3 points to level the scores. Moriarty's shot cannoned off the upside of the
crossbar. Later in the half the Blues
almost had another goal, but Paddy Coakley made a fine first save and the post
played a part in keeping Kieran Hurley's shot from the rebound from crossing
the line . The Blues back line did well
to keep McAnespies forwards from making too many inroads, but a breakthrough for
McAnespies eventually came with a well worked move that put Cian Tobin with
just the keeper to beat, and the Kerryman did the honors. The Blues came back with points from Keane
and Kieran Hurley to level matters at the break. Ten points to a goal and seven with 30
minutes to go.
 |
| Declan Lally on the run for McAnespies. |
The second half was full of incident. After Kieran Hurley was tripped in the
penalty area while shooting, Keane stepped up and took the penalty,
wrongfooting Paddy Coakley. Shortly
after another potentially game changing incident occurred after Sean Moriarty
was sent off with about 20 minutes left to play for a second yellow card
offence. The held a 2 point lead at the
time. McAnespies capitalized with points
from Declan Lally and Tobin to level the scores. The Blues can play some attractive football
at times and in spite of being a man down put together some good scoring
moves. BJ Keane pointed twice to put the
Blues ahead, the second score a lovely point from the Kerry star. Play was moving quickly up and down the field
now, and McAnespies netted a second goal.
Frankie Burke, who worked extremely hard throughout the game, found
Doolan in front of goal and the Dr. Croke's clubman netted easily. The Blues still pushed ahead and continued to
push forward despite the deficiency in personnel. Darragh Treacy, Keane and Sean Kiley pointed
to put the Blues 2 ahead with time running out.
McAnespies finished with two points, one from Burke that exemplified his
hard work. After missing a free high off
the post, Burke won possession back and made good on his miss. Tobin leveled affairs before 60 minutes ran
out, and it was extra time.
Keane and Shane Brosnan pointed in the first period of extra
time, and Burke and David McKenna added points in the McAnespies column as the
nails of both sets of supporters became worn to the quick. It was at the end of the the period that
McAnespies had the goal chances. First
Declan Lally took advantage of a poor kickout and Blues keeper Dara O'Brien
held his ground well to allow Kevin Hartnett time to get back behind him and
turn the shot away for a 50. Burke had
the second chance as McAnespies again opened up the Blues defence, but the
Annaghdown man fired the second chance across the face of the goal as hearts
were in mouths. A goal for either side
at that stage would surely have won it.
Level at the turnaround. The
second period of extra time could not separate the sides either. Cramping set in for several players as it was
do or die stuff, and benches were emptied of subs. Any set of fresh legs would do at that point. The Blues took a one point lead into the
final 2 minutes, and then Luke Kelly was sent off for his reaction to a tackle. McAnespies now a man down and in need a score
to tie it up. The opportunity fell to
Burke who split the posts with his shot.
The teams must do it all over again on Tuesday night.
Macs: P. Coakley, E.
Boland, E. Rigney, C. Daly, C. McClean, N. Gallen, C. Shine, C. Donnelly, C.
Tobin, D. Lally, L. Kelly, F. Burke, J. Doolan.
Blues: D. O'Brien, G. Ryan, K.
Hartnett, S. Kelly, P. Domican, S. Moriarty, S. Brosnan, M. Butler, C.
Moriarty, D. Treacy, BJ Keane, K. Hurley, C. McHugh.
By Rory O'Donnell
No comments:
Post a Comment