Wolfe Tones 1-11 Aidan McAnespies 4-11
A minutes silence was observed before the throw-in in memory
of the victims of the Berkeley tragedy.
By the end of the opening period McAnespies had built up a
healthy eleven point lead thanks to three goals and some solid defending. Wolfe Tones struggled throughout, and the
goals had an obvious dispiriting effect on the side. Having had a chance to regroup at the break
the Tones put in a far better performance in the second half, and had
McAnespies supporters shifting uncomfortably in their seats for a bit. However, with the large lead and the ability
to spring a score when the Tones crept too close, McAnespies came out with a
third win from three games.
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| McAnespies' Danny Tallon and Tones' Pauric Faulkner tangle. |
A blistering first half performance saw McAnespies into an
11 point lead at the break. Michael Day
was the leader in the middle of the field this week, and up front Chris Healy
was in good form netting a fine goal on the stroke of half time having just missed
an easier opportunity a minute beforehand.
The defence too was on top, working hard to close the spaces and force
the Tones into overplaying the ball.
Day opened the scoring with a point, and the Headford man
was in for a goal 15 minutes later. McAnespies
first goal had an air of good fortune about it.
Healy’s free from the 21 hit the post and Danny Tallon was first on it
to fire home from close range. The Tones
labored to make any inroads, there were two fine scores from Neil Flynn and Dan
McCabe, however, when faced with a McAnespies attack the Tones had the look of
a side that was resigned to its fate.
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| Wolfe Tones Mike O'Brien and keeper Pauric Miskell couldn't prevent the out of picture Michael Day from fisting home McAnespies' second goal. |
The Tones found belief in the second half and played with
much more urgency and purpose. Marty
Farrell provided the finishing touch after the Tones capitalized on a turnover
in McAnespies own half. Four points on
the trot followed and the Tones play had some spark to it throughout the
field. Ciaran Hurley and Farrell
converted and although a comeback was still a long shot, the turn in fortunes
had some observers concerned. Chris
Healy eventually broke the duck and pointed, the Kildare man found some room
after an early ball into his corner to make it a clean 2 goal lead with 15
minutes left.
The sides traded scores to enter the final stretch and a
goal was badly needed if the Tones were going to set up an exciting
finale. In spite of some slick passing
moves out of defence, the Tones could not find a route to goal as McAnespies
back line played it tight. Healy pointed
with 5 minutes to go to make it a three score game, and the points now looked
safe for McAnespies. An injury time goal
embellished the result, and McAnespies must be feeling good with a 3 for 3 start
to the championship.
Tones: P. Miskell, P.
Faulkner, E. Powderly, M. O’Brien, G. Brilly, D. McGuire, A. Molloy, T.
O’Connor, M. Farrell, D. McCabe, G. Troy, C. Hurley, N. Flynn. Macs:
M. McMahon, M. Bogue, E. Kerins, R. Kennedy, B. Greenan, F. McGeough, J.
Brickland, M. Day, G. O’Neill, C. Donnelly, R. Dougan, C. Healy, D. Tallon.
By Rory O'Donnell
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