Aidan McAnespies 4-15 Wolfe Tones 2-13
Aidan McAnespies finally made it over the hurdle to make
sure of a playoff spot with the type of finish to a game that we have not seen
from them thus far this season. The game
was tight most of the way, with hardly anything between the teams until a
finish with a flourish from McAnespies.
Two goals in the final quarter delivered the spoils, and ensures that
McAnespies season continues without the prospect of a playoff with
Christopher’s.
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| There was no letting the foot off the gas by McAnespies Sunday. |
It was a blistering first half, with three goals and some
expertly taken points. McAnespies got
off the great start with an early goal from Brian Breslin, which followed a
good run by Danny McBride who supplied the Lifford native for the goal. The Tones got the big score back within 5
minutes however with a strike from Paraic Fogerty. McAnespies continued to play well from the
back, starting deep in their own half and carrying the ball forward from the
half back line and midfield. Robbie
Croft, more accustomed to playing in a more forward role, was to be found
assisting the defence and playing the ball from deep inside his own half. Breslin struck the crossbar following a 40
yard run, and the ball rebounded over the bar, Niall Rooney and Ferghal
McGeough also put some well taken points over, as did Che O’Donnell and Michael
Walsh as McAnespies charged forward again and again.
With the McAnespies lead standing at 4 points the Tones hit
with a second goal that could have knocked the wind out of the northerners
sails. This time it was Shane McGuinness
with a rifle of a shot into the far corner from outside the 21. McAnespies stuck with the plan however, and
restored the lead to three. The Tones
ended the first half with three points on the trot from Fogerty, Shane
O’Rourke, and an opportunist score from center back Steven Guing to level it up
at the break, 1-9 to 2-6.
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| Wolfe Tones Daniel Grimes solos out of defence. |
McAnespies got an early goal in the all-important 10 minutes
after the restart. A well worked move
found Marty Mongan on the edge of the small square and the big Lifford man made
no mistake from close range. The Tones
responded with three unanswered points as each time it looked like the Macs had
created a platform for victory, the Tones nullified it. In the meantime Paul Clifford was black
carded, a loss for McAnespies as the Kildare man was playing well in the back
line. The sides were level heading into
the final 15 minutes and the game was up for grabs.
It was McAnespies who grabbed it with both hands. The back line stepped up and shut out the
Tones forwards with a McAnespies defender first to almost every ball in the
critical run in. The running from
Breslin and McBride set up the scores that put the game away. After Che O’Donnell pointed Mongan netted a
second time following a trademark Breslin run.
Points followed from McBride and Breslin before Michael Walsh netted a
fourth goal that had the McAnespies crowd cheering in the stands. McAnespies with their best performance this
season so far, and it came at the right time.
The result leaves Christopher’s out of any chance of a playoff spot.
Tones: Darren McDonnell, Daniel Grimes, James Reilly,
Ferghal O’Brien, Steven Guing, Darren Maguire, Sean Hurley, Garvan Jones, Mike
O’Brien, Shane McGuinness, Gerry Troy, Paraic Fogarty, Shane O’Rourke. Subs:
Cormac Joyce-Power, Cormac McWalters
Macs: Paddy Coakley,
Eoin Delmer, Paul Clifford, Fergal McGeough, Rhys Quinn, Seamus Breslin, Dan
McBride, Brian Breslin, Michael Walsh, Martin Mongan, Niall Rooney, Robbie
Croft, Che O’Donnell. Subs: Tommy Brereton.
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