Sun June 23 - Junior A Football: Aidan McAnespies v Wolfe Tones

Aidan McAnespies 1-13 Wolfe Tones 4-13

Wolfe Tones added another win to their junior A campaign following a well contested game against Aidan McAnespies.  Each team featured some veteran players, up and coming home grown players, and some recent arrivals.  Cousins Michael Kerr and Eoin Gormley themselves marking each other, while Colm O’Malley and Dylan Murtagh also featured from the 2016 U14 Feile team.  In a side note, combined with 4 players in the junior B game later that day there were 8 players from that team in action in Canton Sunday.  Jim Lynch in midfield and a hat trick of goals from Ryan Lamb at corner forward proved the difference in the end.

Michael Lynch with a shot.

The opening 30 was a fairly even contest.  Plenty of possession for each side and chances generated.  After the teams traded 2 points each the Tones hit with a goal from corner forward Ryan Lamb.  Lamb’s shot as he burst through from an angle was partially blocked but had enough on it to find the far corner of the net.

McAnespies did not seek to even things up immediately and picked off the points.  By the end of 15 minutes the teams were level again as Colm O’Malley, Michael Lynch (2) and O’Malley again pointed. to a single Ryan Lamb score for the Tones, meant the sides were at parity.  It was even stevens as side pointed three times and with half time on the radar, the teams were still level.

Jim Lynch was key for the Tones in the latter stages of the half as they restored the differential over the final 10 minutes.  The Valentia midfielder made some key interceptions to set up scores for Lamb and Dylan Murtagh before the break and it was a 1-10 to 0-9 Tones lead.

McAnespies tallied the first score of the second half with a well taken Gareth O’Neill point, however the Tones hit with 2 more goals.  Lamb hit a second after Marty Farrell found him with a pass, and the third goal came soon afterwards from Shane O’Brien after Lynch did great work to create the opening. 

Ryan Lamb was in sizzling form for the Tones Sunday.

With the teams starting to look tired, and time working against McAnespies, the gap narrowed.  Gareth McAninden and Cian Sharkley each pointed, and O’Neill netted to provide hope to the Macs.  That was soon snuffed out with a third goal from Lamb who was found with a high looping ball.  The corner forward gathered and made the space to shoot, the difference was back to 7.  Five minutes to go and  the Tones in control.  Dylan Murtagh pointed a second for himself, and it was game in the bag for the Tones with a second junior A win.

Macs:  Paddy Coakley, Gareth O’Neill, Sean Clifford, Shane McKenna, Cian Sharkley, Marty Bogue, Mickey Boyle, Michael Lynch, Colm O’Malley, James Rigney, Conor Boyle, Eoin Gormley, Gareth McAlinden.  Barry Smith.

Tones:  Pat Gallagher, Keith Gill, Patrick Collins, Richie Crunne, James Farrell, Michael Kerr, Jim Lynch, Ian Whelan, Marty Farrell, Cormac Joyce-Power, Dylan Murtagh, Ryan Lamb, Dan McCabe.

By Rory O'Donnell