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| Champions: A Great Start to 2022 for Aidan McAnespies |
Aidan McAnespies captured the 2022 Pat O’Brien Cup in fairly convincing fashion over the challenge of the Connemara Gaels on an unseasonably hot Saturday evening. The game was pretty much decided by the time the whistle went for the half time break, though in the second half, had the Gaels snatched an early goal from the chances they had, the run in to full time may have held a little more excitement. Three first half goals sealed the deal for the Macs, and a much improved second half from the Gaels was not going to be enough to turn the tables.
Eoin Gormley at corner forward was the early story for
McAnespies. The local youngster had the
Gaels defence twisted in knots for much of the first half. The direct ball in to the full forward line paid
enormous dividends for the McAnespies with Gormley well able to win it and
create problems. The first goal came
from a lovely long ball from Peter O’Connell to Gormley who found the incoming
Tiernan Saul to finish into the net from 14 yards. Gormley netted the second himself as the
Gaels back line was opened up again soon afterwards.
A third goal followed from the boot of Niall Murphy after a lung
busting run down the middle by wing back Cian Sharkey, who had an excellent overall
first half. It could have been 4 after
Robbie Croft was taken down in the box.
Croft’s placed shot came off the crossbar, however, and it saved the
Gaels from a complete shellacking. The
Gaels managed 3 first half points from Mikey Kerr, Jack Keady and Mark
McKenzie, and missed a handful of decent chances, but struggled to find any
traction going forward as the McAnespie’s back line had all avenues forward
well covered. O’Connell swung over a
fantastic point from distance to underline the McAnespies dominance in the
opening period, and with a 10 point lead heading into the second half the game
appeared all but over.
Connemara Gaels: Early Blows Hurt the Gaels Challenge
The Gaels made a much better fist of it in the second half
but could not put a dent in the gap on the scoreboard. There were a couple of goal chances early,
Rory McIlroy saved the first well and the second went into the side netting
from an angle. The Gaels enjoyed most of
the possession and points went over from McKenzie, Colman Mulkerrin, Ryan
Caffrey, Keady, Bradley Fox and Ger Davoran.
McAnespies, however, responded in
kind each time, one from O’Connell was another fantastic strike from out on the
wing, and the lead remained largely intact.
Conan McCusker and Croft rounded off the scoring as the Gaels continued
to rue some missed late opportunities.
Final score Aidan McAnespies 3-10 Connemara Gaels 0-9. Next up - championship action begins the
weekend of June 5.
Scorers – Macs: Robbie Croft (0-2), Peter O’Connell (0-4),
Tiernan Saul (1-2), Eoin Gormley (1-1), Niall Murphy (1-0) Conan McCusker (0-1) Gaels: Mikey Kerr (0-1), Jack Keady (0-2), Mark
McKenzie (0-1), Colman Mulkerrin (0-1), Ryan Caffrey (0-1), Dylan Murtagh
(0-1), Bradley Fox (0-1), Ger Davoran (0-1).
By Rory O’Donnell
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