Senior Football – Connemara Gaels vs Aiden McAnespies
By Neil McEnaney
Full Time Score:
Connemara Gaels: 2-16
Aiden McAnespies: 1-18
Last but not least today was Connemara Gaels against Aiden McAnespies in the Men’s Senior Championship. Both teams were looking to get their season back on the right track after disappointing losses in their last games.
There was a goal chance straight from the throw up for the Gaels as Stefan Okunbar was well picked out by Oran Cunningham, who then laid it off to Adam Waddick who was denied by a great save by Robbie Croft in goals for the Macs. It was Okunbar who got the opening point of the game after another strong run through the middle shouldering his own man out of the way at one point!
A well taken free by Joe Hagan levelled the game for the Macs. Captain Coleman Mulkerrins responded straight away for the Gaels. He dummy solo’d on his right foot before kicking it high and accurately over the bar with his weaker left foot.
We were treated to some excellent points from play on both sides with Joe Hagan, Rory Brolly and Adam Fanning kicking some great points for the Macs and Ryan Fadden, Ross Keogh and Oran Cunningham doing likewise for the Gaels.
The first half was as evenly matched as two sides have been in Canton this year as neither team went more than one point ahead at a time. The Macs just about edged it going into the half time break.
Half Time Score:
Connemara Gaels: 0-10
Aiden McAnespies: 0-11
Anton Tohill started the second half strong winning the throw up and continued his run down the right wing to kick a point from a tight angle. Gaels responded immediately with Ross Keogh scoring three points without reply (1 free, 1 mark and 1 from play). Keogh looked unmarkable at times and was a constant threat to the Macs full back line.
The two Gormleys (Rurai and Eoin) linked up brilliantly to put Rurai through on goal with a Gaels a defender and keeper still to beat. He went for control and side footed it past Bryan O’Flaherty in nets for the games first goal.
Aiden McAnespies kept the pressure on after their goal. Continuous running at the Gaels defence led to frees within the scoring zone which Brolly and Fanning kicked accurately.
A mazy solo run by Oran Cunningham opened up the Macs defence before he set up Okunbar one on one with the Macs keeper. Croft got down well to make a great save to deny the Kerry man to keep 4 points between the sides. A series of bad wides for the Macs ensued with some kickable points going astray.
The goal of the game came from Connemara’s captain, Colman Mulkerrins. He started the move on the right wing from a kickout, continued his run into the middle before being found by Cunningham in front of goal. Mulkerrins didn’t panic and side footed it past Croft in the Macs nets.
The teams traded points before disaster struck for Aiden McAnespies. A high press by the Gaels led to a turnover by Jack Lundy. Lundy released Cian Folan who took on his man and finished with a great goal to go two up. Brolly converted a free for the Macs to leave the minimum between the sides. The Macs had one last attack and launched it high into the square but to no avail as the Gaels turned it over and the full time whistle was blown.
Man of the Match: Colman Mulkerrins
Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan
Teams and Scorers:
Connemara Gaels: Bryan O’Flaherty, Sean Kennedy, Keelan Beirne, Colman Mulkerrin (1-1), Stefan Okunbar (0-1), Michael Kerr (0-1), Adam Waddick, Jack Lynch, Ryan Fadden (0-1), Dylan Murtagh, Jack Lundy, Ross Keogh (0-7), Oran Cunningham (0-4)
Subs: Cian Folan (1-1)
Aiden McAnespies: Robert Croft, Cormac McKeogh, Darran Gibney, Conall Devlin, Matthew Murnaghan, Owen Ward, Anton Tohill (0-1), Steven Ward, Joe Hagan (0-5), Eoin Gormley (0-1), Rurai Gormley (1-2), Adam Fanning (0-3), Rory Brolly (0-5)
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