Match Report

Aghaderg Squeeze Past St Pauls!

Date Filed: 16 May 2011

Aghaderg senior footballers travelled to St Paul’s Hollywood on Friday night last and after a close and exciting encounter returned home worthy winners by the narrowest of margins.

St Pauls were challenging for promotion and were in second place at the beginning of the match. The visitors welcomed back James McGrath and Martin Fitzpatrick but lost Thomas Lennon from last week’s squad. A number of long term injuries continue to restrict management options but a number of the younger players are getting an opportunity to stake a claim for a more regular start.

Aghaderg got off to a good start when Cassidy and Fitzsimmons combined to put Devlin through for a point. Both sets of forwards created two goaling chances as the home team hit the crossbar and the visitors hit  the post in two successive attacks. Aghaderg were dealt a blow when full back Fitzpatrick had to retire due to a recurrence of a knee injury. James McGrath was brought back to full back , McDonald to mid field and Chris McAvoy was introduced. Devlin scored his second point to put Aghaderg two points clear. St Pauls managed to find the range and levelled the scores at the end of the first quarter.
The exchanges remained keen but the Aghaderg forwards were unable to regain their scoring touch and the second quarter  while evenly balanced saw the home team  add four unanswered points to go in at half time 0-6 to 0-2 in the lead.

The first two minutes of the second half saw St Pauls score the first point to move five points clear and Aghaderg  missed  a free.
On other occasions this may have resulted in the visitors losing momentum  but this team is developing a spirit and commitment which was clearly illustrated over the next twenty five minutes.  Cassidy finished a flowing move with a point, McDonald with a point and frees from Maguire and McGivern for fouls on Devlin reduced the deficit to one point  at the end of the third quarter and  it was fitting that Devlin tied the scores with a well taken point after good work from  Fitzsimmons and Cassidy. 

St Pauls went in front again but were pegged back when McGivern pointed a free after McDonald had been fouled going for goal. Maguire who had been excellent throughout  scored two fine points from play to leave Aghaderg two points clear with five minutes to go. The home team then scored two fine long range points to tie the game with two minutes to play and a draw appeared the most likely result. Aghaderg pressed forward and that man Maguire secured the points with an excellent score from play.

Final Score St Pauls 0-10 Aghaderg 0-11

This was a fine team effort with McGrath in goal safe and dependable. He organised his defence and his kick outs and clearances were often the start of a counter attack. The full back line struggled on occasions in the first half but as the game progressed they restricted the attack to four points in the second half, were well disciplined and committed few fouls.  
The half back line of McAlorum, McAvoy and McGivern were the most consistent line throughout the match while Fitzsimmons was again the most influential of the midfielders ably supported by McDonald when changed to mid field. Cassidy contributed throughout, winning a lot of ball and linking up play. Maguire was man of the match both for his scoring ability and one hundred per cent effort throughout. Devlin always posed a threat and took three good points from play while three more came when he was fouled in possession. 

Team: Paul McGrath(Capt) Ciaran Connolly, Martin Fitzpatrick,( Chris McAvoy 5 mins)Darren McAlorum,(A J MCConville 35 mins)) Conor McAlorum, Aaron McAvoy, Paul McGivern,(0-2F) Stevie Fitzsimmons, ,James McGrath, Martin Cassidy,(0-1), Keran Maguire, (0-4) Tony Hegarty ,Paul Caldwell,  Shea McDonald (0-1), Eugene Devlin.(0-3)
Subs: Chris McAvoy, Jack Devlin,Mark McGrath, Michael McGrath, A J McConville, Charlie Wild.

Next Match –v- Ballykinlar @ home Friday 7 – 30