Match Report

Three In A Row

Date Filed: 23 May 2011

After a disappointing start to their league campaign Aghaderg have found a rich vein of form as they won their third successive match on Friday last by defeating Ballkinlar by six points.

Management had to readjust the successful team from last week as McGivern, James McGrath and Caldwell were not available. They were able to welcome back Cathal McGrath and Thomas Lennon and introduced Sean Devlin to the attack. The home team commenced playing against a strong breeze but were soon in the ascendancy as their mid field won the throw in. The ball was worked through a number of hands and Cathal McGrath scored the first point in less than a minute to give Aghaderg a lead that they never relinquished. The strong half back line of McAlorum, McAvoy and McGrath ably supported the mid field duo of Fitzsimmons and McDonald to keep Aghaderg on the offensive throughout the majority of the first half. Maguire stretched the lead with a free after Eugene Devlin was fouled and Devlin got on the scoresheet with his first point of the evening after eight minutes play. Ballykinlar were always threatening and scored their first point when over elaboration by the defence resulted in the visitors turning the ball over. Kieran Maguire then hit a purple patch when he scored four successive points, three from play after good work by Cassidy, Chris McAvoy and McGrath. The fourth was a magnificently struck free from more than forty five metres against the breeze. Ballykinler launched a fight back and scored two points to narrow the gap to four before the mid field duo of Fitzsimmons and McDonald again stretched the lead with a point each. However with their last attack of the half the visitors managed to work the ball into the left corner and draw the home defence across. The ball was squared across and the centre forward had the easiest of tasks to finish to the back of the net from close range. The game was back in the melting pot as the gap was closed to three points.

Half Time Aghaderg 0 -9 Ballykinler 1 -3.

The second half was to see a similar pattern as Aghaderg generally shaded the possession, played the more cohesive football but Ballykinler kept in touch on the scoreboard. They scored the first point of the half to reduce the deficit to two but this was to be closest they were to get as Devlin and Maguire kept the scoreboard ticking over. Devlin from a free , Maguire a long range point and Devlin with three points from play moved the home team to 0-14 by the end of the third quarter while the visitors moved to 1 – 7 with three points from free kicks. Aghaderg were threatening to cut loose but at times the wrong option or a lateral pass reduced the momentum and allowed the defence to regain their shape. Chris McAvoy picked up his first point of the night and Maguire with two points and Devlin with a final free after Hegarty was fouled completed the scoring. Ballykinlar’s final scores were two points including one from a free.

Final Score: Aghaderg 0-18, Ballykinlar 1-9

This was another excellent team performance where the strength and depth of the panel was tested. Aghaderg are developing an entertaining style of play as they show confidence and ability in moving the ball out of defence and through the hands in the forward line. Six players got on the scoresheet and fifteen points from open play in the total of eighteen illustrates the progress to date.
Best wishes to Mid Fielder Stevie Fitzsimmons on his forthcoming marriage to Sinead and also to Caolan Doyle as he recovers from an industrial accident which is likely to keep him on the sidelines for much of the season.

Team: Paul McGrath(Capt) Ciaran Connolly, Thomas Lennon,Martin Fitzpatrick, Conor McAlorum, Aaron McAvoy, Cathal McGrath,(0-1) Stevie Fitzimons (0-1), ,Shea McDonald(0-1) Martin Cassidy, Keran Maguire, (0-8) Tony Hegarty ,Chris McAvoy(0-1) Sean Devlin , Eugene Devlin.(0-6) subs Jack Devlin,Mark McGrath, Michael McGrath, Darren McAlorum, Conor McGivern.

Next Match –v- St Michaels (a)