Match Report

Injury Plagued Season Continues!

Date Filed: 23 June 2011

Aghaderg senior footballers travelled to high flying Bright for their second league match of the week and were immediately under pressure as the problem  of injuries which has been an issue all year has reached epidemic proportions. Among those not available on Friday night due to injury but who have played this year were Tony Hegarty, Paul McGivern, Martin Fitzpatrick,Tommy Lennon,Paul O’Neill, Graeme Donaghy, Kaolan Doyle, Paul Colgan, while Aaron McAvoy, Stevie Fitzsimmons and Conor McGivern were not available due to work and holiday commitments.

Kieran and Pat Lennon had to rejig each line of the team from the previous match but the visitors got off to a good start when a long direct ball to James McGrath at full forward was redirected to Kieran Maguire who chipped over a fine point. Connolly was blocked down as he tried to clear his lines and Bright equalised. Devlin with a free put Aghaderg in front but Bright managed three unanswered points. Cathal McGrath at centre half  was the dominant player in organising the defence and setting up the counterattack and scored a 35 yard free to make it a one point game. Bright scored another point before Paul McGrath made a fine save when left one on one with the attacker. After 22 mins  the makeshift  Reds were gaining in confidence and finding a good rhythm when Cathal McGrath pulled up with a recurrence  of a hamstring injury and this forced another change in the half back line which had been the visitors strongest line. Maguire pointed but the home team scored the final point to leave the half time score Bright 0-7 Aghaderg  0-5.
Aghaderg continued to defend valiantly with McAlorum and A J McConville showing up best but Bright dominated possession and scored five points including two frees before Maguire scored  a point in the fourteenth minute. Bright kept the scoreboard ticking over with a number of well taken points. James McGrath scored his first goal of the season while Bright spoiled Paul McGrath’s evening when after a number of excellent saves he was eventually beaten by a rasping effort from ten yards.
This was a match where an injury hit Aghaderg team fought hard throughout. Bright were the better balanced team and well deserving of their win but the visitors allowed a number of scoring opportunities to go astray which would have helped the points difference.