Match Report

Aghaderg Defeated In Quarter Final.

Date Filed: 15 September 2011

Aghaderg travelled to Leitrim on Sunday last to play old rivals Bright in the quarter final of the junior football championship. Team management of Kieran and Pat Lennon were in confident mood as they had the strongest panel that they had been able to assemble this year as a number of players had recovered from injury and there were no work or exam commitments.
Conditions were difficult as there was a strong cross wind which made accurate shooting and kick passing difficult. From the throw in Bright gained possession and scored a point within the first twenty seconds. McGrath and Fitzsimmons were winning the lion’s share of possession at midfield and were getting a lot of support from Cathal McGrath and McGivern in the half back line. Aghaderg were dominating the game but partly due to the conditions and a lack of coordination in their forward line they were unable to turn their dominance into scores. Cathal McGrath opened their account with a point after three minutes to tie the scores and Devlin put the reds in front with a point after nine minutes. After eleven minutes disaster struck as the Bright mid fielder sent a speculative lob into the left corner where it was misjudged by the Aghaderg defender. The ball was crossed into the square and dispatched to the back of the net by the full forward. Both umpires agreed it was a square ball but they were over ruled by the referee. A point from Hegarty  made it a one point game but Bright extended their lead with a point after twelve minutes. Aghaderg continued to win the majority of possession in the midfield area but a lack of composure and the difficult weather conditions led to many poor decisions. In the second quarter the reds scored one point from Devlin while they kicked nine wides from play and placed balls. Bright from three attacks managed to score two points including a magnificent forty five metre free.

Half time Aghaderg 0-4, Bright 1-3.

Aghaderg came out in the second half with all guns blazing and within five minutes had tied the match with two points from Maguire, one from play and one from a free.  However as the game settled down Bright had their best period and scored three points to open up a significant gap. They were living off scraps but their superior teamwork and accuracy in front of goal ensured they would be difficult to rein in. O’Neill, McDonald and Doyle were introduced for McAvoy, McAlorum and Jordan but the Reds were still unable to turn possession into scores. McGivern converted a free and James McGrath made a fifty metre surging run from midfield, struck a fierce shot but it was brilliantly saved by the goal keeper. Cathal McGrath scored a point with virtually the last kick of the game to leave the final score  Aghaderg 0-8 Bright 1-8.

Aghaderg players and management will be disappointed with this result as they had every opportunity of making progress in the championship. They will wonder what difference a couple of refereeing decisions might have made however  their inability to cope with the conditions and some poor decision making in the forward line were the most important reasons that they failed to make progress.

Team: Paul McGrath(capt) Martin Fitzpatrick, Tommy Lennon, Ciaran Connolly, Conor McAlorum, Cathal McGrath(0-2), Paul McGivern (0-1), Stevie Fitzsimmons, James McGrath, Martin Cassidy, Ciaran Maguire(0-2) , Tony Hegarty(0-1) , Aaron McAvoy, PJ Jordan, Eugene Maguire(0-2). Subs Paul O’Neill, Rory McShane, Shea McDonald, Conor McGivern, Michael McGrath, Mark McGrath, Caolan Doyle, Ryan Strain, Paul Colgan, Conal Sands, Chris McAvoy.