@NaomhEannaCLG into U21 Semi « Naomh Éanna CLG

07/11/2017

Report from Saffron Gael, link to SaffronAid Gael report : https://thesaffrongael.com/2017/11/06/st-endas-stand-firm-to-repel-late-aghagallon-challenge/

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Antrim U21 ‘A’ Football Championship quarter-final

St Mary’s Aghagallon 0-7

Naomh Éanna 0-9

Naomh Éanna stood firm to repel a late challenge from St. Mary’s Aghagallon in this keenly contested U21A football championship quarter-final and advance to the semi-final at Pairc na Gael on Sunday. In a game where the home side started brightly, the Glengormley side moved into a 0-9 to 0-5 lead late in the game but Aghagallon came strong in the closing stages but fell just short in the end.

There was little to choose between the sides throughout, but Naomh Éanna were more clinical in the scoring zone while their opponents had to work much harder for their scores throughout the hour.

Both teams were forced to start without keys players with Aghagallon’s Eunan Walsh held in reserve until the second half while Joe Maskey and Peter Healy remain injured for the Hightown side.

It was the home side who made the brighter start, hitting the opening two points in quick succession from Shane Russell and raiding wing-back Pat Branagan and at this stage they were looking good but they were unable to build on this bright opening.

Both side employed a sweeper with Jamie Lamont taking up the role for St Mary’s and Naomh Éanna had difficulty breaking down a well-organised home defence during the opening exchanges.

It took seven minutes for the visitors to breech the Aghagallon defensive wall when Ciaran Thompson set up Odhran Eastwood for a good point and this score seemed to settle the Glengormley side though Aghagallon were still enjoying the majority of possession.

They spurned a few chances at the other end however and paid the price when their opponents levelled after 10 minutes when Conan Lyttle split the posts following a good build up.

Still, St Mary’s just about held the upper hand in terms of possession and hit the front once more when Adam Loughran took a fine score.

Defenders Aaron Doherty and Aidan Mulholland were enjoying great success in snuffing out the threat of the Naomh Éanna danger men but Aghagallon were increasingly wasteful in front of the posts as the game became scrappy.

After 10 scoreless minutes Ruairi Scott broke the deadlock with a point out of the top drawer when he fired over with the outside of his right boot from the best part of 40 yards to level the game at 0-3 all and it was clear we were in for game.

Significantly though the home side began to spurn chances leaving Shane Russell and Adam Loughran isolated in attack where they were outnumbered time and again as their colleagues tried to find them with long through balls.

As Aghagallon’s wides tally rose to seven, they fell behind for the first time in the game when Eastwood converted a free which was moved forward for dissent and the Glengormley side took that 0-4 to 0-3 lead into the half-time break.

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On the restart Eastwood converted another free to move Naomh Éanna two clear but a foul on Jack Lenehan allowed Russell to reduce the gap to a point before a trip on Ruairi McCann brought the sides level at 0-5 all when Russell tapped over.

Naomh Éanna responded immediately however and they were beginning to get on top around mid-field as they came back a minute later when centre-forward Eoin Nagle hit a great point before Donal Walsh was fouled moments later. Again, Aghagallon were penalised by Sean Laverty for backchat and Eastwood converted to make it 0-7 to 0-5 after 40 minutes and the game was now swinging decisively in favour of the Hightown lads.

Things were starting to heat up as the game threatened to boil over and the Moneyglass official was having a busy time keeping a lid on proceedings and was forced to issue yellow cards to Nagle and Doherty for an altercation midway through the second half.

This appeared to settle matters though the challenges remained hard but fair and Naomh Éanna increased their lead when Lyttle popped up with an inspirational score to move his side three points clear.

The initiative was now very much with the visitors as Ruairi Scott then followed with another great long-range effort to leave the scores at 0-9 to 0-5 with 11 minutes remaining and Aghagallon looked in real trouble but were not about to roll over without a fight.

Roared on by a passionate support St. Mary’s threw everything they had at the opposition during the closing stages but there was a feeling that it was going to take a goal to get them back into contention but in truth it never looked like materialising.

Another Russell free gave them some hope and their chances were helped by the bravery of Lenehan who won a ball he had no right to win five minutes from time. Lenehan was subsequently fouled as he headed for goal and Russell made no mistake to cut the gap to 0-9 to 0-7 to set up a tense finale.

However the Naomh Éanna defence shut up shop after this, playing possession football and pulling men behind the ball to frustrate their opponents as they ran down the clock. Aghagallon tried in vain as they went looking for the goal that would see them over the line but to no avail.

In the end Naomh Éanna were worthy victors and must be considered as serious contenders to lift the trophy after two excellent wins. The game itself was tough and uncompromising with both side showing great passion and skill and one bone-crunching hit by Branagan on the excellent Ethan Gibson summed up the passion on display.

Naomh Éanna now go forward to meet Lámh Dhearg in the semi-final and they will fancy their chances against a Hannastown side who had a good win themselves against Gort na Mona. Favourites Rossa are already through to the other semi-final but they will have to wait on St. Brigid’s and Erin’s Own who are set to meet in the fourth quarter-final this weekend.

AGHAGALLON: B Haire; A Doherty, N McShane, A Mulholland; A Shanks, J Lamont, P Branagan 0-1; J Grant, J Lenehan’ C Farr, A Loughran 0-1, C Reynolds; S Russell 0-5 (0-4fs), R McCann, P Mulholland.

Subs: E Walsh for Reynolds (34mins), D Hannon for McShane (51mins), McShane for Russell (Black Card replacement 61mins).

Naomh Éanna: C Losty; D McNulty, M McNamee, C Eastwood; C Thompson, J McAuley, C McAuley; E Gibson, C Lyttle 0-2; A Curran, E Nagle 0-1, E McNulty; D Walsh, O Eastwood 0-4 (0-3fs), R Scott 0-2.

Subs: P Hamilton for Curran (27mins), M McAuley for E McNulty (38mins).

REFEREE: S Laverty (Moneyglass)

Míle buíochas le Saffron Gael

AUTHOR: Seamus Mac Domhnaill
CATEGORY: Uncategorized

@NaomhEannaCLG into U21 Semi

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