Aughavas edge
through in poor game
Masonite Senior
Championship Group Three Second Round
By John Connolly -
sports@leitrimobserver.ie
Aughavas 0-13, Melvin
Gaels 1-5
After a tough, tense, hard
but poor Masonite Senior Championship Group Three encounter in Pairc Sean Mac
Diarmada, Aughavas held their nerve best as they emerged with a slightly
flattering five point win over Melvin Gaels last Sunday evening.
In a poor game where the weather didn’t help, neither side produced the sort of
football which they are famous for. Instead, we got a poor and dour battle where
the hits were hard and frequent and defences ruled the roost.
A couple of players from either side were very lucky not to end the match early
as the exchanges got very tough in the final quarter with both teams battling
for victory. Referee Gerry Spellman was probably a little too lenient for his
own good as both teams fought tooth and nail for supremacy.
Aughavas’ ability to take their scores eventually proved vital as they showed a
greater efficiency in front of the posts. The Gaels had just as many chances but
failed to take them as Aughavas proved markedly superior in that department.
While they didn’t perform, the victory will still please Aughavas as they took a
large step towards reaching the quarter-finals. According to manager P.J.
Carroll, Aughavas were without six first choice players and it showed up in
their play on Sunday.
If Aughavas are to repeat their heroics of 2000, they will need a huge
improvement on this form. After struggling against Aughnasheelin, this was not a
very convincing victory but they are racking up the points and are not far away
from qualification.
One more win would see them through but just as vaulable to them is the rest
next weekend.
Padraig McLoughlin & Fintan McBrien were again at the heart of their attacking
effort but weren’t as effective as in the past. However, both are able to take a
score or engineer an opening and remain dangerous to any team.
In defence, Adrian Charles gave Aughavas a rock solid platform on which to
build. He commanded his area and led by example with an excellent display,
supported well by Colin & Gavin Farrelly.
Francis McLoughlin also did very well for Aughavas while Colin McKiernan and
David Charles had their moments.
For the Gaels, their chance appear almost gone - two losses in their first two
games leaves them struggling to repeat the feats of the past six or seven years.
Down ten players of the 1998 triumph, the Gaels are finding it hard to integrate
their new younger players into the harsh world of the championship. They are
still a tough team to beat but their time may come in the years ahead.
Colin Regan was busy as usual while Gareth Phelan impressed in goals. Thomas
Lipsett was dangerous until inexplicably taken off while Paul McGurran, Joe
Tiffoney & Fabian McMorrow fought hard to keep the Gaels alive.
The opening minutes saw play switch from end to end but with poor passing and
shooting undoing any good work. Five minutes in, Gareth Phelan made a great save
to deny David Charles who was clear through while Phelan also held onto a
dipping Padraig McLoughlin effort.
Colin Regan was yellow carded for a foul on Fintan McBrien before the first
score arrived after 13 minutes when Fintan McBrien pointed after great pressure.
Two minutes later, David McSharry replied from a free.
Aughavas went back in front when Padraig McLoughlin converted a free. Both sides
missed chances before Melvin Gaels got a large slice of luck when a Thomas
Lipsett shot squirmed between keeper Diarmuid Brady and the post.
The ball then ran across the face of the goal where Paul McGurran tapped the
ball into an empty net. It was a massive boost to Melvin Gaels but they could
not build on the goal. Instead, points from McBrien and David Charles meant that
it was Aughavas who went in at halftime in front on a scoreline of 0-5 to 1-1.
Aughavas took control of the game with two McLoughlin frees in the first two
minutes. But the Kinlough side replied with a fine point from Lipsett and an
excellent long range score from Brendan Brennan on five minutes.
Brennan, however, missed a good chance to level the scores shortly after while
McLoughlin converted another free after Padraig McGloin was booked for a high
foul.
The Gaels fought back once more with a massive McSharry free from 50 yards out
on the wing on 13 minutes. Aughavas edged further ahead in the next two minutes
when Francis McLoughlin scored a nice point and Damien Smith finished off a good
move with a fine point.
Again, Melvin Gaels came back with a McSharry free and the Kinlough men made a
huge effort to close the gap. But wides from Joe Tiffoney, Martin McCarron and
Brennan hit them badly in a tight game.
In a tough, hard hitting final quarter, any score was going to be crucial and it
was Colin McKiernan who got it with a great point from a very tight angle. That
gave Aughavas breathing room and they flourished, finishing with a McLoughlin
free and another monster effort from McKiernan to complete the win.
Aughavas: Diarmuid Brady, Seamus Colreavy, Adrian Charles, Gavin Farrelly,
Gerry McGovern, Colin Farrelly, Trevor Farrelly, Damien Smith (0-1), Derek
Maguire, Padraig McLoughlin (0-6), Francis McLoughlin (0-1), Ray McBrien, Fintan
McBrien (0-2), Colin McKiernan (0-2), David Charles (0-1). Sub: Philip
Charles for Colreavy (49 mins).
Melvin Gaels: Gareth Phelan, Padraig McGloin, James Phelan, Matt
Connolly, Paul McGowan, Fabian McMorrow, Joe Tiffoney, Martin McCarron, Colin
Regan, Paul McGurran (1-0), Damien Sheridan, Joe McGowan, Thomas Lipsett (0-1),
Brendan Brennan (0-1), David McSharry (0-3). Subs: Colin McGowan for P.
McGowan (13 mins), Michael Tiffoney for J. McGowan (30 mins), Shane McCarron for
Lipsett (51 mins).
Ref: Gerry Spellman.
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Copyright © The Leitrim Observer 2004.