All County Football League Division 3
Eire Og 0-8 O’Donnells 0-7
Friday 26 April
Eirie Og got their first win of the season with a hard fought but deserved victory against O’Donnells. In what turned out to be a low scoring game it was O’Donnells who raced into an early lead scoring three points without reply in the opening ten minutes, but that was to be their last score of the half. Conor McKenna and Conor Erskine soon got control of midfield and the Ogs started to dominate possession with Stephen Erskine, Adam McKenna and Conor McKenna hitting points to bring them level at the break, and it could have been even better for the home side as a couple of clear goal chances went begging.
The second half started well for the Ogs as they continued to control the game with Brendan Shannon showing well at full forward. They opened up a two point lead which really should have been five when Brendan Shannon’s fisted ball, which seemed goal-bound, came off the crossbar. With ten minutes to go O’Donnell’s had pegged back the deficit to leave the game all square and set up a thrilling finish. A superbly struck 45 by Brendan Shannon saw the Ogs take the lead again only for ODonnell’s to respond with two fine points to regain the lead, and it looked like the men from the Whiterock side had snatched victory.
With just five minutes left to play, and the Ogs trailing by a point, things were looking ominous, but the Ogs dug deep and pressed forward playing some great football. This was rewarded when a superb point by Conor McKenna drew them level and in the last minute another excellent 45 by Brendan Shannon gave them victory, the 45 awarded after O’Donnell’s goalkeeper, Conor Walsh, made a fantastic save to deny Shannon what seemed a certain goal.
All an all a great performance by the men in black and red but particular credit to Conor Erskine who gave an outstanding display.