Reserve Football Championship Group 1
St. Mary’s Aghagallon 3-06 – 2-12 Lámh Dhearg
By Kevin Herron
Lámh Dhearg kept their composure late-on to edge out Aghagallon 2-12-3-06 in Friday evenings Reserve Championship clash at Pairc Na nGael.
It was a game that toed-and-froed throughout with goals from Michael McStravick and Liam Russell cancelling out a strong start from the visitors.
Sean-Paul Gibson struck for his side to rally before the break and Francis Dugan added another after the restart to nudge his side in front again.
The visitors were poised for victory until McStravick struck his second goal to draw the sides level, though Dugan and Niall McGarry would add late points to ensure their side got over the line on a rain-sodden night in the South-West.
Lámh Dhearg began on the front foot with early points from Niall McGarry (free) and Daniel Murray.
A foul on Liam Russell gave Michael McStravick the chance to register a reply- but it was one he would spurn in the lashing rain in Aghagallon.
Niall McShane had the chance to conjure the first goal of the game after a stray kick-out from Brendan Elliott went straight to the midfielder, but Elliott redeemed himself with a low save and the resulting 45’ was sent wide.
Back-to-back Francis Dugan points extended the Lámhs lead, the first after he was fouled, and Dugan dusted himself down to convert. The full-forward then claimed an advanced mark and made it two points from two opportunities.
Aghgallon finally responded after Joseph Lavelle was felled, the resulting free was missed by Michael McStravick – but after some shouting in the build-up to his kick; referee Paul Burns called for a retake and McStravick converted at the second time of asking.
At the other end Niall Rodgers needed to be alert to turn away Francis Dugan’s goal-bound effort, though Dugan would increase his tally by converting a free shortly after to move his side 0-05-0-01 ahead.
A second Aghgallon goal chance went abegging when Niall McShane skewed an effort wide, however Liam Russell kicked his sides second score following the first half water break.
The hosts had the chance to pull level when Kieran Hamill went down under the challenge of Ronan Fegan and Paul Burns signalled for a penalty.
Michael McStravick seized responsibility from 12-yards and slotted it home to restore parity at 1-02-0-05.
Better was to come when a second goal from play put Aghagallon in-front for the first time. Kieran Hamill was again involved with an interception, he found McStravick who in turn picked out Liam Russell and the corner-forward turned his marker and shot low across Elliott and into the net.
Michael McStravick increased his sides lead with a nice point distance before Lámh Dhearg rallied.
Having conceded 2-02 without reply; Sean-Paul Gibson steered a shot low past Niall Rodgers from Francis Dugan’s assist to give his side renewed hope and he would follow that up with the levelling point 60-seconds later.
But it was Aghagallon who edged ahead at the interval thanks to a Senan Donnelly point which gave his side a 2-04-1-06 half-time lead.
The hosts extended their lead after the break, through a Liam Russell point after exchanging passes with Joseph Lavelle.
The lead changed hands again shortly after, Francis Dugan spurned an early free but didn’t drop his head and latched onto a through ball from Sean-Paul Gibson to net and give his side a 2-06-2-05 lead.
Gibson himself almost claimed his second goal of the evening, though a double save from Niall Rodgers prevented any further damage.
Anto Byrne swung over a nice point to double his sides advantage – but Patrick Branagan replied immediately at the other end after Ruairi McShane soloed forward and offloaded to the half-back.
Lámh Dhearg stretched their lead after Dugan converted his third free of the evening and Sean-Paul Gibson added another point after some good possession football.
The pendulum was about to swing once again, and the balance of power was restored when a short free was played into the path of Michael McStravick who shot to the net to draw the sides level at 3-06-2-09.
The visitors showed grit and determination in the closing stages to regain the lead after Francis Dugan took advantage of a stray kick-out from Rodgers and swung over his fourth point of the evening.
Niall McGarry would add to his free early in the game with another two efforts late on and at the other end Francis Dugan made a terrific double block to deny Niall McShane the chance of a leveller as Lámh Dhearg edged to their third victory in succession.
St Mary’s Aghagallon: N Rodgers, C Henry, R Laverty, E Brown, S Branagan, P Branagan (0-01), R Mulholland, S Donnelly (0-01), N McShane, M McStravick (2-02, 1-01f), S Branagan, K Hamill, J Nelson, J Lavelle, L Russell (1-02).
Lámh Dhearg: B Elliott, L Clarke, P Larkin, M O’Boyle, R Fegan, A McGuigan, C Boyd, R Diamond, A Byrne (0-01), N McGarry (0-03f), D Murray (0-01), SP Gibson (1-02), A Cunningham, F Dugan (1-05, 0-03f, 0-01 advanced-mark), C Plyford.
Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgalls)
