ACFL Division 3
St. Agnes 4-7 St. Gall’s 1-16,
St. Agnes collected their first point of the season when they drew with St. Hall’s at a freezing cold Pairc Naomh Una last night.
The visitors opened the scoring with a point from Shane O’Hagen but the Aggies were then awarded a penalty which at the second attempt Cormac McBride converted. This was followed by another goal from newly appointed captain Brian Crossan to leave the black and whites firmly in command.
Cormac McBride tacked on two nice points before StGall’s replied with four points including two from former senior star Anto Healy which brought them right back into contention.
The Aggies were playing with confidence however and scored a point from Brian Crossan and a goal from influential full forward Colin Clarke to leave the half time score, St. Agnes 3-3 St. Galls0-5.
On the resumption St. Gall’s wasted no time in reducing the seven point deficit rattling off half a dozen points as they enjoyed a period of supremacy but a renewed energetic spell from the home team resulted in points from McBride, ,David McGaharan and veteran Mark Caldwell to get them motoring again.
A dreadful error when the ball was given away needlessly in the Aggies defence led to a goal from Colm Derby plus a pointed free had the sides level with ten minutes left.
St. Agnes responded and Cormac McBride, having a great game finished to the net soccer style to edge the Aggies three in front again.
Alas they were unable to see the game out and three points from the Galls, including a pointed free from Anton Healy had the sides level again.
The Aggies were to rue two missed frees but full forward Colin Clarke with a great left footed kick from thirty yards put St. Agnes in the lead and they looked to have secured the win but that man Healy equalised with a fine point from way out on the left wing to conclude the scoring .
This was great exciting game of football, whilst the standard mightn’t have been that high both sides attacked at every opportunity.
St. Agnes had to settle for a share of the spoils in the end but will be greatly heartened by the overall performance and will hope that this draw will ignite their season.