Con Magee Gaels 1-08 Moneyglass 0-04
Storm Ashley was only starting to flex her muscles before midday in Fr Maginn Park last Sunday but still had a significant impact on this U21 A Championship preliminary game. The scoreline doesn’t reflect the flow of a game which had Con Magee Gaels leading by 0-04 to 0-02 with only one quarter of the game remaining. In that final quarter the home side really took control and ran out winners but both teams will look back on too many missed chances on a day when long range shooting was definitely not proving productive. Moneyglass can point to several real goal chances in the second half which would have put a different slant on the game. In fairness Con Magee Gael’s defence was rock solid with Deaglan Carey in fine form as net minder bringing off a fantastic save with his side only two points to the good. That save may have proved inspirational as the local lads, who had only score four points in the opening three quarters, went on to add 1-04 in the final ten minutes and run out comfortable winners in the end.
Daire Higgins and Callagh Mooney opened for Gaels with Sean Boyd providing a good score for the opposition. Both teams were really struggling with poor shot choices as Ashley began to grow stronger – even short passing was a lottery – but still both teams served up some fine flowing play as well. Con Magee Gaels would add another two points before the break as Daire Higgins slotted over a free and Fergus Donaghey was first to pounce after a Shea O’Broin spot kick was saved. Donaghy cooly fisted over to bring us to the short whistle with the home side ahead 0-04 to 0-01.
As the second half got underway Ashley was really starting to take control and neither side could raise a flag in the opening fifteen minutes. That honour fell to Moneyglass midfielder Conleth McCann and two minutes later that save from Deaglan Carey sparked the Gaels into life. Moneyglass had mounted several attacks in the opening quarter but couldn’t convert the goal chances so solid was the home team defence. Peader Mc Donald slotted over a great point with only nine minutes remaining. That was followed by a Daire Higgins free and within one minute Gaels’ full back Shea McAuley popped up with a goal to effectively seal the deal as the home side now led 1-06 to 0-02. Both teams added a couple of points each in the closing five minutes; Nate Dixon and Conleth McCann were on target for Moneyglass whilst Gaels replied through Shea O’Broin and Colla Ward to leave the final score 1-08 to 0-04 in favour of Con Magee Gaels when referee Fionntan McCotter called time. Some spectators glad to seek refuge by their household fires, other hardy souls headed over the mountain to Ballycastle for the senior hurling final. Con Magee Gaels and Cushendall won the games but storm Ashley controlled the battles.
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