ACFL Division 3
St. Agnes 0-18 Laochra Loch Lao 1-11
St. Agnes claimed the ACFL Division 3 league title when they overcame the challenge of nearest rivals, Laochra Loch Lao at Pairc Naomh Una on Wednesday night.
With two games remaining going into Wednesday’s fixture the Aggies were in a strong position. Win and the title was theirs. Lose and they still had another bite at the cherry against Pearses in their final game.
They certainly didn’t get it all their own way against a robust and talented, Laochra Loch Lao who were determined to take the race for the title to the final day of the season.
The Irish language side got themselves off to the best possible start when PJ O’Prey cut in from the right and fired past Collum Carroll in the opening minute to serve notice of their intentions.
Conall Turley replied from two pointed frees for St. Agnes but a well struck 2 pointer free from Jack Mac Liomhair put the visitors three ahead again by the 12th minute.
Once again the sweet striking Turley converted a free to take his total for the evening to three and then Ronan Carroll took advantage of a bad kick out to leave just one between the sides.
Both sides wasted opportunities as the intensity of the game increased and two converted frees from Caoilte MacGiolla Fhiondain for the Falls Road side and a late pointed reply by Mark Boyle for the Aggies left it 1-4 to 0-5 at half time in favour of the visitors.
Laochra Loch Lao were good value for that lead as they dominated the closing stages and could have been further ahead but it was a different story when both sides made the long trip back from the changing rooms after the half time break.
A fisted point from Shay Madden and another from play from Mark Boyle had the side’s level within three minutes before Rian McShane edged he visitors back ahead from a free in the 4th minute.
It was nip and tuck for a spell after this with scores at one end finding a response at the other and for a spell these two well matched sides couldn’t be separated.
Points from Madden and Carroll for St. Agnes and a Jack MacLomhair respose for laochra had it all square again at the end of the 9th minute before a superb Ryan Reilly point, another from Cormac McBride and one from Daithi McGaharan moved St. Agnes three ahead and for the first time they seemed to be gaining control.
The excellent Ryan Reilly came forward to fist another and the gap was out to four but Laochra Loch Lao replied through Tomas Tolan and Jack MacLomhair to leave just two in it with 11 minutes still remaining.
St. Agnes had the scent of victory and a first league title for quite a number of years in their sights and they were not going to give up that hard earned lead easily and again the responded.
Daithi MacGaharan, Mark Boyle, Ronan Carroll and Ronan Gilligan all added to their total going down the home straight with Laochra Loch Lao replying through Rian McShane and a late free from Caolan MacFhiondain.
There were scenes of celebration at the end as the faithful St. Aggies supporters joined their team at the end to congratulate their heroes and join in the victory photograph.
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW