ACFL Division One
Aghagallon 3-11-1-14 Lámh Dhearg
Kevin Herron reports from Aghagallon
Photographs: Brian Hamill
THREE goals inside the first ten minutes laid the foundations to Aghagallon’s 3-11-1-14 win over Lámh Dhearg on Wednesday evening.
The hosts games plan was effective from the outset as they were awarded a penalty within the first 60-seconds as a high ball was flighted into Ruairi McCann and he was hauled down as he was about to pull the trigger, with referee Kevin Parke signalling for a penalty that was dispatched by Adam Loughran.
In reply, Declan Lynch kicked a two-pointer from play, but the Hannashtown side were caught cold again when they conceded a free in midfield and a quick ball was launched into McCann, he gathered and a simple lay-off was palmed home by Jonny Hannon.
Conor Murray halved the deficit with a turn and point, though Aghagallon’s response was to score a third goal inside of ten minutes.
Once again the hosts utilised the high ball into Ruairi McCann, he again offloaded to Hannon who had more work to do on this occasion, rounding John Finucane and then composing himself to steer a shot to the net to make it 3-0-0-3.
The Lámhs cut the deficit through a converted Adam Murray free and an angled Marc Jordan score that dropped over, but they squandered various scoring opportunities throughout the half.
It took Aghagallon until the 27th minute to add their first point of the evening through Adam Loughran and just before the break Eoin Brankin clipped over to ensure his side held a 3-2-0-5 lead at the interval.
Aghagallon extended their lead after the restart with Jonny Hannon and Ruairi McCann both opting to fist over the bar.
Declan Smyth swung a fine shot over and Adam Murray kicked his first from play to maintain the six-point deficit.
The sides cancelled each other out for the majority of the half, the hosts again pulled two further clear when Ruairi McCann shot over and Adam Loughran produced another fine kick that dropped over.
In response Adam Murray dropped an impressive angled score over and substitute Mark Finnegan played a one-two with Declan Smyth and swung over a two-pointed score to make it 3-6-0-10.
Further scores were traded between Enda McCann and the lively Adam Murray- though three unanswered scores in a five-minute spell appeared to have seen Aghagallon home.
Enda McCann doubled his account, a dipping Adam Loughran shot was touched over the bar by John Finucane and then Jonny Hannon shot over his second of the evening.
A third two-pointed score courtesy of Declan Smyth and a Ben Rice point had again reduced arrears to five, but time was against the Hannashtown outfit.
It looked as though Aghagallon would see the scoring out with a further point, though deep into added time Declan Lynch dropped a high ball into the area, an attempted fist pass was blocked down and Marc Jordan swept home a goal that was little more than consolation.
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