ACFL Division One:
Aghagallon 2-10 Roger Casements, Portglenone 1-13
Match report and photos by Brian Hamill
A dramatic late rally from Roger Casements, Portglenone salvaged a draw at St Mary’s on Wednesday evening, denying Aghagallon a victory that had looked secure heading into the closing stages.
The home side controlled much of the contest and led by two goals in the second half, but a determined Portglenone finish, driven by key contributions from their panel saw them claw their way back for a share of the spoils.
Aghagallon made the brighter start and established a 0-6 to 0-4 lead by the break, with Eoin Brankin, Adam Loughran and Jamie Lamont all finding their range. At the other end, Portglenone stayed in touch through the efforts of Johnny Convery and Ryan Convery, while Odhrán Doherty and Tom Duffin worked hard to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The home side seized control in the third quarter. Stephen Devlin finished off a well-taken goal with one of his regular, far post runs, before Jonny Hannon added a second major to stretch the advantage. With Brankin continuing to add points, Aghagallon looked to be in command.
Portglenone, however, refused to fold. Driven by midfield influence from players such as Michael Donnelly and Conor McGhee, they began to build momentum. Long-range scores from Kevin O’Kane and Ciaran McAleese cut into the deficit, while Caolan Tierney and Sean Byrne also contributed important points.
The turning point came late on. A powerful attacking spell involving Conor McCann and Rory Moore created the opening for a crucial Portglenone goal, finished clinically to bring the sides back within touching distance. With confidence growing, further points from Ryan O’Neill and Paddy Graffin brought the sides level in the dying moments.
Aghagallon, who had looked comfortable after their two-goal surge, struggled to regain composure under the late pressure, as Portglenone’s bench and extended panel including contributions from Conall Morgan and Daniel McNicholl helped sustain the fight-back.
In the end, Portglenone will feel they earned the result through perseverance and accuracy in the closing stages, while Aghagallon will be disappointed not to have seen out a game they largely controlled.
A gripping contest overall, with Aghagallon’s goal-taking matched by Portglenone’s resilience and late scoring burst ensuring the points were shared.
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