Aherlow pip Eire Og Annacarty Donohill in junior B football cliffhanger

Francis Coughlan at Lisvernane

 

Aherlow came from three points down at the interval to claim a hard fought one-point win over 2023 finalist Eire Og Annacarty Donohill in Lisvernane on Friday evening.

Eire Og playing with the aid of a slight breeze and helped by 2-2 from the inform Alan Shanahan led by a goal at Donal Ryan’s half time whistle, 2-4 to 1-4. Shanahan’s first goal came in the fourth minute when Michael Furlong picked him out with a pass and despite the goalie’s best effort Shanahan’s shot at his near side went over the line.

Sean Kiely added to Michael Kenny’s opener and just before the quarter mark, Sean Bourke had the difference at the minimum. Eire Og though while working the ball well through the hands got into scoring opportunities but were failing to find the target.

They could have had at least another two goals in the half. Their second goal arrived about nine minutes before the break when Conor Devlin’s effort for a point was palmed by the goalie into the path of the waiting Alan Shanahan who volleyed to the net. The gap was almost immediately back to one when Sean Kiely sent a rocket to the Eire Og net.

His initial effort was blocked but broke to Michael Kenny who set up Kiely for the second attempt. Both sides traded pointes before the break to leave a goal between them.

The game turned on its head three minutes after the resumption when Sean Bourke did all running before laying off Tadgh O’Brien who sent his effort low past the goalie to tie the game for the one and only time.

By the ninth minute Tadgh and Bernard O’Brien had helped Aherlow open a two-point lead. Scores were hard to come by for the remainder of the half with just three in all. Defences were on top with both turning over possession. Aherlow were creating more chances but failing to find the range.

Philp McGrath’s free had the gap back to a point at the start of the final quarter. A minute before time Moss O’Brien came all the way from defence to fist over the bar. Liam Crosse pointed a late free for Eire Og but they couldn’t find the equaliser.

Scorers and Teams:
Aherlow: Sean Kiely (1-1), Tadgh O’Brien (1-1), Sean Bourke (0-2), Michael Kenny (0-1), Bernard O’Brien (0-1), Moss O’Brien (0-1)

Eire Og: Alan Shanahan (2-2), Philip McGrath (0-2f), Cian Mooney (0-1), Liam Crosse (0-1f)

Aherlow: Joe Howard, Tom Howard, Moss O’Brien, Dylan Cunningham, Max Reardon, Paddy Chapman, John Hennessy Jnr, Eoin O’Connell, Paddy O’Donoghue, Paudie Bourke, Bernard O’Brien, Sean Bourke, Tadgh O’Brien, Sean Kiely, Michael Kenny
Sub Used: John Hennessy Snr for Dylan Cunningham

Eire Og: Michael Ryan, Colin Heffernan, Willie O’Neill, Adam O’Dwyer, Adam Kelly, Dan Hogan, Conor Devlin, Cian Mooney, Thomas Quinn, Richard O’Doherty, Liam Crosse, Michael Furlong, David Breen, Philip McGrath, Alan Shannahan
Subs Used: Evan Heffernan for David Breen, Jack Kingston for Cian Mooney, David Breen for Conor Devlin, John Quinn for Alan Shanahan

Referee: Donal Ryan (Cappawhite)