Disappointment at no reward from good performance

Post date: Apr 16, 2014 7:16:29 PM

Ahascragth Fohenagh 3-09 Mágh Cuilinn 3-07

Mágh Cuilinn assembled straight from school to make the journey to Ahascragh for their second actual championship fixture against Ahascragh-Fohenagh. With the time after seven the team were under pressure to get on the pitch and start. Despite the rushed arrival Mágh Cuilinn settled well and restricted the home side to two points from frees to a Joe Lydon free in response. Mágh Cuilinn also created other goal chances before Ceillan Leonard was taken down for a penalty which Joe Lydon dispatched. Daire Davoren added another point and another free from midfielder Martin Kelly was all Ahascragh Fohenagh had in response before Joe Lydon pointed from play and then Daire Davoren intercepted the puckout and dispatched it over again. Daniel Lydon was denied a second goal when his close range shot looked certain to score but the goalkeeper got a hurl to it somehow. The halftime score was a satisfactory 1-04 to 0-03. On the restart, dangerman Martin Kelly, finally eluded marker Andrew McDonagh to drive through the defence for a goal. Mágh Cuilinn responded immediately when Sean Barrett got the vital touch in a goal mouth scramble. Kelly was scoring frees from any position and two more reduced the deficit to two points. After Mágh Cuilinn were guilty of over elaboration with several earlier chances, Joe Lydon put three points between the teams again. A long high delivery was contested close to goal and whether deflected or not the ball found net for a second Ahascragh goal to bring the teams level. Sean Barrett won and pointed a 20m free to edge Magh Cuilinn ahead. Minutes later he gained possession again and under pressure found the space to put the ball in the top of the net to restore the halftime 4 point margin. With Andrew McDonagh struggling with a leg strain, Kelly was finding more space and after being twarthed by NeiL Mulcahy and Gareth Kenny on a couple of surges, he finally found a route on goal to net. A free a couple of minutes later had the sides level. Mágh Cuilinn did respond but three or four wides from scoring positions were crucial. Daniel Lydon did make a nice run to take a short free and Daire Davoren to turn and score but Magh Cuilinn could not hold on as Kelly scored first from play and then from a free to give Ahascragh-Fohenagh the minimum margin with time almost up. Mágh Cuilinn did press for at least an equaliser but a misplaced pass saw the opportunity lost and Ahascragh work the ball downfield for their corner forward to open the scoring for the forwards with the last opportunity of the evening.

Mágh Cuilinn: Tom O'Connor, Tim McDonagh, James Dempsey, Walter McDonagh, Andrew McDonagh, Neil Mulcahy, Gareth Kenny, Aaron Connell, Joe Lydon, Ger McDonagh, Sean Barrett, Daire Davoren, Shane Clancy, Daniel Lydon, Ceillan Leonard,

Subs: Alan Carr, Daniel Faherty, Cillian Davoren.