U16 Team comeback to force Draw

Post date: Mar 16, 2015 1:56:53 PM

The exchanges at the start of this game were fairly open. Mágh Cuilinn were off the mark early with a goal from Cian Folan and a pointed free from Dara Davoren. Carnmore produced the exact response before Joe Lydon burst through for another goal to restore a one goal lead. Mágh Cuilinn continued to work the scoreboard with Dara Davoren, Shane Clancy, and Joe Lydon all pointing from play to add to Davoren's frees. Carnmore proved adept at freetaking too, with every indiscretion, even beyond halfway being punished. Cian Folan grabbed a third goal but Carnmore broke through for a goal of their own just before halftime to leave the halftime score at 3-07 to 2-07.

The second half opened in complete contrast to the first, with both sides unable to score for quite a while. Carnmore had most of the early pressure but their earlier unerring accuracy from frees deserted them as a succession of long range efforts drifted wide. Mágh Cuilinn gained a foothold in the game and with neat points from Shane Clancy, Dara Davoren and Oran Mac Lochlann, the lead was extended to five points. Carnmore changed freetaker with success and an effort from the left hand sideline, matching a similar effort from Clancy from the same spot in the first half, reduced the gap to four points. Carnmore began to run at the Mágh Cuilinn defence and although a few timely interventions from goalkeeper Owen Hester were needed the defence was coping well. However as the game entered the last 10 minutes, a surging run was stopped but the ball broke to a Carnmore player close to goal, his mis-hit looping effort under severe pressure to secure a point fell toward the angle of the goal, all spin and no power. Hester did get a hurl to the ball but with insufficient purchase to prevent the sHot dying just beyond the line. More misfortune was to follow within minutes, the Carnmore wing forward tried to match his earlier effort from the left, but the shot, although well struck was short and low, but Hester suffered the fate of all goalkeepers from Tony Reddin to Brendan Cummins, as the ball spun from his grasp and fell tauntingly a foot away on the wrong side of the line. Mágh Cuilinn did respond with a point from Shane Clancy but a Carnmore free restored the gap as the sides slipped inside the final five minutes. It might have been all over as Carnmore broke through again but Hester saved point plank, got up, gathered the ball and cleared. Mágh Cuilinn continued to press and forced Carnmore to desperate defence. Two frees were garnered in the final three minutes and the points taken to earn a draw that was the least that was deserved.

Mágh Cuilinn: Owen Hester, Tim McDonagh, Keith Carter, Aaron Connell, Micheál Joyce, Neil Mulcahy, Seán Barrett, Dara Davoren, Evan Kenny, Joe Lydon, Oran Mac Lochlann, Alan Carr, Tom O'Connor, Cian Folan, Shane Clancy.

Subs: Seán Seoighe for Alan Carr, Ceillan Leonard for Oran Mac Lochlann, Andrew McDonagh, Fionn McDonagh, Andrew Power