Shannon Gaels 0-14
Ballymachugh 1-12

A much understrength Shannon Gaels side suffered rare back-to-back defeats when going under to ACFL Division Three visitors Ballymachugh last weekend.
Following their disappointment the previous week, the west Cavan men were hoping to get back on the winning trail but shorn a handful of players from the team that went down to Kill, the Gaels just fell short of realising their ambition.

The visitors owed much to their win to a fine opening quarter and an even better final quarter which saw them leap into second place in the league table.
Ballymachugh were at their best in the first twelve minutes at the end of which they had engineered an important 1-4 to 0-1 advantage.

While Eamon Reilly (free) had got the hosts up and running in the 5th minute, the visitors were the dominant side either side of Reilly's point.
Indeed, it was Ballymachugh's success in hitting the jackpot in the 3rd minute which proved to be the most valuable score of the game.

A poor kick-out from Shannon Gaels was broken down by Richie Fitzsimons to James Kiernan and the latter made no mistake by finding the net from almost 20 metres.

The Ballyheelan-based crew got back on the frontfoot after Reilly's free and points by Anthony Baxter, Richie Fitzsimons (after good work by Aodhan Kiernan) and Christopher Rooney (with the aid of the stiffening wind) had the Gaels facing into a six point deficit well inside the opening quarter.
Shannon Gaels' think-tank moved to stem the tide and the relocation of Aaron O'Hara to police the dangerous James Kiernan seemed to help the hosts' cause.
Points by Niall Walsh and Eamon Reilly sandwiched a James Kiernan point but then the Ballymachugh defence came into its own in significant fashion.
Two crucial interceptions by Brendan McLarney and Vincent Ellis served to stymie Shannon Gaels just at their most threatening.

The Gaels upped the ante though in the run-in to the half-time break and further points by Niall Walsh and Jason McLoughlin cut Ballymachugh's lead at the interval to a more manageable 1-6 to 0-6.

The third quarter was all about the hosts and while Stephen Harten (35) added to the visitors tally, the Gaels drew level after 40 minutes thanks in part to great points by Shane Dolan and Niall Walsh.

The Gaels pushed forward once more and Niall Walsh (49) edged them ahead, 0-12 to 1-8, for the first time in the match before Eamon Reilly (51) doubled his side's lead.

It wasn't enough though to stave off Ballymachugh's late challenge and in the last eight minutes, the visitors out-scored their opponents by four points to one to claim the spoils with the minimum to spare.



Shannon Gaels:
Martin McGovern; Peadar Fitzpatrick, Stephen McManus, Kevin McGovern; Niall McGrath, Jason McLoughlin (0-1), Gary Gallagher; Ollie Nolan, Shane Dolan (0-1); Aaron O'Hara, Niall Walsh (0-5, two frees), Conor McCaffrey; Paddy O'Rourke (0-1), Eamon Reilly (0-6, four frees), Ronan McCaffrey.
Sub used; Paddy Convey.

Ballymachugh:
Darragh Goldrick; Vincent Ellis (0-1), Brendan McLarney, Diarmaid O'Reilly; Anthony Baxter (0-1), Philip Donohoe (0-1), Christopher Rooney (0-1); Aodhan Kiernan (0-1), Liam Goldrick-Buchanan (0-1); Padraig Galligan, Richie Fitzsimons (0-1), Finbar Sheridan; Cian Goldrick, James Kiernan (1-4), Stephen Harten (0-1).
Subs used: John Fox; Mark Kiernan; Alan Donohoe; Padraig Sheridan. Tweet

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