Aughnamullen back on track
August 26, 2010Aughnamullen 1-13
Inniskeen 2-6
A stronger, more committed Aughnamullen got their championship prospects back on track with this deserved victory over Inniskeen in this well contested and at times quite exciting losers group qualifier match in Carrickmacross on Saturday evening last. Inniskeen started very promisingly and were four points ahead after just eight minutes although poor finishing had seen them miss a couple of gilt-edged chances even at that stage. Aughnamullen on the other hand took some time to settle but once they did they exerted an increasing influence on proceedings particularly through their physically stronger players like Thomas Hughes, Lee Conlon, Mark Meegan and Paul Mulligan. That superior aerial power gave Aughnamullen a decided edge out around midfield and they used the high ball in to their full forward line to good effect with Inniskeen struggling at times to contain the threat. That said though they stuck manfully to the task but too often in the second-half as they contrived to create openings they delayed things that little bit too much with the result that the man in possession was just simply running into heavy traffic. In the latter stages Inniskeen introduced a number of substitutes and switched things around in an effort to rescue the situation but by then Aughnamullen had a firm grip and they closed the game out with two late points to see them through to the next round while for Inniskeen it was the end of the championship road for 2010. Inniskeen opened the scoring as early as the first minute with a point from a free by Michael Lennon but were then wide of the target twice in quick succession, one from a free, before Aughnamullen mounted their first attack in the sixth minute only to see Sean Sheridan off target. Eight minutes into the match Inniskeen looked to be consolidating when Paul Meegan crashed to the Aughnamullen net following a good pass by Alan Ryan and two minutes later it took an excellent save by Gary Mulligan in the Aughnamullen goal to deny Ronan Meegan as Inniskeen attacked in waves. That all changed though in the final minute of the opening quarter when Paul Mulligan opened Aughnamullen's account, fielding a centre from a free and turning to lash over. Within a minute he added his second when Mark Meegan won possession in broken play and it was now the turn of the Inniskeen keeper Jonathan Tavey to come to his side's rescue to deny Pete Dooney form close range. Both sides were guilty of missed chances in a busy period up until the 20th minute with Aughnamullen then registering a brace from Chris Keenan inside a minute, the second one finger-tipped over the bar by Jonathan Tavey to bring the sides level for the first time. Within two minutes though Inniskeen were back in front when Fergal Duffy, who worked tirelessly throughout, put the ball in to Paul Meegan and in a quick exchange Michael Lennon came through for Inniskeen's second goal. Paul Meegan added a point from a free in the 28th minute to put Inniskeen ahead on double scores, 2-2 to 0-4 and looking comfortable. However all that changed dramatically and with two minute of stoppage time played Aughnamullen were back on level terms with an excellent point by Edmond McArdle and then something of a gift goal in the 32nd minute when a speculative lob from Paul Mulligan bounced into the roof of the Inniskeen net following a misunderstanding between Jonathan Tavey and one of his defenders. Inniskeen rallied immediately for a point by Michael Lennon following good work by Alan Ryan and Trevor Hilliard to leave the minimum between the sides at the break, Inniskeen 2-3 Aughnamullen 1-5.
Within half a minute of the resumption Paul Mulligan hauled Aughnamullen level after Edmond McArdle worked his way in from the right wing and in a further move Jonathan Tavey came to his side's rescue again this time to deny Chris Keenan after Lee Conlon had centred from a '45. Lee Conlon was then off target from a free before Paul Meegan restored Inniskeen to the lead with an excellent point in the fourth minute. The seesaw nature of the contest continued with Sean Sheridan bringing Aughnamullen level in the sixth minute after good work by Mickey Keenan and Damian Hamilton. Pete Dooney was off target from a free after he himself had been fouled and Inniskeen too were somewhat wasteful as unforced errors saw a couple of promising attacks simply break down as possession was too easily squandered. A point by Mark McArdle in the ninth minute when Lee Conlon broke down a high centre put Aughnamullen in front for the first time and from there to the finish the consolidated with hard work and a couple of periods of power play as they got numbers behind the ball when necessary and used the long ball to good effect to convert defensive possession into counter attacks. Another promising Inniskeen move broke down when Paul Meegan's shot was blocked with Aughnamullen breaking quickly to get the ball to Pete Dooney and he put his side two points in front in the 11th minute. A further nine minutes though were to elapse before the next score, a point from a free by Pete Dooney, put Aughnamullen three in front as the game entered and the final 10 minutes. Trevor Hilliard broke out of defence to set up Paul Meegan for an Inniskeen point in the 21st minute but two minutes later Aughnamullen were back on the attack for Mark McArdle to restore them to a three points lead at the end of a move involving Thomas Hughes and Chris Keenan. Inniskeen now effectively needed a goal to salvage the situation and they looked to have created a good chance in the 24th minute when Michael Lennon placed Ronan Meegan but his shot was over the bar. In an attack straight from the kick out Inniskeen won possession but Michael Lennon was off target with Aughnamullen then extending their lead to three in the 28th minute when Lee Conlon converted a '45. Inniskeen raised their game yet again and Aughnamullen had to defend in numbers as a series of high centres rained down on their goal area but they held firm with Lee Conlon floating an injury time free in to Paul Mulligan who applied a clinical finish to leave four points between the sides at the final whistle.
Teams and Scorers: Aughnamullen: Gary Mulligan, Damien Hamilton, Stephen Ward, Thomas Finnegan, Edmond McArdle 0-1, Sam Dooney, Sean Sheridan 0-1, Thomas Hughes, Lee Conlon 0-1 ('45), Mickey Keenan, Mark Meegan, Chris Keenan 0-2, Pete Dooney 0-2 (1f), Paul Mulligan 1-4, Mark McArdle 0-2.
Inniskeen: Jonathan Tavey, Anthony Keenan, Raymond Lennon, Stephen Callan, Robert Lorenz, Seamus Kevin Boylan, Trevor Hilliard, Seamus Loftus, Fergal Duffy, Michael Lennon 1-2 (0-1f), Michael Fitzpatrick, Alan Ryan, Niall Lennon, Paul Meegan 1-3 (0-1f), Ronan Meegan 0-1. Subs: Martin Dooley for M Fitzpatrick, Jarlath McGeeney for N Lennon, Joe Butler for S Callan, Pearse McSkeane for A Ryan. Referee: Donal Connolly (Scotstown). Tweet
