Junior C Championship Wicklow

 

Macra na Feirme Cup Quarter- Final

Arklow Geraldine’s- Ballymoney 2-16  ( Penalties 5)

Donard/Glen 3-13 ( Penalties 4)

Pearse Park

Eoin Horkan

As darkness began to fall in Arklow on Thursday night it was Liam Moore’s penalty that was the difference in what was a dramatic penalty shootout, between AGB and Donard/ Glen in the Macra na Feirme quarter final after the sides couldn’t be separated in normal or extra time.

It was the away side who won the toss and elected to go first. Liam Mullan put away the first penalty expertly past Sean Murphy in the AGB goal. First up for the home side was Tom Connors who slotted his penalty past James Walshe. Ray Halloran and  Mark Fitzgerald both put away their sides second penalties giving the keeper no chance sending them the wrong way on both occasions. Next up was two defenders for Donard it was Harry Mangan who blasted low into the corner before Thomas Lynch did the same for the home side. Two substitutes with fresh legs and minds were next up with Mickey Byrne just managing to put the ball past Murphy in the goal . It was Gahan that netted next up. After having scored the levelling goal Edward Flynn had his side’s final chance which he blazed over the bar . Liam Moore stepped up to give his side the victory by the narrowest of margins.

The visitors were first to make there mark on the scoreboard as full forward Mullan giving his side an early lead with a well taken point. AGB’s response was rapid as Richie Neary drove through the middle of the pitch before centre forward Joe McGeary fisted the ball into the net . Gary Fennell added a point moments later. Donard who were playing with a two man inside line with there other forward sweeping in defence added two more points first Mullan added his second before corner forward Ray Halloran fired over a great score . AGB’s response was an effort from Tom Connors in between these scores . The home side started to push forward with wing forward  Mark Fitzgerald pointing from range.

As the home side were starting to gain control it was full back Luke Delaney who made his was up the field to score from range. Gary Fennell’s place ball extended his sides lead even further . Mullan’s scoring was keeping his side in the game and against the run of play he managed to round two defenders before finishing into the net . With the game right back in the mix the home side kept pushing forward  as corner forward Daniel Doyle added another white flag along with Fitzgerald. Donard’s final point of the half came through the boot of wing forward Thomas Dwyer. With the game minutes away from the half time whistle both AGB midfielders Liam Moore and Richie Neary slotted points as the opposition went down to thirteen men with two black cards.

The second half of this tie was a much more higher scoring affair. It was Mullan who pointed first again while his side still had two men in the bin. The next score astonished everyone in attendance as Donard managed to put the ball over there own bar. Mullan added another dead ball as his side were starting to make inroads into the home sides defensive line. Mullan then manged to goal from a penalty as Halloran was taking down in front of goal .As the tie was getting closer Halloran managed to  level what was turning into a great contest. Both veteran full forwards were scoring freely at this point it was Connors who gave his side the lead  twice in the space of minutes in between a fisted effort from centre forward Edward Flynn. Moore then burst through from midfield  to put two between the sides. Mullan and the Donard forward line were starting to break through the defence as legs tired , he added two more place balls along with an effort from Dwyer.

Both sides were emptying the bench as the full time whistle came into sight , it was AGB sub Conor Gahan who made  an immediate impact slotting over to level the tie. With time almost up Mullan thought he had won the tie as he fired over from play. With the final kick of the game Moore levelled the tie with a place ball. This meant extra time had to be played.

Extra time was a much tenser affair Mullan carried on his scoring from a free . The home side then managed to manufacture a penalty which was duly converted by Moore giving his side a two point lead at the break. After the break it was Moore who finished his sides scoring with a free. The final score of the game was a goal from the fist of Flynn .

 

                                                                            

Arklow Geraldine’s Ballymoney: Sean Murphy; Eoin Byrne, Luke Delaney (0-1), Luke Commons; Oran Dunning, Sean McCarthy, Thomas Lynch (1-0 1 pen); Richie Neary (0-1), Liam Moore (2-2 1free 2 pens ); Mark Fitzgerald (1-2 1 pen), Joe McGeary (1-0), Gary Fennell (0-2); Daniel Doyle (0-1), Tom Connors (1-3 1 pen) , Jason Redmond.

Subs Used: Shane Donoghue for Eoin Byrne, Conor Gahan (1-1 1 pen) for Richie Neary, Garrett Kenny for Jason Redmond, Niall Higgins for Joe McGeary, Niall Dempsey for Mark Fitzgerald, Oran Kelly for Luke Delaney, Cian McBride for Gary Fennell.

 

Donard/ Glen: James Walshe; Aaron Moody, Oisín Traynor, Shane Eager; Willie Eager, Harry Mangan (1-0 1 pen), Dean Flynn; Pat Flynn, Niall Curran; Thomas Dwyer (0-2), Edward Flynn (1-1), Darren O’ Neill; Ray Halloran (1-2 1 free 1 pen), Liam Mullan (3-8 4 frees 2 pens), Daniel Furlong.

Subs: Mickey Byrne (1-0) for Shane Eager, Rory Toomey for Niall Curran, Eoin Hallisey for Darren O’ Neill.

 

Referee: Darragh Byrne