Sunday, 13 July 2025

Junior A Championship Avoca vs An Tóchar

 

An Tóchar 1-9

 

Avoca 2-10

 

Avondale

 

A clinical display from Avoca saw them win their opening round game of the Junior A championship in Rathdrum Sunday afternoon.

 

Within a minute of the whistle being blown Avoca took the lead when full forward Andrew Doyle slotted over. The opening ten minutes were all An Tóchar but a strong rearguard action from the opposition kept them out until Ryan Healy fired over a dead ball to level the tie.  In the scorching heat in Rathdrum Avoca managed to keep their opponents at bay after another sustained period of possession before breaking away and taking the lead threw Doyle this time from a free on the ten minute mark.

It was clear as the half went on that both attacks were finding it difficult to penetrate the defense. The lead was doubled when Paddy Harper burst down the wind before splitting the posts. The last ten minutes of the half saw scores flying in at other end Joseph McDonell had  the lead down to the minimum before Avoca’s wingback Dean Power raised the first orange flag of the game.  It looked like Avoca were now in control but two efforts from Brian Medlycott had the gap narrowed again. The decisive moment of the half came on the cusp of the whistle when captain and center back Mikey Fahey found himself in the right place to bury a goal for the black and amber.

 

Whatever was said to the side in navy and blue at the break kicked them into gear even after Adam Tuke had extended his side's lead early on. The next ten minutes belonged to Roundwood scoring a goal and three with no response. The first of these was a minor score off the boot of Ryan Healy  before the same man rattled the net moments later. The score was levelled twelve minutes into the half when Joao Vitor Faguendes slalomed through for his side. The momentum was totally with the side now and a Martin Gaffney score had given them the lead with twelve left on the clock. Just as it looked like they would run away with the tie up stepped  Conor Doyle for the opponents to take the lead with his side's second two pointer, this one a free of the deck. The last ten   minutes saw scored fly in from both sides Jim Murray extending his sides advantage  before another Healy  dead ball had the game back to the minimum with seven left on the clock. With a draw looking inevitable, up stepped Afam Arslan who found himself at the edge of the square to fire into the net. Both sides traded  scores at the death with Oisin Cullen firing over before Doyle nailed a 45 to ensure victory for his side.

 

An Tóchar: Hugh Kenna; Gavin Staunton, Sean McHugh, Killian Byrne; Roan Hayes,Josh Healy, Dale Brady; Piaras Morris, Martin Gaffney(0-1); Brian Medlycott (0-2), Joao Vitor Fagundes (0-1), Liam Kenna; Joseph McDonnell (0-1) JJ Brady, Ryan Healy(1-3 2fs)

Subs Used: Oisin Cullen (0-1) for Liam Kenna, Brendan Kennedy for Joseph McDonnell

 

 

Avoca: John Harper; Aaron Tuke, Liam Dickenson, Dean Carter; Dean Power (0-2 2ptr), Mikey Fahey (1-0), Sean Fleming; Conor Doyle (0-3 1 45 (2ptf), Conor Short; Adam Arslan(1-0), Stephen McCauley, Paddy Harper (0-1); Jim Murray(0-1), Andrew Doyle(0-2 1f), Adam Tuke (0-1)

Subs Used: Joe Sinnott for Conor Short, Kian Fluskey for Stephen McCauley, John Porter for Dean Carter, Jack Murphy for Dean Power.

 

Referee James Phelan

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