Shamrocks 5-6, Aghinagh 5-7
Shamrocks and Aghinagh played out an absolute thriller in Shanbally on Sunday afternoon last. Well done to all players on both teams for producing a fantastic, free flowing and high scoring game. Its a pity there had to be a loser on this occasion and unfortunately for the home side, it happened to be them by the odd score in 43 points. Aghinagh had beaten this Shamrocks team by 14 points in last years under 12 county quarter final (in Aghinagh) so even looking at the bare stats of that result, Shamrocks have certainly closed the gap. Aghinagh, the most welcome of visitors to Shanbally for the first time ever, opened very brightly and tagged on 3 early points and looked threathening everytime they attacked. Shamrocks just managed to stay in touch through a couple of points from Andrew O’Grady and David Andrews followed by a goal from the ever dangerous David O’Sullivan from a penalty jusy before halftime. That left the HT score 1-4 to 1-1 for Aghinagh and at that stage Shamrocks were doing well.
The second half was non stop action and scoring. Shamrocks moved David Barry midfield and he had a massive game, he improves with every outing. Shamrocks scored 3 goals inside the 1st 5 minutes of the second half, 2 from David O’Sullivan and another flowing move from the team finished off by Andrew O’Grady. Things looked good and after Aghinagh went up the field and scored another goal, David Andrews scored another beauty to leave Shamrocks 7 points up. However, the discipline seemed to fall apart; the referee awarded Aghinagh 4 frees in front of the Shamrocks goal for mouthing to the ref and all were converted. Daniel Carroll followed by James Lynam scored a brilliant couple of points 3 minues from the end but Aghinagh’s tails were up and they finished with 2 quick goals to win by one point. The Shamrocks players afterwards were very disappointed but they can hold their heads up high as they played excellent football all through, as did the Aghinagh lads. Training next Saturday at 5pm, the Track.
Players on duty: Eoin Horgan, Cormac Scriven, Nathan Hayes, Christopher Hayes, David Barry, Joe O’Keeffe, Mark Hitchmough, David O’Sullivan, Davis Andrews, Andrew O’Grady, Adam Jones, Killian Murphy, Daniel Carroll, James Lynam, Shane Flavin. Next game away to Dripsey next Sunday afternoon.
