CONNOLLY MEATS MINOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 CUP FINAL.
Aughnamullen 1-15, Magheracloone 3-9.
Aughnamullen and Magheracloone have to do it all again after they finished all square at the end of this thrill a minute spectacular that built to an electric finish in Blackhill on Tuesday evening.
Overall a draw was probably a fair result in that neither of these teams deserved to lose this riveting encounter that was brimful of energy, great high fielding, long-range kick passing, excellent scores and a couple of goals that lit up the darkening evening.
Aughnamullen shaded the exchanges in the opening quarter at the end of which they led by 5 points to 3 with Magheracloone then taking the lead for the 1sttime with an excellent goal by Jonathan Donnelly. By the 27th minute though Aughnamullen were back to parity and they went on then to take a 2 points lead into the break thanks to Darren Geoghegan and Joel Wilson. Half-time score, Aughnamullen 0-10, Magheracloone 1-4.
Magheracloone put in a scintillating start to the second-half and by the 6th minute they were level with 3 unanswered points from Ryan Farrelly after just 15 seconds, Jonathan Donnelly and Ryan McNulty from a free. Aughnamullen then responded for 3 on the trot to open a 3 points lead, Tiernan Duffy with 2 from frees, and Jason Duffy with one from play.
It was a lead though that was short lived as Magheracloone struck back for an absolutely brilliant goal by Ryan Farley, when he won a breaking ball, turned and sent a screamer to the roof of the Aughnamullen net to level the match entering the final quarter.
Missed chances was the order of the day for the following 9 minutes before Magheracloone opened a 2 points lead with points by Jack Doogan and Ryan McNulty. Aughnamullen then struck back for 1-2 without reply between the 25th and 28th minutes, Joel Wilson palming in the goal from close range, as well as picking off a point and Tiernan Duffy converting a free. That looked as if it might be enough as by that stage Magheracloone were also down to 14 men following the 2nd yellow card dismissal of the Ciaran McMahon, but there was one kick left in the Mitchell’s when they were awarded a stoppage time free for a foul on Ronan McKeown with the ball played to Liam Og Murray, who was outstanding throughout, and he rifled to the Aughnamullen net to send the issue to a replay.
Teams and Scorers: Aughnamullen: Ryan Johnston, Liam Duffy, Oisin Hamill, Shane Duffy, Kieran Marron, Shane Forde 0-1, Sean Hamill, Kieran Duffy, Aaron McGee, Darren Geoghegan 0-4, Ryan Connolly 0-1, Thristan Keenan, Jason Duffy 0-1, Tiernan Duffy 0-6 (4f), Joel Wilson 1-2. Subs: Aaron Hamilton for T Keenan, Adam Blanche for R Connolly.
Magheracloone: Joe Kirk, David McArdle, Jack Doogan 0-1, Shane Burns, Ciaran McMahon 0-1, Conor McKeown, Daniel McConnon, Liam Og Murray 1-0, Ryan McNulty 0-4 (1f), Ronan McKeown 0-1, David Martin, Ryan Farrelly 1-1, Dylan McCahey, Jonathan Donnelly 1-1, Gary Marron. Subs: Dylan Byrne for D McConnon, Daniel McCahey for G Marron. Referee Raymond Malone (Castleblayney).
