Aherlow Gaels 3-7 Eire Og Annacarty Donohill 0-9
Aherlow Gaels booked their place in the final of this year’s Rea Clarke Hennessy West Senior Football Championship with victory over Eire Og Annacarty Donohill in Cappawhite under lights on Wednesday evening last in Cappawhite. With both teams failing to qualify from their group in the county stage this was a must win game for both teams.
Sean Kiely opened the scoring for Aherlow Gaels but this was cancelled out by a Kevin Fox free at the other end. Darragh Mooney got Eire Og’s first from play as he edge them a point ahead. The Gaels hit the next two points in a row from Bernard O’Brien (free) and Barry Grogan. A Darragh Mooney free from the ground left the sides all square for the second time. In a four minute spell Aherlow Gaels pulled six points clear. Sean Kiely added his second which was quickly followed by one from Mark Russell. Russell won the resulting short kick out to go one on one with Patrick Aherne and finished to the net for the game’s opening goal. Bernard O’Brien added a further point from play but this would be Aherlow Gaels last score of the half. Eire Og slowly came into the game. Brian Fox could have put just three between the sides but he was denied a goal after a great save from Gordan Peters. Eire Og began to win the midfield battle and Kevin Fox pointed three frees before Brian Fox added a point from play just before the half time whistle.
Scores were hard to come by early in the second half and Pat Aherne was forced into a brilliant save to deny Mark Russell a second goal. The goal wasn’t long arriving and when the Gaels were awarded a penalty, Barry Grogan rifled his shot into the top of the net to put them five points up. Kevin Fox replied with a pointed free on the 12th minute. The game was effectively ended as a contest minutes later when Bernard O’Brien saw his shot saved by Pat Aherne but he then kicked the rebound to the net after a goalmouth scramble. Barry Grogan pointed a free on the 21st minute which would be their last score of the game. Eire Og continued to attack but their cause wasn’t help when Conor O’Brien received a second yellow card. Kevin Fox cut the deficit with a pointed free. Eire Og tried to work through goal chances but were thwarted by the Gaels defence. Aherlow Gaels running out winners 3-7 to 0-9 and setting up a final against Galtee Rovers.
Aherlow Gaels: Gordan Peters, John Moloney, John Hennessy, Sean Mullins, Kevin Franks, Ciaran McDonald, Tom O’Donoghue, Tom Hanly, Laurence Coskeran, Eoin O’Connell, Barry Grogan (1-2(1-1f)), Sean Kiely (0-2), Mark Russell (1-1), Seamus Grogan, Bernard O’Brien (1-2, (0-1f))
Subs Used: Shane Neville, Ed O’Meara, Anthony Leahy
Eire Og Annacarty Donohill: Patrick Aherne, Eoin Bradshaw, Dan Hogan, Michael Bradshaw, Diarmuid Ryan, Conor O’Brien, Paudie O’Dwyer, Willie O’Neill, Kevin Fox (0-7f), Brian Fox, Richard O’Doherty, Tom Fox, Donal O’Dwyer, Darragh Mooney (0-2), Ronan O’Brien
Subs Used: Seanie Ryan, Dinny Crosse, Sean Breen, Michael O’Brien
Referee: Michael Duffy (Arravale Rovers)
