Rebel Óg East Minor B Football Championship Final
Aghabullogue 2-14 Carraig na bhFear 1-06
Fri 12th Sept – Ballinlough
No joy for our Minor Footballers in their attempts to make it a Rebel Og East double on Friday night, as a sharper Aghabullogue outfit were good value for their 2-14 to 1-06 win. Carraig started well and opened the scoring through the lively Oisín Crowley, but the mid Cork side quickly took a grip on proceedings with 4 points in succession to lead by 3 points after 15 minutes of play. Carraig were under pressure in defence, with Aghabullogue dominating from our kickouts, but some good play from Gary Geaney and Brendan Murphy kept us in the game. Adam O’Sullivan picked off our second point of the game to reduce the gap to two points, but a 10 minute blitz for Aghabullogue put them firmly in control, notching up 1-05 without reply to leave the score 1-09 to 0-02 after 24 minutes. Carraig looked to be dead and buried at this stage, but a point from Oisín from a free got us back on the scoresheet. This was quickly followed by a great drive through the defence from Brendan Murphy and his finished powerfully to the net to reduce the deficit to five points. Another point in the 28th minute had the margin down to five, but Aghabullogue got the last score of the half to lead 1-10 to 1-04 at the break.
The second half lacked the fluency of the first, with Aghabullogue content to sit deep and break at speed, while Carraig had to come out and attack for the scores to get back into the game. A great goal chance for Adam O’Sullivan was saved well by the Aghabullogue keeper, while Oisín and Ryan Galvin continued to press hard in search of the scores to reduce the deficit, with Oisín picking off a fine point from distance. Aghabullogue continued to keep the score board ticking over and lead 1-12 to 1-06 at the three quarter stage. The game was put out of reach when Aghabullogue scored a fine goal in the 48th minute to leave them 9 points up. Carraig continued to work hard, with Paul Sheehan, Conor Hayes and Cathal Cronin all having good second halves, but Aghabullogue were not going to be denied, with their keeper pulling off another point blank save from a Ryan Galvin shot in the closing stages. They added two further points in the last 10 minutes to win on a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-06. Carraig fought hard but can have no complaints at the outcome on the night.
We now proceed to the quarter final of the County Championship in a few weeks time.
Team:
A. O’Donoghue
D. Sweeney, D.Murphy, G.Geaney
T.Coleman, M.Ahern, C.Cronin
C.Hayes, B.Murphy
A.Gorgia, O.Crowley, P.Sheehan
A.O’Sullivan, R.Galvin, C.O’Brien
Subs:
C.Murphy for O.Crowley