AGB and Tinahely to battle for league glory

A LATE Chris O’Brien point off his left boot sent the league final meeting between AGB and Tinahely to a replay earlier this year and both sides will finally get the chance to secure the title when they meet in Ballinakill for the replay this Friday evening.

Plenty of football has been played since that enjoyable joust in Joule Park Aughrim.

Tinahely have been crowned as Darcy Sand Intermediate football champions after a stunning campaign culminating in a nerve-wracking final victory over Carnew.

AGB lit up the Renault Senior Football Championship and would only love a bit of silverware to make the winter’s wait that bit more enjoyable.

Calling this game is very difficult for a number of reasons. AGB, aside from their under-20 players, have played no football since their championship exit against Rathnew whereas Tinahely came within a few kicks of a ball of progression in Leinster a few weeks back down in Tullamore.

However, it should be noted that the AGB team that fought back to claim that draw against Tinahely in the league decider was decidedly different to the one that rampaged through the Senior championship and, providing all players are fit and healthy, they will be a tougher prospect to Alan Costello’s men this time around.

Goals from Rory Stokes and Jason Cush in the first game was key to Tinahely’s 2-4 to 0-4 lead at the break.

AGB would claw their way back to a 0-13 to 2-7 score at the death with an incident in the second half providing plenty of debate in the days following the game.

An AGB player kicked the ball out after a Tinahely player was injured. Tinahely scored from the resulting play much to the annoyance of the AGB players and management.

The venue is Ballinakill. Expect wind to be a major factor for both sides, but expect a humdinger of a battle as well as both sides go hard for the last silverware of 2018.