Plunkett on song as Aughawillan dethrone champs

THE rural half-parish of Aughawillan wrote another chapter in their illustrious football history by dethroning champions Mohill before a record 3,700 crowd at Páirc Sean Mhic-Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon yesterday.

Aughawillan were first to score through a Ciarán Gilheany point before Mohill’s Domhnaill Flynn replied three minutes later.

The sides exchanged further points through Noel Plunkett and Mohill’s Keith Beirne, and then in the 10th minute an angled, high ball from the left by Beirne was punched to the net by Ronan Gordon, putting Mohill ahead for the first time.

In a 10-minute spell of dominance the outgoing champions extended their lead to four points with 12 minutes of the half remaining.

A fightback by Aughawillan left the minimum between the sides going into the final minutes of the half but the champions finished the first spell strongly to lead 1-7 to 0-7 at half-time.

Although Mohill extended their lead through a Flynn point three minutes after the resumption, it was the ‘Willies’ who lifted the tempo.

The introduction of substitute Sean Flanagan to the Aughawillan attack proved a game-changer, contributing to points by Morgan Quinn (2) and Mark Plunkett.

A pointed 45 by Mark Plunkett was followed by a Sean Flanagan point two minutes from time to level matters as Aughawillan scented victory.

A superb point by man of the match Gary Plunkett was to prove the match-winner and his brother Mark provided the insurance point two minutes into additional time to return the Fenagh Cup to Leitrim’s smallest parish for the 12th time.