Kelleher runs riot for AGB

Redmond’s side in fine form

at Avondale GAA Club

Avondale had several opportunities to tighten the margin before referee Chris Canavan blew for half time, but many wides would cost them. The score at half-time was 4-7 to 0-7.

After the break, Avondale completely changed their full forward line, bringing on brothers Conor and Sean McGraynor along with Cian O’hAnnain.

This seemed to take effect early as substitute Eugene Dunne got a goal after Mervyn Travers saved from Conor McGraynor.

It was always going to be an uphill battle to overturn the 12-point deficit but Avondale were certainly giving it a go.

But the closest Avondale got to AGB was seven points as the Arklow side matched them point for point.

Avondale had the majority of the chances in the second half but some poor finishing left them rueing these missed opportunities.

Avondale’s hand-passing play in the second half was as exciting as the away side’s in the first, but they could rarely find a way past Ciaran O’Shea, James Tyrrell and Jack Hamilton.

The game was keenly contested but referee Chris Canavan controlled the game very well and he only felt the need to brandish two yellow cards.

On 44 minutes, AGB ensured that the game was beyond reach as Cathal Kelleher completed his tally after the ball crashed off the crossbar from a long-range point chance, only for Kelleher to claim the rebound and smash the ball past Burke.

The ‘Dales’ scored two goals in the last ten minutes through Eugene Dunne’s second of the evening and Sean McGraynor but a fightback after their early collapse never looked on.

AGB substitute Sean Hurley scored just before the final whistle to rub salt in the wounds of the Rathdrum outfit.

Avondale showed many positives after the opening 15 minutes.

The performance of Conor Byrne in the second half was an impressive one.

The introductions of Eamonn Kearns and Eugene Dunne were also very effective.

Their scoring total of 3-13 would normally be enough to defeat anyone. AGB certainly deserved their win as the Avondale simply could not deal with their forwards from start to finish.

Final score: AGB 6-12, Avondale 3-13

– Avondale: Eugene Dunne 2-0; Sean McGraynor 1-1, Conor Byrne 0-4, Conor McGraynor 0-2 (1f), Oisín McGraynor 0-2 (1f), Ross Ward 0-2 (2f), Shane Byrne 0-1, Eamonn Kearns 0-1

AGB: Cathal Kelleher 4-2; Darragh Fitzgerald 1-2, Sean Hurley 1-0, Stephen Hurley 0-2 (1f), Philip Healy 0-1, Peter Hempenstall 0-1, Cormac O’Shea 0-1, Christopher O’Brien 0-1, Darragh Culleton 0-1 (f), Daire McBride: 0-1.

Avondale: David Burke; Simon Cullen, Shane O’Neill, Shane Beevor; Liam Kinsella, Saoirse Kearon, Patrick Kinsella; Barry Sheehan, Adam Benson Byrne; Ryan Cahill, Shane Byrne, Conor Byrne; Oisín McGraynor, Jack Manley, Ross Ward. Subs: Eamonn Kearns for S O’Neill (16 mins); Eugene Dunne for P Kinsella (21 mins); Conor McGraynor for J Manley; Sean McGraynor for R Ward; Cian O’hAnnain for O McGraynor (All HT); Aonghus O’Briain for L Kinsella (42 mins)

AGB: Mervyn Travers; Ciaran O’Shea, James Tyrrell, Jack Hamilton; Jack Furlong, Andrew Maher, Tiernan McBride; John P. Hurley, Christopher O’Brien; Peter Hempenstall, Cormac O’Shea, Stephen Hurley; Cathal Kelleher, Philip Healy, Darragh Fitzgerald. Subs: Karl Kirwan for J Hamilton (27 mins); Darragh Culleton for P Healy (45 mins); Sean Hurley for J Furlong (47 mins); Daire McBride for J Hurley (51 mins); Philip Gleeson for C O’Brien (59 mins).

Referee:

Scorers

ANNACURRA headed north on the N11 to take on Kilmacanogue in the second game of the Division 1A relegation of the league on Wednesday evening last.

A fine summer’s evening for a game and a lot at stake for both teams, Annacurra opened the scoring from a long-range effort from midfield man Mick O’Brien.

The game had opened up at a fast pace as you would expect at this stage of the year. It didn’t take Kilmacanogue long to return fire and they racked up three scores from their half-forward line, 11, 10, 12 to leave it 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes.

The sun setting at the back of the home goal was playing havoc with the Annacurra backs and midfield and there was also a lot of handling errors around the middle.

Kilmacanogue’s Robert Conan was winning the aerial battle in the middle and Annacurra soon found themselves trailing by 0-6 to 0-3 with Kilmacanogue’s forwards moving very brightly but pulling all the strings was wing back Simon Doyle who most certainly has WICKLOW made the long journey to Inniskeen in Monaghan last Saturday for the Division 3 under-17 hurling Celtic Challenge semi-final against Derry.

The players had an early start for a 12.30 throw-in and unfortunately Wicklow started very poorly in the game with players making uncharacteristic mistakes.

This poor start gave Derry a foothold in the game and they started to pick off some great scores. Wicklow kept on battling and had some good scoring