Pat’s and AGB must go again
Epic clash ends all square
ST PATRICK’S 4-6 AGB 3-9
A terrific contest ended all square after a topsy turvy match where Arklow thought they had it won in normal time and St. Pats thought they were home and dry in extra-time.
Billy Connors shot an outstanding 4-1 from centre forward but both teams live to fight another day.
The game was only 30 seconds old when Connors got his first score a well struck point with his right peg. Arklow’s response was immediate; Oliver Purser set nifty corner-forward Sean O’Neill in on goal and he blazed to the net giving keeper Matt Gleeson no chance.
Centre back Dylan Lennon extended the lead with a free before Connors struck a 13-yard free off the ground to the Geraldines net. O’Neill and Fenn Wolohan replied for Arklow and Daniel Kavanagh added one for Pats as half time approached.
However, in the last attack of the half Arklow plundered a morale boosting goal. Purser dropped a shot short however O’Neill was on it in a flash to prod the ball home.
The second half saw Kavanagh point again for the Wicklow town men to narrow the gap. This was to signal an Arklow takeover though with the next four scores from Eabhan Kinch and three Lennon frees. AGB seemed to be cruising home with Mikey Kinsella especially impressive in midfield.
With ten minutes to go Kavanagh got the Pats revival rolling with an excellent point after a galloping solo run down the right wing.
Then Connors took over. He gathered possession 30 yards out and after a barreling run he wrong footed Arklow’s impressive net minder Luke McGrath to give the Wicklow town side hope.
Two minutes later they were level when Connors struck a daisy cutter that skidded off the slippy surface to give McGrath no chance.
Pats were in the ascendancy and when Kavanagh pointed with two minutes to go, they led for the first time in the contest. This Arklow team is made of stern stuff and as the clock ticked into the red, they earned a free in that Lennon pointed to send us to extra time.
Pats had a dream start to extra time when Connors drilled an unstoppable shot through a plethora of Arklow bodies after collecting a short free. Charlie Swazalina clipped an excellent point over his shoulder soon after to extend the lead.
Once more Arklow refused to lie down with Jake Molloy scoring a much-needed point after Purser had supplied the pass.
Onto the second period and the teams were tied almost immediately, Wolohan launched a long ball into the danger zone and as defenders and attackers jumped for it, the ball alluded everyone and sat it the Pats net.
Both teams strove for a winner but the defences marshalled by Denis O’Brien and Neal Maguire Hanna stood resolute to send us to a second day out.
A breathless contest. Pats had good performers in O’Brien, Kavanagh, Ben Bowen and especially Connors.
Arklow had their own stars in O’Neill, Wolohan, Purser, Kinsella and centre back Lennon who showed great composure to hit the pressure free to tie things up at the end of normal time.
Scorers - St. Pats: Billy Joe Connors 4-1, Daniel Kavanagh 0-4, Charlie Swazalina 0-1
AGB: Sean O’Neill 2-1, Dylan Lennon 0-5, Fenn Wolohan 1-1, Eabhan Kinch 0-1, Jake Molloy 0-1
St. Pats: Matt Gleeson; Denis O’Brien, Ciaran Matthews; Ben Bowen, Oscar Durston, Cian Byrne; Tom Phelan, Ryan McConnell; Eamon Goddard, Billy Joe Connors, Daniel Kavanagh; Fionn Greene, Colm Finnegan. Subs: Luke Dunne, Charlie Swazalina, Ollie Kennedy, Rumo Best.
AGB: Luke McGrath; Ryan Scanlon, Neal Maguire Hanna; Josh Robinson, Dylan Lennon, Dylan Lynch; Jack Mullen, Mikey Kinsella; Fenn Wolohan, Eabhan Kinch, Shane Monaghan; Sean O’Neill, Oliver Purser. Subs: Daniel Tansey, Patrick McGrainor, Jake Molloy, Eoin Scanlon, Cian McDonough.
Referee: Robert Roche (Carnew)