AGB suffer the Blues in Blessington

THIS was the first game of the new season for the new respective managers of Blessington Jonathan Daniels and AGB Adrian Masterson and both teams were lucky that the best of the weather on Saturday afternoon transpired from 2pm onwards.

AGB were of course short several regulars, amongst them Andy Maher, Daragh Fitzgerald, Chris O’Brien, Jack Hamilton and JP Hurley due to county commitments while Blessington promoted Cormac Roe, Brian Bohan, Sean Byrne, Eoin Higgins, Craig Maguire and Ethan Cotter from their Junior A team for the day and also welcomed back Thomas Donoghue, Conor Ryan and Martin Shannon.

The only goal of the first half came on 13 minutes when Michael O’Connor set up David Boothman to leave the Blues leading at that stage 1-2 to 0-2.

Bryan Carroll and Curtis Geraghty with two points put the Blues 1-5 to 0-2 in front.

However, the free taking of Daragh Culleton with four and Stephen Hurley with one likewise from a free left the score 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.

Although the second half possession was almost shared equally, the man of the match Michael O’Connor was the difference between the two sides, landing five points (two from frees) although AGB kept within striking distance right through.

It was 1-9 to 0-9 20 minutes into the second half after AGB’s Cormac O’Shea and Shane McBride added two very good scores.

However, Michael O’Connor, Craig Maguire and Eoin Higgins added late points to give the Blues new manager Jonathan Daniels a winning start to the new season.