AGB showing superb form
AGB 1-16
DONARD-THE GLEN 0-08
BOTH sides came into this top of the table clash in Division 2 of the Arklow Bay county football league on 10 points.
However, AGB had two games in hand and by game end they were the undisputed leaders of the division.
AGB hosted the game in Pearse’s Park on Friday evening June 2.
Conditions were ideal on a sunny summer’s evening with only the gentlest of breezes favouring the team playing into the town goal.
AGB got into their stride immediately with Stephan Hurley having three points on the board by eight minutes.
His first score was a beautifully judged free from the ground in the fourth minute.
Harry Mangan responded with the westerner’s first point from a free after seven minutes and lively full-forward Conor Healy knocked over Donard’s second point off his left foot on 10 minutes.
Play was evenly balanced during this period of the game with both sides enjoying short periods of dominance.
Philip Gleeson, the AGB full-forward, was playing very deep out the field, leaving a lot of space in front of the Donard-The Glen goal area.
AGB were attacking in very fast passing movements from half back and midfield but very often over played the ball and many attacks broke down.
Philip Gleeson and Stephan Hurley seemed to be the only forwards who were willing to try for scores when the chances arose and both of them were on song in the first half.
In contrast, the westerners were making better use of the kick pass and this helped to keep them in touch for much of the first half.
Philip Gleeson put AGB two ahead after 12 minutes but a great Conor Healy point, (this one off his right foot) from the left wing followed by another Harry Mangan pointed free had the sides level after 21 minutes at 0-4 a piece.
However, AGB struck a purple patch from here to half time, adding five points without response from Donard-The Glen. Gleeson
scored two points from play and another from a free, while Hurley pointed his second free (this one taken from his hand).
Midfielder Chris O’Brien broke the Gleeson/Hurley scoring monopoly when he landed a long distance point just on half-time. Conor Healy scored his third point for Donard-The Glen (left footed again) to leave the half-time scoreline 0-9 to 0-5.
AGB got into their stride straight away in the second half and had points from Cormac O’Shea, another Stephen Hurley free, a point from a ‘45’ by Hurley and a beauty of a point off the outside of his right boot by Philip Healy to leave the homesters with a nine point cushion after 10 minutes.
The Arklow side’s superior fitness levels were evident from here to the end but Donard continued to battle on. Brian Lennon landed a mighty point on 14 minutes but a further quarter hour had passed before Brian Lennon again scored another long range point.
Meanwhile Cormac O’Shea scored a point and Stephan Hurley had another two from frees.
Philip Healy put the icing on the cake for the home side when he punched home the games only goal in the final minute.
Alan Daly pointed for Donard-The Glen just before the final whistle. The final score was 1-16 to 0-8 in favour of AGB.
Scorers: AGB – Stephen Hurley 0-8, Philip Gleeson 0-4, Philip Healy 1-1, Cormac O’Shea 0-2, Chris O’Brien 0-1.
Donard-The Glen – Conor Healy 0-3, Harry Mangan 0-2, Brian Lennon 0-2, Alan Daly 0-1.
AGB: Jim Bolger; Alan McBride, James Tyrrell, Tom Maher; Karl Kirwan, Ciaran Hyland, Daragh Fitzgerald; Cal Kelly, Chris O’Brien; Tiernan McBride, Stephan Hurley, Cormac O’Shea; Cathal Kelleher, Philip Gleeson, Philip Healy. Subs: Ivan Hurley for Tiernan McBride (BC); Jack Hamilton for Alan McBride; Ciaran O’Shea for James Tyrell; Peter Hempenstall for Cathal Kelleher.
Donard-The Glen: Mark Moore; Kevin Osborne, Willie Rooney, Oisin Adler; Conor Kelly, Colm Osborne, Bill Flynn; Brian Lennon, John Hanbridge; Darren O’Neill, Harry Mangan, Des Mann; Alan Daly, Conor Healy, Stephan O’Doherty. Subs: Laurence Daly for Des Mann; Niall Curran for Darren O’Neill (BC); Nicky Daly for Conor Healy; Colm Toomey for Colm Osborne.
Referee: Kieron Kenny.