Aughrim grind out win over gallant St Kevin’s
AUGHRIM ST KEVIN’S 0-05 1-01
AUGHRIM won out the day in a low scoring affair in a very competitive game played out in tough underfoot conditions in Balinakill recently.
Aughrim started the brighter with Alex Kavanagh pointing a free in the third minute after Conaill O’Brien was fouled going through.
Aughrim were putting the Kevin’s defence under a lot of pressure early on.
The referee was kept busy issuing a number of yellow cards in the opening quarter.
Again, Conaill O’Brien was pulled down and Alex Kavanagh pointed the free to double the lead in the 15th minute to close out the opening quarter.
Kavanagh landed another brace of points, one long range point after good build up play Pat Leccardi and one after great work by Conaill O’Brien.
Aughrim were playing some nice football and were a well balanced side.
Charlie Chamney and Matthew Kelly were breaking down a number of Aughrim attacks but Kevin’s struggled to bypass a dominant Aughrim midfield.
The game was turned on its head just on the stroke off halftime when Aughrim were reduced to 14 men.
Ciaran Coyne sent in a fantastic pass to Ciaran Clarke who fired high into the roof of the Aughrim net to reduce the defecit to a single point as the half-time whistle sounded with the score reading 0-04 to 1-00.
In the opening minutes of the second-half, St Kevin’s thought they took the lead with a goal which was struck out for a square ball infringement, much to the annoyance of the Kevin’s faithful.
St Kevin’s now were applying a lot of pressure but their inside forward line could not find the target.
Trevor Allen and Ciaran Coyne were battling hard at this stage. A Ciaran Clarke shot was somehow gathered under the crossbar by Calum McKenna and cleared.
Aughrim withstood a lot of pressure from Tommy Mooney and Callum Fitzpatrick, but were rewarded when Conaill O’Brien, who was in flying form, landed a huge point for Aughrim in the 43rd minute which would turn out to be their final score of the game.
Again Calum McKenna saved brilliantly from a Ciaran Clarke shot as Kevin’s went for the jugular.
Sam Reid pointed a long-range free to leave the minimum in it with 52 minutes played.
Again the ball was dropped short and cleared out of danger by McKenna.
Aughrim broke up the field and looked like they were in for a certain goal, only for Wayne McDonald to save and parry and somehow Trevor Allen got in a game saving block to deny Aughrim a certain match winner.
St Kevin’s won a brace off frees in the remaining closing minutes but could not add to their tally.
The Wicklow People man of the match award went to Conaill O’Brien while Lucy Mooney presented the trophy to the winning captain Sam Carroll.
Scorers - Aughrim scorers: Alex Kavanagh 0-04, Conaill O’Brien 0-01.
St. Kevin’s: Ciaran Clarke 1-00, Sam Reid 0-01.