Aughrim in control
Keegan bags 3-5 as Granite men win Dawn Lacey Cup
AUGHRIM KNOCKANANNA 6-11 1-13
AUGHRIM played host to Knockananna in this Division 3 Cup game played on Saturday afternoon last.
Both sides were short a number of their regular players but Knockananna were hardest hit for numbers and had only 13 players ready at the start.
Aughrim did have the numbers with subs also but the game went ahead as a 13-a-side fixture.
The game also doubled up as the final of the Dawn Lacey Cup competition.
The 13-a-side game leaves more room on the field and this appeared to suit the younger Aughrim side.
However, Tristan Maher got the visitors off the mark with a point after two minutes.
Richard Keegan levelled from a free after five minutes. Shane McGuckian then went through for a goal and added a point by the 11th minute.
Aughrim were very dominant at this stage with Paddy Phelan, Conor Lambert, Shane McGuckian, Mick Brennan, Sean Doyle and Pierce Lawlor bringing the game to Knockananna.
With a stiff breeze favouring the home side, inside forwards P Kavanagh and Richard Keegan were benefiting from a lot of early ball.
However, the visitors’ goalie Dean O’Neill twice saved almost certain goals when he smothered close in shots from Kavanagh and Keegan.
Paddy Phelan and Richard Keegan added points but when Lorcan Tyrell bagged a goal on 20 minutes it left Aughrim only a goal up despite their level of dominance.
In the final ten minutes, Eddie Bracken, Lorcan Tyrell and Tristan Maher added points for Knockananna while an in-form Richard Keegan hit a purple patch for the home side adding 1-3.
The half time score stood at 2-7 to 1-4 in favour of the Aughrim men.
By now it was apparent that Knockananna were operating with a couple of players who had picked up injuries and were unable to be of much assistance to their colleagues.
Aughrim got off to a flying start in the second period when they had two goals in the first three minutes.
Shane McGuckian got his second goal when he lobbed the goalie.
A minute later Eoin Forsythe shot for a score from way outfield and the ball dipped under the cross bar for a goal. P Kavanagh added a point. Tristan Maher and Joe Byrne responded with points.
In the space of two minutes half way through, Richard Keegan goaled, Shane McGuckian pointed and Keegan then completed his hat-trick with Aughrim’s sixth goal.
From here to the end Knockananna came back strongly into the game and added seven points from Lorcan Tyrell (3), Declan O’Keeffe (2), Joe Byrne and Reid Byrne.
Aughrim had two further points from Alan Cotton and Sean Doyle.
They ran out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 6-11 to 1-13.
Following the game, Sean Lacey presented the Dawn Lacey Cup to the captain of the victorious Aughrim team, Paddy Phelan.
This cup was presented in 2004 by the Lacey family for a competition to perpetuate the memory of Dawn Lacey, who died in a tragic road accident in 2003.
The Man of the Match award went to Richard Keegan.
Scorers - Aughrim: Richard Keegan 3-5, Shane McGuckian 2-2, Paddy Phelan 0-1, Eoin Forsythe 1-0, Alan Cotton 0-1, Sean Doyle 0-1, Paddy Kavanagh 0-1.
Knockananna: Lorcan Tyrell 1-4, Tristan Maher 0-3, Eddie Bracken 0-1, Joe Byrne 0-2, Declan O’Keeffe 0-2, Reid Byrne 0-1.
Brian Lynch; Eoin Forsythe, W Kavanagh; J Annesley, Conor Lambert, Alan Cotton; Mick Brennan, Paddy Phelan; Shane McGuckian, Sean Doyle, Pierce Lawlor; P O’Kavanagh, Richard Keegan. Subs: Jamie Fleming, Aidan Stokely, Rory O’Brien, Noel Browne, Bobby Newsome.
Dean O’Neill; Aaron O’Neill, Declan Whelan; Paddy Byrne, Gary Bradley, Noel Byrne; Padraig Lancaster, Tristan Maher; Reid Byrne, Lorcan Tyrell, Eddie Bracken; Joe Byrne, Declan O’Keeffe.
Eugene O’Brien.