Kennedy blasts home late penalty to secure victory for Avoca
AVOCA AGB 2-12 1-13
A goal from a penalty taken by Paddy Kennedy with five minutes left on the clock proved to be the deciding score in this exciting local derby when Avoca played host to AGB in Rooster Park in Division 4 of the County Football League on Thursday night last.
Scores were level at half-time and for a long time in the second period it looked like they might be level at full-time as both sides traded points until Kennedy put the home side a goal up late in the game.
AGB got off to a flying start in the game when pacey corner forward Jack Darcy had the ball in the net in their first attack.
Avoca were struggling to match the pace of a young Arklow side that were running at them and spreading the ball wide, stretching the Avoca defence in these early stages.
Midfielder Darragh Culleton kicked a sweet point off his left after five minutes.
Jason Porter got Avoca off the mark with a pointed free two minutes later.
He kicked another from play but AGB continued to force the pace. Culleton scored a great point from outfield followed by another from Donal O’Keeffe straight from the kick out.
Once again Jason Porter responded in what was up to now a one man scoring effort from the home side.
Darragh Culleton scored a great point from a long distance free and this was followed a minute later with a point from Jack Darcy, who was roving all over the place. AGB were now five points up but this was as good as it got.
Paddy Kennedy was now outfield in a switch with Dean Power and Avoca were getting back into the game.
Jason Porter pointed on 20 minutes, Andy Doyle pointed from the kick out, Porter converted a free and when Dean Power got through for a goal with five minutes left in the half, the home side were now a point up!
Back came AGB with two Mark Fitzgerald points but another Avoca point from Andy Doyle left the scores level at 1-7 apiece at the break.
The second half was keenly contested with the lead alternating several times.
Scores were level at 1-10 each after ten minutes with Avoca points from Andy Doyle, Bradley Moran and a Jason Porter free being responded to by a Darragh Culleton ‘45’ and points from Jack Darcy and Donal O’Keeffe.
Avoca had three substitutes on by now, Colin O’Connor, P.J. Fluskey and Aaron Tuke, and they all made a difference. In addition, Chris Arthur was falling back into his half back line and AGB were finding it difficult to run the ball through a congested defence.
A Donal Culleton free put AGB one up but Arthur levelled matters with a fine point.
A Jason Porter free put Avoca ahead but Mark Fitzgerald levelled again.
Then came the deciding pas- sage of play. P.J. Fluskey gained possession, made ground and passed inside to Dean Power who was grounded inside the large penalty area.
Paddy Kennedy placed his kick high into the net to the left of Kyle O’Connor. Back came AGB who went in search of a goal for a draw.
However, over elaboration in the forward line plus some good defending led to attacks breaking down and chances going a begging.
Mark Hurley pointed with a shot which just cleared the cross bar and the game ended with a Darragh Culleton ‘45’ dropping into the goalmouth again to no avail. Final score: Avoca 2-12, AGB 1-13.
Scorers - Avoca: Jason Porter 0-7, Andy Doyle 0-3, Dean Power 1-0, Bradley Moran 0-1, Chris Arthur 0-1, Paddy Kennedy 1-0.
AGB: Jack Darcy 1-2, Darragh Culleton 0-5, Donal O’Keeffe 0-2, Mark Fitzgerald 0-3, Mark Hurley 0-1.
John Harper; Anto Doran, Rob Wilson, Eoin Murtagh; Michael O’Neill, Mikey Fahy, Bradley Moran; Dean Power, Stephen McCauley; Chris Arthur, Andy Doyle, Aaron Tuke; Darren Keogh, Paddy Kennedy, Jason Porter. Subs: Niall McCauley, Colin O’Connor, P.J. Fluskey, Kevin Harper, Adam Tuke.
Kyle O’Connor; Shane Donoghue, Brendan O’Sullivan, Gerard Kavanagh; Michael O’Sullivan, Tom Hurley, Jonathon Doyle; Darragh Culleton, Tommy New; Ross McBride, Donal O’Keeffe, Mark Hurley; Jack Darcy, Garret Kenny, Mark Fitzgerald. Subs: Shane McBride, Anthony Fluskey.
rim Liam Keenan (Jnr) Augh-